Every year Cozumel real estate owners get the pleasure of celebrating the island’s lively and colorful Carnival!  This year, the island is already preparing for the upcoming festivities which will take place during the week from Wednesday, February 15 to Wednesday, February 22, 2012, with the biggest festivities on Mardi Gras, Tuesday Feb. 21.

Bright, lively costumes in Cozumel's Carnival

Residents and visitors can look forward to bright costumes, lively dances and colorful floats for the main parade which heads down the “Malecon” or boardwalk along the downtown beachfront.  In Cozumel, the costumes and dancing take on a somewhat Mayan theme, reflecting the island’s heritage.  Of course, there will also be lots of music and dancing, and plenty of great food.

Those who own Mexico beachfront for sale on Cozumel will enjoy close access to enjoying the rich history and culture in these festivities.

On Cozumel, the festival has over 130 years of history and it’s one of the best Carnival festivals in the region.

Candidates for King and Queen of the Cozumel Carnival, 2012

The King and Queen of the festivities have already been chosen, and they will be crowned at the beginning of the festivities on Feb. 15!

I look forward to seeing everyone and enjoying the festivities together for this exciting celebration on Cozumel!

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

A Float in the Mari Gras Parade

One of the main factors in providing a high quality lifestyle and investment opportunities in Mexico real estate is the large amount of investment, both from private and government sources, which tourism brings to the areas where most Americans and Canadians choose to buy.

For this reason it is great news for real estate buyers that the 2011 federal budget for Mexico includes an unprecedented investment into the tourism sector.  The amount budgeted for tourism in 2011 on a federal level is almost 5 billion pesos (about $400 million USD) which is an an increase of almost 1 billion pesos from 2010, or about 24%.

As far as state allocations are concerned, the state of Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula tops the list of all Mexican states, with an allocation of 110 million pesos.  This preference is due to the strength of tourism in the area, and will directly benefit both Cancun real estate and Playa del Carmen real estate markets, which already benefit from thriving tourism, and the excellent services and infrastructure resulting, including everything from large airports to golf courses and new highways.

In fact, the secretary of tourism, Carlos Joaquin, pointed out that the investment into tourism will be closely supported by further investment into expressway and highway infrastructure in these regions – an area in which Mexico is currently already a world leader.

For the government of Mexico there is no doubt as to where the largest future economy of this country lies, and they are making an incredible effort to re-invest into this industry, and make private investment attractive.

For you as a buyer considering real estate in Mexico this can only be good news; there has been no better time to invest in Mexico.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company’s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

One of the major benefits of owning a Mexico home in Cozumel is the quiet serenity that it offers as a island just off of Mexico’s Caribbean coast.  While the island has its own airport, and offers residents thea large number of services, it is also an advantage to be only a short ferry ride away from Playa del Carmen and Cancun, which offer a large number of additional shopping options, services, and Mexico’s second largest international airport.

While this connection is already fairly easy with regular service to the mainland, a new company will begin offering additional service starting during 2011.

Cozumel has grown as an important Mexico retirement community, because of the relaxing lifestyle it offers.  Another point which has been important for retirees in Cozumel is the low cost of living.  The new line helps to develop this factor, as an affordable alternative for transportation to and from Playa del Carmen.

The new company, called “Isla de la Paz,” will operate a ferry called “Cozumel II,”  and has worked closely with the municipal government to ensure a high level quality, while offering price of up to 40 percent less than the current cost of the trip.

Besides increased motivation for buying Mexico beachfront for sale on the island of Cozumel, the new line is also expected to bring an increase in tourism, drawing further investment for the island; this in turn also benefits the quality of living on Cozumel.

Rita Sheese is the Cozumel AMPI chapter president. She is also a member of the Cozumel Urban Planning Commission and Foundation for Strategic Planning for the Caribbean Island. She began her career in Property Management and Real Estate Sales since 1985.
(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com
“TOP Mexico Real Estate NETWORK; Mexico’s leading specialists for finding and purchasing Mexican properties safely !”

Mexico real estate on the island of Cozumel is soon to benefit from another direct flight option to and from Chicago, one of the main cities for flights heading to Mexico.

The new flight will be offered by American Airlines, and officials in Cozumel are expecting that it will generate an increase in tourist numbers to the town of Cozumel.  The mayor-elect of the municipality said that the flight from American Airlines was created both to meet the demand of vacationers from the Midwest and to help promote Cozumel in that part of the country..

In addition to increased tourist numbers to the island, the new option will benefit anyone from the Midwest who chooses to buy a Mexico home on Cozumel, offering increased travel convenience for visits back home, or friends and family joining Cozumel residents for vacations.

In general, an increase in tourism will also benefit Cozumel real estate by offering increased services and activities.

The flight is scheduled to begin on February 12, 2011, and the municipal government also includes plans to follow up on the new flight option by working with tour operators and airline management, always in view of increasing visitor arrivals to the island of Cozumel. The flight will connect Cozumel and Chicago on a weekly basis.

Rita Sheese is the Cozumel AMPI chapter president. She is also a member of the Cozumel Urban Planning Commission and Foundation for Strategic Planning for the Caribbean Island. She began her career in Property Management and Real Estate Sales since 1985.
(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com
“TOP Mexico Real Estate NETWORK; Mexico’s leading specialists for finding and purchasing Mexican properties safely !”

Cozumel stands out from the majority of Mexico real estate since it is an island.  For some buyers considering Cozumel real estate, this may raise the concern of transportation to and from the island.  However, both international transportation and getting to and from the mainland are actually relatively easy processes.

During the week of June 28 – July 4, 2010, 37 flights were scheduled to land in Cozumel, from national and international destinations, carrying a total of over 5,500 passengers.  For any Mexico real estate market whose prices are influenced by non-Mexican demand,  airports and flights are one of the top factors of influence.  This is great for the Cozumel real estate market.  Direct flights arrive from and leave for many North American destinations on a daily basis, including Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, Toronto and many more.  The prices for direct flights are comparable to that of other beachfront destinations in Mexico, with a round trip to Dallas costing about $600.  Flights with stop overs can be found for as low as $400.

