Mexico’s Environmental Agency Shuts Down 6 Real Estate Developments in Cabo Pulmo

ByMexico Solidarity

This article originally appeared in the March 4, 2026 edition of Aristegui Noticias.

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) closed six real estate developments in Cabo Pulmo, in the coastal area of ​​the municipality of Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, within and in the vicinity of the polygon of the Protected Natural Area, for not having the mandatory environmental impact authorizations.

Environmental prosecutor Mariana Boy Tamborrell explained on Aristegui en Vivo that during the operation carried out from February 16 to 25, with the support of the National Guard, eight inspections were conducted and these projects were detected, which, by not exhibiting the required documentation, were immediately closed.

As a result of the operation, six total temporary closures were imposed on the identified developments: The Last Place, with 1.19 hectares; La Ribera, with 1.12 hectares; Costa Coral, with 24.9 hectares; an unnamed development of 15.7 hectares; Club de Playa Las Barracas, with 14.2 hectares; and another fenced property of approximately 0.23 hectares.

In all cases, it was found that works were carried out, perimeter delimitation was done by means of fences or walls and changes of land use were made in forest lands with sarcocaulescent scrub vegetation, characteristic of Baja California Sur, without having the federal authorization in matters of environmental impact.

Mariana Boy Tamborrell indicated that the operation was carried out in response to citizen complaints received and that the owners have a deadline to submit the necessary documentation and carry out the administrative procedure.

“Individuals have the opportunity in the coming days to present all the documentation and whatever is in their best interest so that the administrative procedure can be carried out, but for now, at the time of the visit, they did not show their authorizations, which are mandatory in environmental matters, and that is why we closed these developments.”

Regarding the characteristics of the projects, Boy Tamborrell explained that only one corresponds to lodging, while the others are residential developments, with sizes ranging from one hectare to between 15 and 20 hectares.

The Attorney General emphasized that Cabo Pulmo enjoys the highest level of environmental protection in Mexico, as it is a national park designated by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas. Furthermore, the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a protected site under the Ramsar Convention, as its marine portion contains the only living coral reef in the Gulf of California.

She pointed out that terrestrial impacts can directly affect the marine area and biodiversity: “For example, the water quality we have in the terrestrial area inevitably reaches the marine area, and it can and does have an impact on the species that are being protected here, in addition to the coral.”

“We have several species listed under NOM-059, which are threatened, endangered, or have some other protection category, and they can be affected by any activity that takes place in the terrestrial area. That is why this entire area is protected and has very specific regulations regarding the types of activities that can be carried out in this zone,” she added.

Boy Tamborrell emphasized that the shut-down developments lacked the required environmental impact assessment, a mandatory requirement for any federally funded project or activity in protected natural areas. She explained that “any tourism development, project, or activity requires an environmental impact assessment, which means that the developer must conduct a study of the site’s characteristics and evaluate the potential environmental impacts.”

In that regard, it must “propose mitigation and compensation measures to minimize all possible impacts.” Furthermore, it specified that this document must be evaluated by SEMARNAT, which determines its viability or whether additional measures are required.