Costa Maya Newsletters: of
primary interest to property owners and those interested in Mahahual /
Majahual - Rio Indio - Placer - Uvero - Punta Herrera - Xcalak and
other points along Quintana Roo South
What a difference in Mahahual-busy season coming up
The cruise ships are back and it appears that people are loosening their wallets a little. The cold weather in the US hasn't hurt business either. It should end up being a good season in Mahahual with 60 boats a month scheduled for the next three months. Building in Mahahual is at an all-time high with twice as many ships scheduled for 2011. In addition to Costa Maya Villas Condominium project, several new small hotels, and palapa stores, bars and restaurants are going up virtually overnight. Wherever one drives, new businesses are everywhere. With all of this activity in mind, this month I will be featuring a photo journal of all of the new "stuff" going on.
I'm not a real estate person (but I know a bunch of them) and its been a slow stretch for them. Prices have not escalated since Hurricane Dean, most as a result of the crisis in the US. But things are certainly on the upswing and you can feel it in the atmosphere. If you have been considering investing in Mahahual - and can swing it - there are still good opportunities.
On the down side, inflation has hit Mexico with prices going up in many key areas including gasoline, tortillas, sugar and taxes. IVA - the 10% tax that you are charged on most items went up to 11% on Jan. 1st and lodging tax went from 2% to 3%. It seems that many businesses took that opportunity to raise overall prices by 10%. Gasoline is now 7.59 pesos a liter. People tell me that prices in the US and Canada are going up too, so I guess it all equals out.
Meanwhile, the scenes of the devastation in Haiti are painful to watch. We are all touched by it, but even here in Mahahual it is possible to find someone who has lost a loved one. I have a guest who had a dear friend die in the collapse of the UN building and is trying to find housing for their family from our dining room "internet cafe." At the same time, my 14-year old grandson Kellin had yet to let me know what he wanted for Christmas. Now this seems kind of petty compared to the devastation in Haiti, but I about burst my "pride bubble" when I talked to him on SKYPE last night and he told me he really didn't want anything and to just donate to a child somewhere that needed it. I'm so grateful for the blessings of good internet connection (thank you Eder!). The days when we all had to install satellite dishes and wait for the rain to stop to get back on line are hopefully gone for good. Without it, it would be difficult for any of us to live on the beach. Better too now, is the phone connection along the beach - you can actually call us here! When Electricity comes (and it will) maybe I will break down and buy a television - or maybe not. How much better to spend the time talking to my grandson on SKYPE or visit with our guests at night rather than to sit in front of the TV! I wish all of you a few moments of the same kind of pleasure.
Make sure you take a look at the Mahahual photo tour in this month's news letter and interior shots of Costa Maya Villas! They include my first YouTube Videos.
Message board - getting the red "pase" light at customs
All of you who have ever visited here know about the red-light/green-light "Pase" at the airport. When crossing the border from Belize into Mexico, you go through the same thing. I knew you could bring in 3 bottles of liquor into the country, but I found out the hard way, that if your FM3 has an address here in Quintana Roo, you can't do that. I was coming through the border from the Belizean Free zone with my 3 bottles of liquor for the Bar when I hit the red light. No Problem, I thought - I never go over the 3 bottles anyway. When they looked at the three bottles, they told me that I couldn't take any because I was a Quintana Roo citizen. No problem. . .I figured I'd just pay the duty and be done with it. That was until I was given the amount of the duty - it was 153% of the original cost of the liquor plus a fee. That means that the $32 USD worth of Bombay Gin and Flor de Cana would have cost me close to $700 pesos! Now I chose to just leave the liquor there. After all, I can buy Flor de Cana in Chedraui's for about 120 pesos, so why would I pay double? But I couldn't just leave, I had to fill out an "Acta de Abandono" stating that I was leaving the 3 bottles there. Was I being taken because it was 3 days before Christmas and they wanted the liquor? What other things are lurking out there that I can't cross over the border with? If anyone has any similar experiences, I'd sure like to know!
Tough times and inflation in Mexico and Costa Maya
I mentioned in the editorial about inflation, but it goes a lot deeper. Mexicans face price rises for gasoline and natural gas, electricity, fees for procedures at government offices (including most permits), public transport and telecommunications, as well as an increase in sales tax and income tax (ISR), among others. The government decided to raise the retail prices of fuels, electricity and liquefied natural gas, used mainly in homes for cooking and heating water, in order to boost depleted public revenues, which currently are at a 23 billion dollar deficit (although when I filled up propane this morning, the rate was the same as it has been last year for 100 liters of propane).