Travel to and from the Mexico mainland is also made fairly easy.  The ferry to Playa del Carmen takes only about 45 minutes and leaves every hour on most days.  A one-way trip costs about $10.  Along the way, you can enjoy cold beer, snacks and often live music.  The ferry lands right next to Playa del Carmen’s Fifth Avenue – the main tourist area – and to a taxi stand where you can get reasonable fares to many nearby locations.

Direct flights from local airlines to nearby locations, such as Cancun and the beautiful colonial city of Merida, can also be found for very reasonable prices.

While visiting all the beautiful areas on the Yucatan peninsula and other parts of the Mexico real estate region, it is certainly worthwhile, and will catch your interest, as you settle in Cozumel, you won’t find that you’re eager to get away anytime soon.  The beautiful nature, Mayan pyramid sites, the coral reef – which can be visited scuba diving – the oceanfront activities, such as snorkeling, sailing and fishing, will be enough to keep you busy, not to mention just relaxing on the beach, or in your dream home.

Thomas Lloyd
(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com
“TOP Mexico Real Estate NETWORK; Mexico’s leading specialists for finding and purchasing Mexican properties safely !”

As the 21st century moves ahead, more and more property buyers are interested in sustainable development and construction, protecting natural surroundings, and conserving resources, which also helps to keep the bills low.  Cozumel real estate has been moving to meet this growing demand among U.S. and Canadian buyers, offering various real estate options which respect the island’s beautiful nature in a variety of ways.

The Cozumel real estate industry has had a long history of protecting the natural setting of the island, which has also been one of the key factors which continues to draw tourists and real estate buyers to the island.  Everything from exploring the lush, green jungle to diving in the Mesoamerican reef, for which the island has become famous, are among the key features which attract people to Cozumel.

Real estate buyers have several different options for sustainable focused properties.  Ecological lots in the island’s interior are available in several communities where home construction leaves the majority of the natural forest standing, integrating nature quite directly into the community.  Many of these lots are available for very accessible prices.

On the other end of the spectrum are high-end luxury condominiums and homes which also include the natural flora in the modern design of the development; many newer developments also include resource-efficient fixtures, saving water and electricity, both directly and through design reducing heat and optimizing air flow to cut down on the bill from the air-conditioner.  While the bills already tend to be low in Cozumel, this kind of efficiency can add even more significant savings.

Many buyers choose Cozumel because of its nature, and are eager to participate in conserving this nature.  While many of the prime Mexico real estate destinations have similar focuses, Cozumel’s history of one of the few communities in this part of Mexico constantly inhabited since ancient Mayan times makes the preservation of this long-standing close contact of civilization on pure nature a special situation.

-Thomas Lloyd

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

In the final months of the summer,  the Mexican Caribbean island saw an increase of cruise ship activity which the local  Cozumel real estate industry and several related businesses have been able to capitalize.  Cozumel’s economy is based mostly in cruise ship tourism.  While the swine flu travel advisory in the spring and summer of 2009 brought many obstacles to many Mexico real estate areas and their businesses, the number of tourist visitors in Cozumel have been increasing steadily since that time. 

In July, after several weeks of cancellations of cruise ship visits, the Cozumel port opened up their doors receiving from three upto six cruise ship visits per day.  Most of the cruises arrive to Puerta Maya pier in Cozumel.  Cruise ship lines such as the Carnival Valor normally arrive around 6:30 am, and leave near to 4 pm; the Carnival Conquest have been arriving near to 9 am, and staying on the island till the 6 pm mark.    The estimated total amount of passengers arriving have been between 7,000 and 9,000.

During this past summer, the well-known “Disney Magic” with a capacity of 2500 passengers have been arriving on a regular basis.  Although many people arrive to the Cozumel island by local ferry from the Playa del Carmen tourist base, the majority of the visitors arrive via cruises.  Significant amount of activity, and economic movement, to the shopping area near the wharf and downtown are the main zones that profit from the cruise ship agendas.

A more consistent arrival of cruises to the island means a stronger economic situation for the Cozumel real estate market.  Keep in touch with the TOPMexicoRealEstate   NETWORK, “Your Expert    Property-Finders,” to get information related to Cozumel and the Cozumel real estate market.

(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com
“TOP Mexico Real Estate NETWORK; Mexico’s leading specialists for finding and purchasing Mexican properties safely !”

Cozumel is continually improving its infrastructure and offering more for Cozumel Real Estate.  In the case of the Cozumel Marina project, Cozumel is working with Hotel Presidente to make sure that the project is completed quickly, to the benefit of both Cozumel real estate and tourism.

After a meeting in early August with Eduardo Muñiz Urquiza, regional delegate of the National Fund for Tourism Development (Fonatur), the Mayor of Cozumel, Juan Carlos Hernández González, announced that negotiations for the conclusion of the Marina in Cozumel, which is currently moving ahead quickly in their construction, are on good terms.

The mayor said that at this meeting they discussed the fact that the construction of the entrance of the Cozumel Marina could resume soon, and the representatives of the Hotel Presidente, are reconsidering their requests due to the constant talks with Fonatur to reach to an agreement as soon as possible.  FONATUR is involved in promoting and the develpment of Mexico real estate projects throughout all of the nation. 

The meeting which was also attended by the Project Manager and Construction, Gonzalo Pérez Barahona, Adriana Ruiz Meyer, Manager of Construction Permits, both of Fonatur, and the director of Urban Development in the municipality, Eduardo Basurto Basurto, took After the morning of Tuesday July 21, the Municipal Presidency.

The municipality said that, according to Muñiz Urquiza of FONATUR, there is no danger that the construction of the marina be delayed until 2010, because the Hotel Presidente group is reviewing its demands and that everything is on track, to follow up on this very important project.

