As every road is laid, as every electrical pole is erected, as the Chetumal International Airport expands its runways to receive 747s and DC-10s, prices rise.  It’s the fundamentals of real estate: buy unimproved land, have it improved with infrastructure and it is worth multiples of what you paid.  Of course, this is evident to those who have already purchased their piece of Caribbean paradise.  And for those who have yet to enjoy the prosperity, or have yet to secure their retirement location, there is no better time than RIGHT NOW – before the infrastructure is completed.

And the band played on:

A friend recently introduced me to a band from Spain called the Gypsy Kings.  They are now (and forever) associated in my meager mind with the progress of road construction.  As it took me twice the normal time (because of the road construction) to travel from the Costa Maya to Chetumal and back the next day, I listened (over and over again) to the only CD I had with me – the Gypsy Kings.

You see, driving to and from the Costa Maya to the state capital of Chetumal, you find three road crews, working 24 hours a day, pushing back the forest and almost overnight adding third or fourth lanes to the already existing two-lane road on Highway 307.  While I wasn’t there with the Gypsy Kings to witness the third shift personally, the progress from 6:30 in the evening to 11:00 am the next morning could not have been produced by merely the two day crews.  (On my return I actually drove on part of the new, yet to be paved, road.)

All Aboard!

And they just keep coming…three cruise ships a week to Puerto Costa Maya.

Two weeks ago, Puerto Costa Maya started receiving at least 3 cruise ships a week totaling over 7000 people, and the Costa Maya office of Trans Caribbean Trust Company welcomes each one.  Somewhat to our surprise, we are accepting 2 to 3 contracts per ship.  And they just keep coming.

After the horrible tragedy on September 11, many cruise ship companies have decided to re-route a large number of their Mediterranean tours to the Western Caribbean.  We have been informed that in addition to the already confirmed cruise ships next year, in 2002, there will be another 175 ‘ship days’ at the Puerto Costa Maya.  We have yet to receive the final head count, but the numbers are very promising for the Costa Maya.

As the Master Plan for the Costa Maya continues to be implemented, the demand is being delivered right to the door.  We never expected the number of ‘same day’ purchases to be so high, but the simple fact remains:  buy land undeveloped and sell it when it is developed and you are left with a profit.  People are seeing this when they get off the cruise ship and want to get involved, either personally, financially or both.

But not everyone is in it for the money.  The majority of our customers are purchasing simply because NOW it is affordable and they are locking in their retirement prices 5 to 10 years before they retire.  Don’t wait too long; things are happening and the government is waiting for no one.

ENJOY COSTA MAYA!

Work has now begun in earnest on building the new four lane, divided highway to connect Costa Maya to the state capital of Chetumal. This is a joint program of the state and federal governments. As of this writing, approximately 35 miles of the new 72 foot wide Federal Highway 307 is already under construction by scores of heavy machines now working in five separate teams on double shifts. The state government of Quintana Roo is spending $55 million USD to construct their part of the highway from Costa Maya to Highway 307. The federal government is spending another $95 million USD to construct the highway into Chetumal.

NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:

The government intent is for the new four-lane to link the new cruise ship dock on the Costa Maya with the new international airport being built in Chetumal. The government has already acquired the land to extend the

runways and enlarge the terminal for big international flights.

NEW RAIL SERVICE:

Detailed federal and state planning is now underway to connect Cancun, Chetumal, and Escarcega by rail. This will further accelerate tourism and economic growth on the Costa Maya. A later rail link will connect to the capital city of Merida in the state of Yucatan.

ELECTRIFICATION:

In recent interviews, high-level government officials have said that the $72 million USD Costa Maya electrification program is nearing completion. The Costa Maya power station is now completed and the new power poles and electric lines are already in place both north and south of the power station in Majahual. This will connect Xcalak on the south to the north end of the Costa Maya.

MEXICAN PRESIDENT, Vincente Fox shall host a dedication ceremony and be present for throwing the switch to electrify the Costa Maya sometime later this fall.

