Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo — A real estate company is seeking permits to construct a condominium building for tourism purposes less than 100 meters from the federally protected Manglares de Puerto Morelos. The project, named Botánica, is being promoted by Monterrey-based firm Caligo Inteligencia Inmobiliaria and has initiated permit applications with Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).
Project Details and Environmental Concerns
The developer acknowledges the site’s proximity to the protected mangrove area but asserts that no mangrove removal will occur. Instead, the company proposes an agreement with environmental authorities to replant mangroves elsewhere in the region.
“The project involves the construction and operation of a condominium building comprising 17 units for temporary or permanent residential use, classified as a residential-tourist property. The development will be located in Puerto Morelos, a well-defined human settlement within a coastal ecosystem,” states the Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) published in Semarnat’s Ecological Gazette.
The proposed construction site spans 299 square meters in the northern coastal zone of Puerto Morelos, an area known for tourism-focused real estate developments.
“It is important to note that no mangrove specimens are present on the property. However, the site is located 75 meters from the Manglares de Puerto Morelos Flora and Fauna Protection Area, meaning the project will be situated within 100 meters of the mangrove vegetation community. Therefore, all legal provisions regarding wetland and mangrove protection will be adhered to,” the developer states.
Regulatory Context
In January 2024, the Mexican federal government officially designated the Manglares de Puerto Morelos as a protected natural area, prohibiting construction activities within its boundaries and imposing restrictions on surrounding zones. The decree was published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF).
The proposed Botánica project now faces scrutiny as environmental regulations aim to safeguard the ecologically sensitive mangrove ecosystem.
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