Since the conditions were announced which the representatives of the Hotel Presidente had set forth for the federal agency to work on the mouth which would fill the marina, a process of talks began, which are currently on the right track.

He said that work on this project, will not only promote tourism in the area, but at the same time the hotel itself, which owns the land surrounding the project.  When operations begins the Marina will certainly bring the hotel benefits.

In conclusion he stated that it is very important that this project is completed, since from the beginning one of the agreements with the federal government was that “Marina Fonatur” would have a space to accommodate vessels for tourists and residents, which will be of great benefit for both visitors and Cozumel Real Estate owners who have their boats in the area.

Rita Sheese is the Cozumel AMPI chapter president. She is also a member of the Cozumel Urban Planning Commission and Foundation for Strategic Planning for the Caribbean Island. She began her career in Property Management and Real Estate Sales since 1985.
(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com
“TOP Mexico Real Estate NETWORK; Mexico’s leading specialists for finding and purchasing Mexican properties safely !”

Cozumel real estate is famous for its beautiful nature, and it is of invaluable importance for both home buyers and visitors to preserve this aspect of the island. A recent announcement has indicated that further funding will be dedicated to help study and preserve the biodiversity of the island's coral reef. In early June, Mexico's top tycoon Carlos Slim and the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) announced that they would invest 100 million dollars in preserving biodiversity in 17 natural area groups in 6 different regions of our Mexico real estate market. Cozumel will benefit through a part of these funds will be dedicated to the island.

The announcement was made as a part of the World Environment Day events, which were hosted in the Mexican Caribbean. An agreement was signed during the same event by the donators and the Government of Mexico.

The World Environment Day's activities included a gathering of about 400 experts, businessmen and scholars, with the purpose of coming to agreements in preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference at the end of this year, where it is hoped that a new, multilateral replacement can be found for the Kyoto Protocol.

Some of the most important scientists and activists for preserving biodiversity are participating in the agreement mentioned above. A few examples are Mario Molina, receiver of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1995, Julia Carabias, a former Minister of the Environment and Jose Sarhukan, the former president of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM).

“I'm pleased to be a part of this agreement with the WWF and the government to support environmental protection, which is a world-wide concern in which many people and organizations are participating,” stated Slim, the owner of Telmex and America Movil.

Slim, currently the world's third richest man, possessing a fortune of 35 billion dollars, according to Forbes magazine, added that the WWF and the Fundacion Caso each distributed half of the donation; this donation, explained Slim, is only the beginning – it will be increased with new contributions from various sectors.

“We need to promote sustainable development projects, so that people can live in a system of preserving ecosystems and not destroying them; in the long term, this will be more profitable,” said Slim.

The current Minister of the Environment, Juan Rafael Elvira, explained that Mexico is in fourth place in the world for biodiversity; for this reason it is necessary that all sectors of the country to participate in protecting this diversity.

The six regions of Mexico which will be studied and protected are the Golf of California, the Chihuahua Desert, the Mexican – Central American Coral Reef, the state of Oaxaca, the Monarch Butterfly Reserve in Michoacan and the Lancondon Jungle in Chiapas. The agreement also includes an inventory of the jungles and woods in Mexico.

Cozumel will, of course, be included in the Coral Reef area. Further study and efforts to preserve this natural wonder will benefit not only Cozumel's tourism industry but the island's and Playa del Carmen real estate market, offering protection of the region's key attractions to both visitors and residents. Cozumel is known for its beautiful nature, and its residents are aware of and active in conserving this invaluable resource.

(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“TOP Mexico Real Estate NETWORK ; Mexico’s leading specialists for finding and purchasing Mexican properties safely!“

As mentioned in the first part of this story, the Cozumel real estate region is located in an area with a long standing reputation of peace and safety For this reason, Cozumel has been chosen as the host of a project namedSea, Child and Peace. The project consists of sending a ship on journey to various parts of the world to deliver a message of peace

The Zamn , the ship which is representing the program, was in the construction process for about a year. Late in July, the ship s construction was completed and at 2:00 pm on Saturday, July 25th, the 400 ton vessel was set in the sea an fairly difficult task which was carried out by the builders themselves Spectators came to see the event, and watched calmly and patiently although definitely excitedly during the 5 hour long process The captain of the boat, Vital Alsar, said that the ship floats extremely well He added that not a single drop of water entered the vessel which confirms the quality and skill with which the builders, working under Oscar Camarero, constructed the ship.

At the moment that the ship entered the sea, it was baptized with coconut milk rather than the traditional bottle of wine Regina Diaz Gutierrez, the niece of Manuel Diaz Rubio, the businessman who has organized the project, was made thegodmother of the project and the coconut milk baptism took place in her name.

According the ship s captain, a tugboat operator saw the ship and was so surprised at the sight, that while the boat was going under the bridge in Alvarado, it caught some wires and caused a blackout in the village, which was repaired within 4 hours.

Now that the ship is in the water, the next step is to add 30 tons of weights to stabilize it This having been completed, the port inspector will inspect the ship and verify that it is seaworthy and that everything is in good working order, giving authorization for the ship to set sail This is expected to take place on Saturday, August 1st.

The ship is currently at its building location in Alvarado, Veracruz; from there it will head towards Cozumel The boat is expected to arrive on the Yucatan peninsula s shores between August 2nd and 6th. After setting sail from Cozumel, scheduled for August 25th, the boat will be heading for Miami, Florida, and numerous other destinations on its way to Greece.

On the first stretch of its journey, from Veracruz to Cozumel, the Zamn will make stops in Coatzacoalcos and Dos Bocas in the state of Tabasco, where a celebration of recognition has been planned During the ships visit in Yucatan, the organizers of the projectChild, Sea and Peace have planned a courtesy visit to the city Izamal where a modest event will be carried out, with the participation of local authorities, mostly to evoke Zamn , the Mayan god of Knowledge, for whom the ship was named.