HOUSING:

The mall/cruise ship dock developer is now constructing homes for 1200 new families just west of the new cruise ship dock on the Costa Maya. These homes will provide living accommodation for the many new workers and their families who are building Costa Maya.

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

If you missed Cancun, if you missed Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, and Cabo San Lucas, don’t miss this one! This train is leaving the station and if you want a choice seat, be sure to get your ticket before the prices are out of reach. High placed government officials whom we interviewed, anticipate property values on Costa Maya will rise 300 to 400 percent above current levels just as they did elsewhere.

ENJOY COSTA MAYA!

The Costa Maya Times

www.transcaribbeantrust.com

From the U.S. or Canada:  Phone: 011-52-998-998-882-1145 // Fax: 011-52-998-882-1782

The sand on Costa Maya and in other parts of the Western Caribbean is made from finely ground particles of coral and calcareous algae (a type of seaweed).  The most common calcareous algae found in our sand are known as Halimeda.  There are many varieties of calcareous algae, but Halimeda is easy to recognize.

This small green plant is approximately 8” – 12” long when alive, and is frequently seen floating on the surface or washed up on the shore.  (click here for a picture) There are numerous small-bead like segments connected together which sometimes give the appearance of a necklace.  Halimeda was given the common name “Sea Garland” back in 1640 by Parkinson.  As the Sea Garland dies and changes colors, the small segments gradually turn white, fragment, and disburse as powder between the grains of sand.  In this way, as much as 30% of the sand’s composition becomes a fine white organic powder, compliments of Halimeda.

Over hundreds of thousands of years, the corals and the Halimeda have laid down their lives to gradually build our famous beaches.  The result is the fine white powdered sand that we so much enjoy today.  As you walk on the beaches at Costa Maya, you will notice that the sand never gets hot, even under the midday summer sun.  Say thanks to Halimeda, which does not absorb the heat.  Have fun on our beaches!

LOCATIONS ON THE COSTA MAYA:

A reader asks: What does the word “Mahahual” mean?  Mahahual is a combination of two Mayan words:  “Maha” describing a type of tree which grows on the Costa Maya and “Hual” which is a type of rope made by braiding together long strips of bark from the tree.  The result is a strong tough rope.  Hence, “Mahahual” is the place where the rope trees grow.

The word “Xcalak” in Mayan translates into Spanish as “ensenada” and into English as “cove”.  Hence, to the Maya, “Xcalak” was known as a small bay or cove on the sea.

And, in case you were wondering, “El Uvero”, in Spanish, means the place where grapes grow.  It is named for the many sea grape trees with their large leathery leaves that turn red before they fall and which grow in that area.  Sea grapes ripen late in the summer and are an important food source for many birds and animals as well as people.

The word “Rio Indio” meaning “Indian River” in English, describes a place on the coast approximately 6 miles north of Mahahual, where a river is located.  Although we are unaware of any river in this location, now or in the past, sometimes during periods of heavy rains, the lagoons located south of Rio Indio do connect to each other with temporary small streams.

The word “Sian Ka’an” in Mayan, meaning where the sky is born, describes the 1.5 million acre UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located on the north end of Costa Maya.  It is named for an atmospheric condition frequently experienced on late summer mornings when the horizon on the sea seems to blend with the sky, looking as one.

BEWARE OF UNTITLED PROPERTY!

It has come to the attention of our legal experts that some property owners have been selling untitled properties with the promise that the buyer will receive the actual deed “Escritura Publica” in the future after the seller is able to clear his title.  To do this, the seller allegedly needs to close with the buyer in order to have enough money to clear his title.  In the meantime, the seller is promising to give the buyer an “Honorary Title”.  Don’t be fooled.  If you buy it, you want the deed.  Accept nothing less.  You also want a copy of your deed translated into English by a licensed Mexican attorney certified by the government as an official licensed translator.

ENJOY COSTA MAYA!