Buying Land in Costa Mujeres, Playa Mujeres or Isla Blanca: What to Check Before You Pay
Updated:
Costa Mujeres, north of Cancún, is one of the areas with the most new development in the region: a narrow peninsula between the sea and the Chacmuchuch lagoon. Each sector has its own density, the federal beach zone has no published official map, and much of the land is mangrove or protected area.
Check your lot in Costa Mujeres
What you can build: the 7 sectors
- Sector 1, El Meco: 50 rooms per hectare in the buildable area; none in the conservation area.
- Sector 2, Punta Sam: up to 90 rooms per hectare.
- Sectors 3 and 4, Playa Mujeres and Costa Mujeres: 25 rooms per hectare; up to 17.5 m (5 floors).
- Sector 5, Santa Fátima–Francisco Javier: 14 to 22 rooms per hectare depending on the lot.
- Sector 6, La Angostura: public beach use, no density.
- Sector 7, Isla Blanca: 23 rooms per hectare; up to 12.5 m (3 floors).
The federal beach zone has no official map
By law the first 20 meters of dry land from the beach are federal, and the same applies on the shores of lagoons connected to the sea such as Chacmuchuch (General Law of National Assets, art. 119). SEMARNAT has not published the survey for this coast, so the map estimates it from the shoreline. If the lot faces the sea or the lagoon, an official survey is essential before buying.
Mangroves and protected areas
The Chacmuchuch lagoon is surrounded by mangroves, which cannot be removed or filled (General Wildlife Law, art. 60 TER). To the north, Isla Blanca borders federal protected areas governed by their management programs.
Frequently asked questions
How many rooms per hectare are allowed in Costa Mujeres?
Per the Chacmuchuch Peninsula Partial Plan: 25 per hectare in Playa Mujeres and Costa Mujeres; 90 in Punta Sam; 23 in Isla Blanca; 14 to 22 in Santa Fátima–Francisco Javier.
Which municipality is Costa Mujeres in?
Isla Mujeres. Land-use certificates and permits are handled there, even though the area is next to Cancún.