The ship is expected to spend about a week in Cozumel, where Cozumel real estate residents will enjoy the presence of the ship which is delivering their message, before it sets out on August 25th for Miami, Florida From there, the ship will head to New York, where it is scheduled to be on September 11th to bring its message of peace in commemoration of the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks Rotary International has chosen to be involved in the project because the vision of peace and call for humanity to avoid war and violent confrontations between different peoples and societies.

Another interesting fact about the ship s journey is that Captain Alsar has requested King Juan Carlos of Spain to serve as captain of the ship during its arrival to Asturias, the first harbor where the ship will arrive in that country. Alsar has also requested Queen Sofia of Spain to welcome Zamn in Greece, the ship s final destination before heading back to Cozumel The captain had made a similar request to King Juan Carlos when he sailed the Marigalante in commemoration of 500th anniversary of the discovery of America (The idea of the Marigalante was originally conceived in 1980 for a project namedSea, Man and Peace)

The ship s crew is made up of Mexicans, Canadians and Spaniards Their crew members are Vital Alsar Ram rez (the captain), Francisco Enrique Bernal Venegas, Greg Blomqvist, Daniel Ch vez Modena, Pedro Corcuera Wenzel, Diego Ed n-Wynter Blanco, Jos Antonio Gonz lez Pereira, Shayne Holden, Rub n Bernardo Morante L pez, Mart n Gilberto Moreno Carranza, Jorge Luis Riveros Gilardi and Santiago Villaverde Pacheco.

Ruben Morante is an anthropologist, who specializes in Mayan culture, and will be offering presentations about this civilization at each city where the ship stops Santiago Villaverde is a child psychologist, who will be accompanying the journey to support the child or children who are on the ship; at least one child from Cozumel s fishing families will be present at all points of the voyage.

The Zamn will take 5 months in its journey from Cozumel, visiting various cities in North America, Europe and Africa on its way to Greece. (See Part 1 of this story in our Mexico real estate blog for a list of the ports where it will stop.) The return to Cozumel is planned for the end of December, where it will be received by city officials.

The ship will cover a total of 15,768 nautical miles On its journey, 52 days will be spent in ports, and 105 days at sea, making for an average of 150 miles per day, or seven knots Zamn will use both sails and a motor The ship was constructed by the experienced building master Oscar Camarero with a team of 36 carpenters They built the ship on a temporary shipyard in the port of Alvarado, Veracruz The building process began in July 2008.

The ship is a trimaran because it has three hulls one main hull, and two outrigger hulls, attached to the main one by struts The main hull is almost 36 meters long and 13 meters wide, including the two accessory boats at the sides of the ship.

The design of the keel and the rudder are unique The ship contains more than 110,000 cubic feet of wood and has a total weight of 400 tons The metal base which is placed under the main deck of the ship alone weighs 2 tons The ship will be powered mostly by wind, but also includes a motor a Volvo diesel, which will require the ship to carry 27,000 liters of fuel In addition, the ship will carry 4,000 liters of water for the crew.

(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“TOP Mexico Real Estate NETWORK; Mexico s leading specialists for finding and purchasing Mexican properties safely !

The Cozumel real estate region has always had the benefit of being situated in a safe, peaceful setting. In recognition and celebration of this, Cozumel, named theIsland of Peace, has been preparing for a world-wide project calledChild, Sea, Peace and Cozumel As a part of the project, this summer the city is flying the Flag of Peace and launching the ship “Zamn , which will embark on a 5 month journey to various parts of the world, delivering a message of peace.

The Message of Peace

The journey is delivering a message of peace to the world from Cozumel, and focuses especially on peace for children. The captain of the ship, Vital Alsar, explained that the general purpose is to dignify the human race.

The island of Cozumel was chosen as the starting point of the journey, as an ideal ambassador of peace, since there has been no war on the island since ancient Mayan times; the Spanish Conquest did not bring any conflict to the island, nor were there any pirate invasions or uprisings on the island. Alsar explained that in the present age, full of war, disease and violence, it is Mexico s obligation to show that it can send the greatest gift to the world;the peace which it needs to avoid allowing a few self-centered people drag the world into an abyss The message he wishes to deliver is that we wereborn to create, not to destroy and that this mandate will triumph.

To celebrate the beginning of this journey, and officially accept the nameIsland of Peace, Cozumel is flying theFlag of peace, which it raised on July 10^th. The flag is located behind the stage of the open-air theater in Quintana Roo Park. The International Peace Flag Organization was involved in the ceremony, which was founded by the internationally recognized artist Nicholas K. Roerich, and supported by the doctor and actress Alicia Rodriguez Fernandez. The non-profit organization has been recognized by the United Nations for its peace work in various countries throughout the world.

The message of this project and journey will, of course, draw a large amount of attention to Cozumel real estate as an ideal destination to live, and to the tourism industry of the town. This benefit complements the opportunity which the residents of the island are taking during this project to deliver their message of peace to the world.

Manuel Diaz Rubio, a businessman from Yucatan, has been in charge of the project. Diaz and Alsar mentioned that they are very pleased that Cozumel is participating and hosting this project, and that the ship will be leaving from this port, and returning to the same port at the end of its journey.

While the journey of Zamn is promoting peace on a general basis, there is a specific emphasis on peace and safety for children. For this reason, a child between ages 10 and 12 from the fishing families of Cozumel will be accompanying the voyage as an ambassador of peace, representing Cozumel s and Mexico s wishes of peace and harmony in the ship s destinations along its epic voyage. The child will be placing peace flags in schools at each destination.

Several children will be sharing the role, in order to guarantee that one of them can always be present, and that the children can accompany the voyage in shorter sections, making the commitment more manageable, demanding less time and energy for each child. A teacher and other support staff for the children will be present on the voyage to help them continue their studies during this time, and feel comfortable and secure.