The price increases make it very hard for business to offer anything in the way of wage increases in a country already low in wages. When I offered my staff raises, I had to cross my fingers that I will have the bookings to justify the increases.
The cost of the basic basket of goods went up by 30 percent in Mexico City in the first few days of January, according to surveys, with essential items like rice, beans, lentils, maize, eggs and sugar becoming more expensive. Chetumal reports only about 5% increase in the cost of food. Mahahual is it's own unique beast and the prices are whatever the store owner says they are, but the same tortillas selling for 11 pesos in Bacalar are selling for 13 in Mahahual and 5 pesos in Aurrora Bodega in Chetumal!
Late last year the minimum daily wage was raised by nearly five percent to about 50 pesos a day. Clearly a person cannot feed his family on that wage.
ATMs finally plentiful in Mahahual
After all the announcements that there would be ATM's in Mahahual - it has finally happened. They are in Mahahual and in sufficient numbers to be convenient and hopefully stocked with money. There appear to be two private companies doing ATM business. There is an ATM at Loco Ricki's in the Casitas, along the Malecon, as far south as Maya Lunas and an HSBC will be going in at the gas station! Stand up and cheer!
Mahahual and the Costa Maya getting Street lights and Mayan Arch Glorieta
With the development of Costa Maya Villas on the north side of the Light house, the palapa restaurant at the base of the light house, and the turn-off to Mahahual on the south, traffic is getting to be a little congested near the light house. The glorieta will feature a traditional Mayan Arch and make it safer in that area. Leading up to the arch are new streetlights also geared to making pedestrian traffic safer. The glorieta and parking area
located at the lighthouse was the vision of Mayan Paradise Properties owner Todd Story and with the help of a few local businesses will be a gift to the local
community of Mahahual.
This concept drawing of the planned Glorieta supplied by Mayan Paradise Properties Inc. (Costa Maya Villas)
Photo tour of Mahahual new projects
North of the Light house and South are two very different experiences. If you take a look at the fun beach restaurant and Camping spot El Faro (Spanish for lighthouse) compared with the new and modern Lapis store and handicrafts shops - the difference is night and day. Is there room for both in Mahahual? ABSOLUTELY! If you click to play the YouTube video slide show below, you'll see a lot of new shots of Mahahual and maybe a few you have already seen. Most of the shots were taken on the 21st of January, 2010 early in the morning - so they are up to date!
Click on the YouTube symbol to view the video in a larger size.
Two Historical Mexican celebrations in 2010
This year not only marks the 200th birthday of Mexico's independence from Spain, it also marks the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution and an excellent opportunity to learn a little bit about the colorful history of Mexico.
Plans for the dual celebrations are still being finalized, but they will last throughout the year, culminating on Sept. 15, Sept. 16, the bicentennial of the country and Nov. 20 — the centennial of the revolution, a bloody conflict in 1910 that brought down dictator Porfirio Diaz.
If you would like a mini- history lesson - in 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla — the namesake of many villages and streets named "Miguel Hidalgo" throughout all of Mexico -- was a member of a group of educated Creoles who led a revolt against the Spanish colonial government. The conspirators were betrayed by a member of the group and Hidalgo turned to his parishioners in the town of Dolores — now Dolores Hidalgo — in Guanajuato state. He declared war against the government the night of Sept. 15, 1810 with the "Grito de Dolores" — the cry of Dolores which includes the famous cry "Vive de Mexico!"
That grito is re-enacted every year on Mexican Independence day (Sept 15th, NOT Cinco de Mayo) by everyone from the president of Mexico to the mayors of cities across Mexico (including Mahahual) and every Mexican consulate in the world.
The Mexican Revolution was an armed struggle that started in 1910 with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. Heroes like Francisco Villa, Emiliano Zapata and Venustiano Carranza are from this time period. Porfirio Díaz unlawfully controlled the government for 35 years, falsifying elections and killing his opponents.
The celebrations come as Mexico is fighting another war -- the war with the drug cartels that permeate so much of the border states. Price increases for gas, tortillas and higher taxes for businesses add to the country’s troubles.
Mayan beach garden reservation News
Charter Flights from Cancun to Costa Maya
It is true! Mayan Beach Garden Reservations can now help you arrange charter flights from the Cancun Airport to Mahahual, Xcalak, Pulticub and other harder to reach areas with small airports.
