Why I Love the Costa Maya

The Costa Maya is one of the most beautiful places on Earth…just look at that turquoise water.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Mérida, Mexico

Find more beachfront property in Mexico in International Living Postcards—your daily escape

There is nothing better than catching the first glimpse of the Caribbean Sea after a long day’s journey. There’s something about those gorgeous turquoise-blue waters and the waves languidly rolling over the reef on the horizon that makes me slow down, draw a breath, and just stand transfixed. No matter where in the world I live, it will be this scene that reminds me why I left the U.S. and headed south.

My husband and I chose to live in Mérida, in Mexico’s Yucatán State, but once upon a time we seriously considered putting down stakes in the Costa Maya…at least I did. My husband is a pragmatist, though, and I must agree. Although this is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, it would be hard for us to live here, as we’ve come to appreciate the conveniences and distractions of city living.

If you’re looking for upscale restaurants or any kind of shopping beyond a convenience store and a few small trinket shops, the Costa Maya is not your place. There are no grocery stores of any size, only one small hardware store, and no medical facilities. So who is it for? Outdoor types…fishermen, divers, and those who love warm weather, palm trees, silky sand, and picture-postcard views. A tolerance for mosquitoes is helpful.

The one thing that sets the Costa Maya apart from other areas: its beaches. These beautiful beaches are the result of one major thing that the Costa Maya has that Cancún doesn’t—a healthy barrier reef about 300 yards offshore. It’s the same famous reef system that everyone goes to Belize to dive—the second largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The reef protects the beach, so there are fewer erosion problems.

When you close your eyes and think “beach,” what comes to mind? Bleached white sand as fine and silky as talcum powder? Warm—but not hot—and soft on the feet? Here and there a gently swaying tropical palm...just far enough apart to string your hammock? Those are exactly the type of beaches you’ll find along the Costa Maya.

There are many opportunities for investment in the Costa Maya. You may want to build a vacation home, a retirement home, a small inn, start a tourist business, or speculate on the real estate market. Many people from the U.S. and Canada and other foreign markets have already invested in the Costa Maya. Some Mexican landowners who have held onto their land for generations are selling. Some may never do so. They know the value of what they have...there is only a finite amount of beachfront property available.

Even though there is a limited supply (just 57 miles total) of Costa Maya, some outstanding beachfront property is still available. And while some of it is still being sold at fairly reasonable prices, it won’t last long if Cancún and Playa del Carmen are historical precedents.

Suzan Haskins
The Latin America Insider, International Living

Editor’s note: If you’re interested in learning more about buying or investing in real estate on the Costa Maya, you can read all about it in the May issue of Mexico Insider. And for this week only, while IL’s Ultimate Event is on in Cancun, Mexico, you can get 50% off all of IL’s Mexico products including Mexico Insider and the recently updated Mexico: The Owner's Manual (which includes hot new destinations such as Colima and Isla Holbox, to name a few)…but hurry, this offer ends in three days. Visit the IL Bookstore now.

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- Mérida’s Abandoned Colonials: Bargain-priced and Going Fast