History and Itinerary of Zamn

The captain of Zamn , Vital Alsar, has more than 40 years of experience, and is the son of fishermen of Spanish origin, but also with Mexican family. Diaz says that the idea of building Zamn was conceived by Alsar eight years ago, and began to take form in 2004 through private donations. The actual construction of the ship began in June, 2008. He added that their belief in this dream has finally led to its reality.

The ship, its captain, a crew of 12 members as well as the child and support staff will embark on a journey including visiting 3 continents North America, Europe and Africa on a journey of 15,000 nautical miles, stopping at 15 different ports. After leaving from Cozumel, the ship will stop over in Miami and New York in the United States; Asturias, Santander , Bilbao, C diz, Barcelona, Mallorca in Spain, Lisbon in Portugal. Next the ship will head to Ostia in Italy, Tunis in Africa, Alexandria in Egypt, and Piraeus, Greece as its furthest destination. On its return journey, the ship will stop at Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and finally at Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic before returning to Cozumel.

Construction of Zamn

The ship is made of 12 different types of tropical wood, and has a length of 110. The ship was designed by the captain, Alsar, and Oscar Camareno, who is in charge of the team of ship-builders and carpenters from Alvarado, Veracruz responsible for the construction. The ship is a work of art that is authentically Mexican. Diaz commented that the building project would not have been possible in a different part of the world; it is being built by Mexican hands, and the builders are putting their heart into the work.

While the project is truly Mexican, the structure of the ship reflects the international message that Zamn will carry. The structure shows traits from Phoenician, Egyptian, Greek and Mayan styles. A particularly strong connection is made between Mayan style- representing the ship s departure point – and Greek style – representing the furthest destination; while the window frames are made in the Mayan style, the stained glass are both Greek and Mayan in their depictions. The prow of the ship is decorated with a dove, created by a Mexican sculptor to represent world peace.

Conclusion

Cozumel is, and has always been, an island of peace. Cozumel real estate enjoys the benefit of a safe, peaceful destination for people from all over the world; these same residents are sharing this privilege with world, as they send Zamn and its crew to various destinations. This projectChild, Sea, Peace and Cozumel truly shares the spirit of Cozumel with the world.

(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“TOP Mexico Real Estate NETWORK; Mexico s leading specialists for finding and purchasing Mexican properties safely !

Many Mexico real estate investors are still on the edge of their seats as each news update of the international airport from the federal government effects the Tulum real estate market With strong numbers being quoted such as 17.9 million tourists expected to visit the Riviera Maya zone by the year 2025, 2,800 new jobs being created each year in this exploding region, and three million passengers per year projected to flow through the new airport, all of these figures grab the attention of many business people.

The offices of the Secretary of Communications and Transportation of Mexico, have made statements in the last week of July that have indicated that the Tulum International Airport will not be one of the federal projects to be cancelled for 2009 due to the cutbacks This is positive news all though the dates for the official bids from private companies battling to win the nod for this mega project for have been cancelled on more than one occasion in the past 12 months Juan Molinar Horcasitas, director of this federal office had announced previously that the start date of the airport was expected to be underway before year end The announcement has come after the Secretary of Hacienda has pointed out earlier in July that several projects nationwide had been placed on” stand by” But due to the high demand experienced over various years and the trends in the market of international visitors to the Riviera Maya has placed this construction as one of the important projects nationwide Studies have indicated that direct jobs that have been created in the region have been creating nearly 2,800 new jobs per year These are strong figures and such numbers also place strong demand indirectly in other industries With increased job creations, families of all income levels will also be moving into the zone creating demands not only on the Tulum region but also the Playa del Carmen real estate market, the Cozumel real estate market and various other territories of Quintana Roo

Once the bases for the bidding have been announced, the SCT will take approximately 6 up to 12 months to review the bids and select the winning contractor The time period for construction is planned to undertake 3 years ASUR, a contractor and administrator of airports in the southern half of Mexico is one of the leading contenders They currently operate the Cancun and Cozumel Airports in Quintana Roo

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. With a Mexican Real Estate Certifications and various diplomas he is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company's web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!

A new development on the east part of Cozumel island would offer new opportunities in the Cozumel real estate market in an exclusive tourist super-project. Balancing conservation of Cozumel s superb natural appeal with infrastructure development, for the convenience of the buyer or visitor, the project would offer luxury and a relaxing escape The proposal also aims at adding an element not dependent on cruises to Cozumel s tourist industry which, at the moment, is primarily dependent on the visitors which cruises bring to the island.

FONATUR (the National Fund for Promoting Tourism) is re-considering a development project which was originally proposed two years ago by Donald Trump s group of companies, interested in investing between 300 and 500 million dollars into Cozumel land and hotel development The large, exclusive tourist resort complex was meant to offer a high-acquisition power tourist destination on little used, but very attractive Cozumel beachfront properties, which would include luxury hotels, a golf course, luxury homes and condos, shopping centers, an air strip, a helicopter landing, a marina, and many other services and attractions.

The mayor of Cozumel, Juan Carlos Gonzalez Hernandez and the director of FONATUR, Miguel Gomez Mont Urueta, are currently in the process of discussing the possibility of re-starting the project, after Trump stopped the construction process A meeting between the two was scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, in FONATUR s Mexico City offices FONATUR may continue the project, but in a new location.

The mayor of Cozumel mentioned that the east part of the island is ideal for the project with its natural beauty and attractive beaches The project would be located on the land that extends from Xpalbarco beach to the Mayan remains called The Royal Castle ( El Castillo Real ).

A key attraction for those choosing Cozumel for vacation or real estate is the natural beauty of the island. The mayor confirmed any new development on the island needs to balance tourist infrastructure with environmental conservation The section for this project is currently only accessible by foot, on horseback or by all-terrain vehicles, leaving from Mezcalitos beach; the area has a lot of natural appeal which the project would aim to conserve while making it accessible to visitors and to the Cozumel real estate market.

