Regional Opportunity
Responsive Development
Emerald Coast Property Investments is bringing ecologically and socially responsible
development to one of the most dynamic tourism growth areas in the world today.
ECPI works closely with local and regional governments to assure that their projects
are culturally friendly and fiscally sound for local people, as well as tourists
and investors. ECPI specializes in combining aesthetically superior homes and environments
with exceptional financial opportunity. This is all supported by an extraordinary commitment by the federal government1
of Mexico and the State of Nayarit to bring leading-edge development planning and
resources to this region.
ECPI is headquartered in the lovely village of San Pancho, in the State of Nayarit,
on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.
Federal Support For Tourism Infrastructure
Image Courtesy of G Michael Moore
The national agency, Fonatur2 was founded
30 years ago to provide master planning and funding for large tourism developments
in Mexico. Fonatur typically purchases large tracts of land, establishes infrastructure,
clears title, and invites international investors, such as large resort hotels,
to participate as development partners.
Every one of these projects has been highly successful.
Cancun3 , for example, continues to be one of the most popular
vacation destinations in the world. Past Fonatur projects (as noted on the first
map) include:
- Cancun
- Playa del Carmen
- Ixtapa
- Huatulco
- Los Cabos
- Loreto
Developments in Mexico.PDF
Fonatur has designated the Emerald Coast of the State of Nayarit (also known as
the Nayarit Riviera) as its next major development area. This is one of the most
beautiful beach areas in Mexico. The last Fonatur project of this scale ended 20
years ago. Corollary to this project, the Mexican goverment is developing a series
of marinas in the adjacent Sea of Cortez (Golfo de California), as shown
on the second map.
The Nautical Staircase
Nautical Staircase.pdf
The Escalera Nautica (Nautical Staircase or, literally, Nautical Ladder)
consists of an interconnected chain of marinas along the Sea of Cortez and Pacific
coast. The marinas will be about 120 nautical miles apart (one day’s travel by boat).
The plan calls for 22 full-service marinas: 5 of these already exist, 7 exist but
will be rebuilt, 10 will be new. The 10 new marinas will be located on sites with
natural shelter, or bays, a common feature on the peninsula. Fonatur anticipates
that 52,000 American boat owners will sail to these destinations and a good number
will permanently moor there. Fonatur estimates that 76,400 boats will be cruising
the Baja coastlines by 2010 and that there will be 5.4 million nautical tourists
by 2014.
Development Activity Near San Pancho
Fonatur is developing the Emerald Coast of the Nayarit Riviera in three phases.
As you can see on the road map, this will include a major new international airport,
in addition to the existing one at Puerto Vallarta (which has excellent
air connections to the US and Canada). Also shown on the map is a major
new highway that is slated for construction NNE from Puerto Vallarta to Tepic in
the next two years. This direct route will take heavy commercial traffic off the
coastal highway (similar to the way US 101 in California keeps heavy traffic off
CA 1, the scenic coastal highway). Note also the extensive National Park and Jaguar
Preserve (Sierra de Vallejo) immediately east of the coast. New construction
is prohibited in this area.
Regional Developments.pdf
Litibú (named after a native Huichol Indian bird) was the first phase in Fonatur's
Nayarit project. 85 percent of the parcels were purchased within hours4
of their release in early 2006. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2007 on the
second phase, Monteon and La Peñita. The third phase, San Blas and Capomo, is scheduled
for completion in 2025.
These three new developments will be officially designated as “Integrally Planned
Resorts.” This means that they will be fully master planned with detailed construction
schedules and comprehensive maintenance programs. Planners want to avoid the spring
break/party crowd and instead attract affluent tourists who will stay longer. At
the same time, they are taking new measures to avoid overwhelming the landscape
and local culture.
Litibú marks a fundamental shift in Mexico towards ecologically and socially
responsible investment5. For every palm tree taken out of the
jungle, the law requires that five others replace them. All landscaping must consist
of native species. Projects are designed to improve villagers’ lives without destroying
the character of the towns, anticipating that sophisticated tourists will enjoy
the colors, sounds and smells of a real Mexican village.
The Mexican government has allotted USD $5 billion to this project and has found
an additional USD $5 billion in private funding from Mexican and foreign investors
such as the Saint Regis Hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel and Carnival Cruise Lines.
The national electric company has budgeted USD $2.2 billion to support new development
in this area. In 2006, the Spanish group, Fadesa, purchased four Litibú parcels
(out of 21 available). One lot will be for a 640-room luxury hotel, while the other
lots will host a similar number of homes and condominiums.
Litibú includes a desalination plant and sewage treatment facilities, as well as
paved roads and sidewalks in Higuera Blanca. This nearby village is occupied by
Huichol Indians (their ancestors were the only tribe never conquered by the Spanish).
Fonatur is enlarging their health center and school building. Litibú was started
in 2002 and is on schedule for completion in 2007.
Punta Mita, just south of Litibú, contains the new Deepak Chopra Healing Center.
Predevelopment prices for ocean view (but not beachfront) condominiums in this development
are USD $750 thousand, with home sites at USD $4 million. Homes sites (property
only) in the Four Seasons Development start at USD $4 million. Punta Mita is also
home to the Four Seasons Resort Golf Course which was named by Conde Nast as the
number one golf resort in the world in 2006, as well as being the top-ranked property
for accomodations and service.
This increase in economic activity has created a surge in local employment in addition
to funding for important public works improvements. As the following graphics indicate,
in Mexico there is an unambiguous inverse relationship between the incidence of
poverty and tourism infrastructure.
Tourism & Poverty
The State of Nayarit (whose South boundary is just north of Puerto Vallarta) has
just passed its largest ever budget, almost tripling previous spending. 70% of this
is dedicated for highway and infrastructure improvements along the 162 kilometer
(90 mile) stretch of the Emerald Coast. San Pancho is in a quiet coastal area at
the heart of this region. It lies 90 kilometers (56 miles) north of Puerto Vallarta,
which has the nearest major airport, and 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of Litibú.
Development Details.pdf
San Pancho is also the home of Emerald Coast Developments S.A. de C.V. Emerald Coast
Developments and its associated construction and real estate companies are widely
recognized by local, state and federal officials, as well as local citizens, as
being a guiding model for ecologically and socially responsible development.
Click on the image below to view a PDF file prepared by the Department of Tourism
for the State of Nayarit on development along the Nayarit Riviera.
Nayarit Tourism Dept.pdf