A fight over construction at Playa Las Cocinas is no longer only about one project. Residents and environmental defenders in Punta Mita say machinery has moved, but a new line on the sand shows the dispute is still active. At the center are Mexico’s public beach rules, a Zofemat concession, and claims that coastal works threaten turtle nesting areas and traditional access.
Residents say Punta Mita beach dispute remains unresolved
Residents and environmental defenders in Punta Mita say authorities have not answered their concerns over a luxury development at Playa Las Cocinas, despite more than a month of protests and meetings.
The dispute centers on construction linked to Cantiles de Mita, part of Grupo Dine, in the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit. Residents say the issue is no longer limited to machinery on the beach. They say it also involves public access, environmental review, and whether authorities are enforcing federal beach rules.
Machinery has reportedly been removed from the Zona Federal Marítimo Terrestre, known as Zofemat. Residents say a line has now been painted on the sand to mark a future construction area. That has kept the dispute active.
Zofemat rules sit at the center of the case
Under Mexican law, the Zofemat is generally a 20-meter strip of firm, walkable land next to the beach. It is federal public-use property. Access to beaches and the adjacent federal maritime zone cannot be blocked, restricted, or conditioned, except in limited cases set by regulation.
That legal point is central to the residents’ position. They say the 20-meter strip should not be negotiated down. Earlier discussions reportedly included proposals to move works five meters, and later 10 meters, from the disputed area. Residents and activists rejected that approach.
Grupo Dine has said it has permits from Semarnat and Profepa. The company has also said that its Zofemat concession does not own the beach but is responsible for maintaining it. Residents are asking for the concession to be reviewed and revoked.
Escollera work added to the conflict
The conflict intensified after the construction of an escollera, a rock structure used for coastal protection, at Playa Las Cocinas.
The company says the work was carried out to address erosion and was authorized. Residents and environmental defenders say the structure and related works were carried out too close to the water and could affect public movement along the coast.
They also say Playa Las Cocinas has been used by nesting sea turtles. Environmental defenders have raised concerns about heavy machinery, changes to the sand, native vegetation, and nearby coastal ecosystems.
A separate complaint has focused on a nearby lot, where residents say new preparation work appears to be starting. They say the painted line on the sand suggests another stage of construction may follow.
Residents say dialogue has broken down
Residents say earlier meetings with municipal, state, and federal authorities did not produce a clear answer. They now argue that official dialogue has nearly disappeared.
The Comité Puntamitense en Defensa de Playa Las Cocinas says it is raising funds for legal advice and independent technical studies. Those studies could include environmental and soil reviews to challenge the technical basis for the project.
The dispute has also drawn attention because Punta Mita is a high-value coastal area where luxury real estate, resorts, fishing, public beaches, and local community life overlap. For residents, the dispute is about whether beach access exists only on paper or can still be used in practice.