The project is hoping to involve all levels of government, as well as business investors to expand Cozumel s tourist appeal As one of the most visited cruise destinations, Cozumel is nevertheless subject to the fluctuations of cruises, which can drop significantly at low seasons, or during unexpected halts in cruise visits, as in the recent swine flu travel advisory The project would stabilize the effect by offering another attractive option to non-cruise visitors.

Cozumel Homes-buyers would be benefited through the project both by the fact that it would moderate economic low seasons, and by the fact that it would add more options to the Cozumel real estate market.

Rita Sheese is the Cozumel AMPI chapter president. She is also a member of the Cozumel Urban Planning Commission and Foundation for Strategic Planning for the Caribbean Island. She began her career in Property Management and Real Estate Sales since 1985.

(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“TOP Mexico Real Estate NETWORK; Mexico s leading specialists for finding and purchasing Mexican properties safely !

Three regions of the Mexico real estate market receive good news this week from the Federal Secretary of Tourism (SECTUR) The long awaited beach recovery project looks to be nearly 98% approved with only the final authorization being awaited from the (SEMANART), which is the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources.

Several private companies have been waiting for the announcement of who won the contract to begin the project along Cozumel beachfront properties, in Playa del Carmen, and as well in the Cancun region The joint venture project made up of the company Mexicana de Dragados and the company Codralux were given the winning nod on an announcement made Tuesday afternoonIn our Mexico real estate blog, we have been making updates on the progress of this Cancun Beach Recovery Project.

The project is estimated to have the cost of nearly $800,000,000 – $1,000,000,000 pesos This will be sourced from the following entities,

Quintana Roo $200,000,000

Zofemat $300,000,000

Semarnart $100,000,000

Sectur $100,000,000

SCT $100,000,000

The project will include the recovery of nearly 12 kilometers of beachfront for the Cancun real estate market On these beaches, they also plan to construct a 300 meter long wall within the water off of the shore to help future deterioration

For the Playa del Carmen beaches, 4.2 kilometers of new sand will be pumped all along the city front area to improve the area attractions Cozumel real estate region will also see benefits from this project as they will be receiving attention on 1.5 kilometers of beach recoveries

The Playa del Carmen real estate market will see very positive effects upon the completion of this project Cancun and Cozumel also will see benefits to this 4 month long project which will bring indirect and direct effects upon the market place for these three regions One of the most important natural resources that attract tourism and the quality of life for the residents in these zones are its' beaches and the water life within the shores As Mexico ramps up the nationwide tourist campaign, it is also investing money into the regional infrastructure which will give a base and support to future growth

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. With a Mexican Real Estate Certification and various diplomas he is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the companys' web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where 9 TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”

The following information about the return of cruises to Cozumel and other port cities in Mexico is important for those interested in the Mexico Real Estate market, especially the effects upon the Cozumel Real Estate zone.

On May 30th, Cozumel, the port which welcomes the most cruise passengers in the Caribbean, was happy to welcome back Carnival Cruise Line sHoliday, ending a 4 week break in cruise visits to the island.

At 7 am on Saturday the cruise ship arrived in Cozumel with 800 passengers where it received a warm welcome, including a mariachi performance and presentation of folk dances, followed by a breakfast aboard the ship.

The state government representative, Aurilio Joaqu n, welcomed the passengers on behalf of the governor, thanking the president of Carnival Corporation, Miky Arison, for making a request, directly to the President of the U.S.A., Barak Obama, for cruise ships to be allowed to make stops in Mexico, after lifting the travel advisoryThe Holiday cruise boat is very welcome, and can feel right at home here in Cozumel, said Joaqu n.Cozumel has been in the Holiday s itinerary for years now, and the residents are happy to know that cruise passengers are visiting the island again

The tourism industry is the main industry for Cozumel and the cruise ship visitors is a life line for many businesses and families With high occupancy rates and tourists visiting the region, businesses thrive and demand for office space, vacation rental properties, and Cozumel homes properties rise The more tourists visiting the island also increases the amount of people who fall in love with the region, and also creates positive demands on the market place as well.

Also, those interested in Mexico Beachfront Real Estate in the highly demanded properties of the Mexican Caribbean will be interested to know that the first cruise since the travel advisory was lifted is scheduled to arrive in Majahual on July 1st.

The captain of the ship confirmed, on behalf of himself, the crew and, most of all, the passengers, that they were glad to return to the Island of Cozumel, whose natural beauty and friendly people make it one of the favorite destinations in the Caribbean. Alberto Uch Mezo, General Manager of Puerta Maya, announced that Carnival Cruise Line will put Cozumel back in the regular itinerary of about 12 ships, starting on July 15th.

Likewise, he announced that the same cruise line will be sending its new cruise ship, Carnival Dream a recently built ship with larger capacity to Cozumel, later this year.

(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”

The Federal Secretary of Tourism, Rodolfo Elizondo, is to announce the quantity of money that has been ear marked for the Quintana Roo Marketing budget For the past 2 weeks, this budget has been kept secret since the federal authorities had not decided the complete amount to be injected into the injured tourist industries.Along with the decrease of tourism various other external factors in 2009 have been hammering away at the demand for properties south of the border which has been putting downward pressures on the Mexico real estate market specifically those within the popular tourist regions

The Cozumel real estate market is one of the regional areas that is feeling the effects of the downturn that has occurred from the negative publicity Mexico has received in the spring of 2009 due to the drug wars, and then in April May due to the Swine Flu scare But now, on the Mexican Caribbean island of Cozumel, where the first cruise ship is scheduled to dock after one complete month of cancellations, the budget of a new campaign is to be revealed The regional directors of tourism in Quintana Roo have announced that they expect an amount similar to what was funded after the Hurricane Wilma rescue plan Ten million dollars were invested into the publicity campaigns in that occassion

Some have argued that this new marketing campaign “Vive Mexico” is a good nationwide strategy, but what Quintana Roo and other regions require is a focus upon their specific product, or specific city The occupation rates over the past week for the state has increased their averages up to approximately 40 percent thanks to theAmerican holiday week end of Memorial day Although the majority of these visitors were for the Cancun region with some hotels obtaining 60%, Riviera Maya had an approximate 30% rate while Cozumel witnessed 47%

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. With a Mexican Real Estate Certifications and various diplomas he is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the companys' web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where 9 TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”

The Cozumel real estate market is effected by several factors which include amongst many others, hotel occupancy rates, the ecological environment of the island, and the cruise boats that visit the piers from this Mexican Caribbean islandBelow are short updates on activities this past month that are effecting the island but also the Mexico real estate market as a whole.