We are now working with Palm Valley outfitters to offer this service. Whether or not you are renting from Mayan Beach Garden, we can help book this for you. The trip is spectacular, as you get a complementary tour of the coast (and you will be close enough to land to take unbelievable photos).
The Cessna 206 carries 4 with luggage or 5 with carry-on. Prices are based on the total cost of the flight, not per person. If you are staying up in the Cancun area and would like to fly down for the day to take care of quick business and return the same day, this is a great way to avoid 8 hours in the car. Please contact info@mayanbeachgarden for prices and to book flights.
Homes for Rent - Casa Azucar
We announced Casa Azucar a couple of weeks ago - it is now ready to go! Contact info@mayanbeachgarden.com if you are interested. I've put some details below - you can now click through to the web site for more information.
Casa Azucar - is located about mid way between Rio Indio and Placer. Those of you who know where Lynn and Jerry Zimpleman's home is will know the location as it is next door. The home has 4 bedrooms and can sleep up to 10 (the 4th bedroom has bunk beds). A house like this is something that has been needed in the area - an affordable home for large groups and families. This is located on a great beach, close to snorkeling and still close to town. Below is the house plan of the second floor. Two bedrooms on the first floor level face the beach. This house is "off the gird" so conservation is necessary and part of the fun.
For more information on Casa Azucar, please refer to the web page Casa Azucar with Mayan Beach Garden Reservations.
Casa Azucar
Casa Azucar kitchen
Casa Azucar sandy beach
Waves make for great boarding
Casa Azucar Rooftop ramada
Mexican s ink with talavera tile
Costa Maya Villas
If you are going to be in the area, make sure and visit the construction site of Costa Maya Villas. I've gone on other construction sites and didn't feel welcome - not so here. Todd, of Mayan Paradise Properties wants you to feel welcome to schedule a visit to Costa Maya Villas. Mayan Paradise Properties Inc. has positioned themselves as the premier developer in the Costa Maya, focusing on the high end condos and commercial properties. The project will be ready for rentals Winter 2010 and the goal is to have one of the first floor units available as a model to look at in the next couple of months. You can view plans of all the units on the Mayan Paradise Properties Inc. web site. If you click on one of the units, you can see the floor plan and price for each. The prices will be going up in mid February, but you can still get the posted prices now. You can check out the progress of the Condos on the Mayan Paradise Properties construction progress and on the YouTube video below.
If you don't know where Costa Maya Villas are located, you can reach them by turning left at the light house - driving north on the road that parallels the beach. Financing is available. Additional shots of Costa Maya Villas are included in the Mahahual Photo Tour.
Depending on your connection speed, the YouTube video of Costa Maya Villas, by Mayan Paradise Properties Inc. may perform better by clicking on the YouTube icon in the lower right hand corner
NEWS FROM XCALAK
POLLY
Hola everyone
I am sure you know I have been organizing the Animal Clinic here in Xcalak, there can't have been many of you that didn't get or see my begging letters. Well,we raised approximately $1,500usd in just over a week. I was not sure you could do it with the crisis and Haiti, but you are just amazing people. The call goes out and you all rally Around. (NOTE: clinic in Xcalak to be held Jan 22-23)
Yes it's been cold here too, cold enough that my dogs really didn't want to get up and out of bed in the mornings. Especially Lulu!!
The critters are feeling it too and my garden has become a "Pemex" for butterflies and bees. The bees are using the Humming bird feeders non stop so we have small fights breaking out. The butterflies are really enjoying the Zinnias.
I was given a wonderful present whilst I was visiting my carpenter in Limones, I hope I can keep it happy here in Xcalak. I will endeavor to find out which orchid it is.
I also bought myself this one from the market in Chetumal before Christmas, (my Christmas present to me) and it bloomed a couple of days before the holiday and the blooms are still out now.
Just a quick show off. This plant has been magnificent up to 22 flowers at a time.
DISCLAIMER
The editor of this newsletter (me) makes no claims
that the information here is completely true. I am not a news reporter,
Spanish is not my native language, the newspapers are notorious for not
verifying information and this is not my primary business, but rather a
service to the neighborhood. If you find something untrue PLEASE let me
know and I will print a disclaimer. I try to verify the information but
even the newspaper prints up rumors, so I can only report what I read
and hear.
Unless otherwise stated, all content is copyrighted by MMB Contractors
Inc.
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