During the Easter vacations, the hotel occupancy rates arrived to nearly 80% Currently the island has approximately 3,522 units in inventory for the hotel industry People comment that the world economic situation has reduced the normal rates but also pointed out that with the gain of the dollar against the peso, this has regained opportunities given the fact that tourists have more pesos to spend It is estimated that each hotel room guest spends approximately $100 usd while a cruise ship tourist spends nearly $80 usd

Another update is in regards to the project of the recuperation of the beaches in Cancun, Playa del Carmen and the Cozumel Island The mayor of the municipality met withthe governor this month to advise that the island is not against the project of restoration of the beaches, but is searching for an alternative area where they plan to extract the sands The current project outlines an area on the norther part of Cozumel where they plan to dig up fresh sand The project calls for the restoration of 7 million cubic meters of sand to be sucked up from the ocean floor off of the island and blown back to the beaches throughout the cities of Quintana Roo

The news that is on front page throughout many parts of the world is the virus outbreak called the swine flu Here on the island, and in the entire state of Quintana Roo, there have been no reports of anyone having been infected The federal government has been aggressive on their response and their actions to prevent further spread of this flu and have closed all schools throughout the entire country until May 6th Cruise ships coming to Cozumel have also been postponed for the immediate future until the federal Secretary of Health gives the green flag They expect the ports to be open if all goes well within 7 – 14 days At the same time, as the government has taken correct steps in the prevention of the spread of the virus, the local, state, and federal government are already preparing action plans and marketing campaigns to be initiated to support the re surge of the important tourist industries

Thomas Lloyd

(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”

Cozumel, Mexico-

Many of the people who write to me or call me up to ask about our Cozumel real estate market or business activity on the island will need to have information on the cruise ship industry Our port receives the most amount of cruise ships than any other Caribbean port Mexico and non Mexican.

The tourists so far this year, are arriving in strong numbers on our Mexican Caribbean island of Cozumel. On a weekly basis it is projected Cozumel will host the following cruise ships and tourists as follows:

Monday 2 cruise ships in port

Tuesday 5 cruise ships in port

Wednesday 4 cruise ships in port

Thursday 5 cruise ships in port

Friday 5 cruise ships in port

Saturday 4 cruise ships in port

These ships will bring approximately 65,000 passengers to the Cozumel island streets on average. The spending dollar paid out by these visitors is estimated to be around $5,620,000 per week. These are rough estimates but are good figures to follow for people who are interested in investments or simply figures to know when making a Real Estate purchase here in Cozumel.

Rita Sheese is the Cozumel AMPI chapter president. She is also a member of the Cozumel Urban Planning Commission and Foundation for Strategic Planning for the Caribbean Island. She began her career in Property Management and Real Estate Sales since 1985.

(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”

Rita Sheese is the president of the AMPI regional chapter of Cozumel, Mexico. In my conversations with Rita, she has expressed to me “The Cozumel Real Estate market has been moving along without tremendous changes from the year before. Although there is obviously great concern to the US market and their affects on the world economies, and their affects on the Mexico Real Estate market, our Cozumel Island has had a shield of defense being that the majority of the properties here in this region are not mortgaged.” She also went on to explain that she has not seen any wild fires, there might be an increase some what of inventory, but there are no great price reductions thus far. Rita Sheese is the broker owner of Cozumel Capital and has been active in the real estate industry of Cozumel since 1986. She is interviewed quite often by local, regional, and national papers on the activities occurring in her region. Below is a copy of the MEXICO NATIONAL AMPI association humorously interviewing Rita on why Mexican nationals would be interested in buying property on Cozumel.

Rita Sheese, a real estate expert can help answer many of your Cozumel Real Estate Market questions.

-Thomas Lloyd

Rita Sheese is the Cozumel AMPI chapter president. She is also a member of the Cozumel Urban Planning Commission and Foundation for Strategic Planning for the Caribbean Island. She began her career in Property Management and Real Estate Sales since 1985

(512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”

Rita Sheese has been living and working in the Cozumel Real Estate Market for over 20 years. She is President of the Cozumel AMPI association which is the sister organization of NAR in the United States and CREA in Canada. Rita s background is as interesting as it is diversified, but basically reflects a dedication and passion in two fields: Real Estate and underwater activities.

RITA, WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND IN REAL ESTATE HERE IN MEXICO

I am a one-hundred percent Mexican Caribbean specialist! I began with my first sale of properties in Cozumel in 1985, and those led to more real estate transactions, which also led me into the area of property management. When I first started here on the island not too many properties were on the market. But as the years passed a demand from international buyers to acquire and invest here in Cozumel increasedI enjoy very much meeting and helping newcomers from outside of Mexico, and helping them find the perfect property match. Because I enjoyed these real estate activities, I started to becomes active in the community and in the realtor s association, called AMPI here in Mexico. I became a member of AMPI shortly after the Cozumel chapter was formed 7 years ago, and am now serving as it s President. I also serve on the Municipal Urban Planning Commission and the Foundation for Strategic Planning of the Island of Cozumel.

WHAT ARE THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF BUYING A HOME IN COZUMEL

First of all, living here in Cozumel is an absolute blessing. I think many people came here for the same reason I did. That being: the water, the people, and the island air. There is still a small town atmosphere on the island that makes day to day living very comfortable and unpretentious in comparison to mainland life. And no matter where you go on the island, Cozumel s turquoise Caribbean is not out of site for very long! And, although we are quite a large town now, I feel this closeness to nature gives island residents an understanding of the importance of protecting the island s natural assets. In terms of living, it is a place where you can easily understand the local culture; it is aReal Mexico , without being an unreachable part of Mexico. At any time you can jump on a plane from many parts of North America and arrive quite easily to our island, and enjoy small-town living. And once you arrive at our International Airport in Cozumel, you have immediate access to all parts of our island. Everything is nearby.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE COZUMEL ISLAND INFRASTRUCTURE HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO SHOP AND GET YOUR EVERYDAY ITEMS OR PRODUCTS

It is no longer a problems here on the island to find products or things you need. It was, maybe 30 years ago when I first arrived, but today we have supermarkets, we have movie theatres, and many wonderful restaurants. Because Cozumel has been a major port for most of the last century, we have a wonderful waterfront town with wide sidewalks and a town square, it s shops and cafes busy with the Cruise ship passengers by day and peacefully ours again by night. Being the busiest cruise ship port in Mexico and the second busiest in the Caribbean, apart from servicing the vacation tourism coming from the States or Canada or other parts of M xico, we find it s not hard to get even luxury items anymore.

WHERE DO MOST OF YOUR CLIENTS COME FROM AND WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR IN REGARDS TO COZUMEL REAL ESTATE OPTIONS

Apart from the local market, most of my clients are Americans and Canadians. They are looking for an island community, a life that is tranquil, they want beautiful waters. Some people who buy or invest here in Cozumel are divers or snorkelers and appreciate the accessibility to some of the best dive spots in the world, while others aren t necessarily sportive but just love to be surrounded by the gin-clear turquoise waters of this island. They are looking for a place that is not too urban and offers the comfort of their own homes, but in aReal Mexico surrounding. I find that many of the people who are buying and investing in Cozumel Real Estate are choosing us first because of the island itself, as a place to live, and then because of the specific property.

WHAT DOES COZUMEL HAVE TO OFFER IN REGARDS TO ACTIVITIES OR PASSTIMES FOR SOMEONE WHO IS LIVING HERE ON THE ISLAND

Cozumel Golf Course

We have a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course for those who love this sport.. It is an 18 hole professional golf course, 72 par. The facilities are operated by Golf Corp, and the Cozumel Golf Club is one of 200 courses that this group manages all over the world. The course is designed to intertwine with the wildlife, especially birds, in a natural setting. You need to watch out for the Crocodiles! A second golf course is in the planning stages and will probably be opened to the public within the next four or five years.

Cozumel Marinas and Water sports

This community has been a port town since it was settled 150 years ago. Decades of large ships carried thechicle of the Yucatan peninsula to the US to become Wrigley's chewing gum, and copra from it s plantations to become coconut oil. Today those cargo ships have been replaced by world class Cruise Ships (36 a week, including QE2!) with visitors from around the globe who stop at our island for the day for shopping, eco-tours, archeological tours, diving, golf or just beaching!

We are also well known to sport fishermen as the place to come deep sea fishing for sailfish, marlin, Wahoo, dorado, tuna, mackerel, and for bonefish in the northern lagoons. We have had an international billfish tournament here for over 30 years plus an annual local tournament which now draws 200 small boats!

We have 2 marinas in Cozumel, a third in the planning, to accommodate the dive and charter fishing boats as well as those of the private boaters, who also take advantage of the large dry storage marina.

As you know, Cozumel is a famous ocean sports center due to it s incredible reefs. We have over 200 dive shops on the island. Our safety record id strong and two hyperbaric chambers are operational and professionally administered.

Cozumel Culture

Cozumel boasts a small, state-of-the-art Regional Museum about the island, housed in the first hotel of the island, which opened in 1936. Our local artists also exhibit here.

The island also has a number of Mayan sites, and was extremely important in the Mayan world as the focal point of pilgrimages to the goddess Ix-Chel. Because of the Sanctuary of this goddess, the whole of the island was considered sacred by these ancient people. We think it is still enchanted!

WHAT ABOUT THE COZUMEL HOSPITALS AND FACILITIES

Ahh, excellent, for local people and tourists. We have two government hospitals, and also three private clinic-hospitals, two complete with operating rooms and doctors with medical specialties. Also, having an International Airport, medical emergencies can be handled through air ambulance to Houston, Dallas or Miami.

GETTING TO COZUMEL

Talking about flights, many people don t realize that Cozumel has many direct flights to the island from various cities in North America. Scheduled airlines include Continental, American, Delta, United, Frontier Airlines, and Mexicana. Plus we receive about 16 charter flights each weekend. And the airport is located only about 5 minutes from downtown Cozumel. So this makes it very comfortable and easy to fly in, swing by the grocery store, get to your island home, and be on the beach almost immediately.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD FOR THE READERS TO BETTER INTRODUCE THEM TO THE COZUMEL LIVING ATMOSPHERE

Yes, Cozumel is small, quiet, and exclusive in the sense of privacy and security. People come here from various backgrounds to relax, blend in, and to becomes part of this Caribbean island. We are only a 30 minute ferry ride from the mainland at Playa delCarmen and the Riviera Maya for a day-trips or touring the Yucatan but to tell you the truth, living on such a comfortable island, we getflojera and rarely leave!

If you are on Cozumel, we have a wonderful office in a 100 year old island home that we recently remodeled. We are located on the corner of 5th Ave and 5th Street (Calle), just a block off the waterfront and a very short walk from the town square and main ferry dock. Our door is open wide to welcome anyone to stop in, have a delicious cup of coffee, and meet and chat with us.

Rita Sheese is the Cozumel AMPI chapter president She is also a member of the Cozumel Urban Planning Commission and Foundation for Strategic Planning for the Caribbean Island. She began her career in Property Management and Real Estate Sales since 1985 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com 512-879-6546