Will The Reef in PP Be Gone?

Turtle-Toad, Depends on when you were in Majahual. I use to go there to dive before the cruise ships nearly 20 years ago and there is a big change. It's all relative! Not even electric when I was there where I stayed on the beach.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

If the cruise ship terminal is modelled after the one in Majahual, Quintana Roo, it may not have as much impact on the locals as you might expect. At the Majahual one, there is a 12-15 foot high block wall all the way around the pier area with guards at the gate. Inside the wall are shops and cafe's that are leased and operated by non-local companies. Locals are not allowed through the gate unless they have a work ID; Not even cab drivers. This also applies to non-cruise tourists, like RV'ers. I have no idea why.

However, cruise ship passengers are allowed out of the gate where they can rent bicycles or scooters and even can catch a shuttle over to the malacon, about a mile away. So the locals do profit from that. But most board busses that takes them to the Mayan Ruins about 80 miles away. During the season there are 2 to 3 cruise ships tied up every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for about 8 - 10 hours, so we had the place to ourselves 4 days a week.

By the way, the Mexican Government didn't build or pay for this cruise terminal, the cruise ship companies built it, Twice! The first one was destroyed by hurricane Dean in 2005. So I'm not sure why the government is getting involved this time. I just hope they have actually talked to the cruise ship companies about their plans.

At Majahual, the government did build the mile long malacon and part of the little town outside of the gate. There are blocks and blocks of building lots with paved streets and all the utilities already installed, just waiting for someone to buy and build on them. But they have been there, empty, for about 5 years. The locals rebuilt the fishing village themselves.

Maybe , But in Puerto Penasco the, Playa elegante, La Jolla de Cortez, Bonita and 2 others who's names escape me, shut down when the high rise, carbo like hotels started up and have not been replaced nor have any new, full hookup beach parks, opened.

Playa del Oro, Playa Bonita and the Reef are the only full hookup beach rv parks and the del Oro has cut back a lot on their operation. Good luck getting a long term beach front at the playa bonita and then its pretty tight parking. I can't speak for the summer months but the Reef , during the months of Jan, Feb, and March has never been close to full capacity with Rv 'rs. We're pretty spoiled, we' dry camp for a bit but prefer full hook ups so the 2 or 3,dry camping areas on the beach are great but not for us long term.

My point. I don't believe we Rv people have that big of an impact on Rocky Point. Not sure we count that much when the talk of tourism comes up but I think they'd rather fill the high rises with people than the Rv parks. Sure we contribute to the local economy but not like we did 10 years ago pre highrises, pre economic slump in Arizona .

And before the Mexico purists jump in . I've lived full time in 2 different countries and visited over 23, I like Rocky Point. It's enough of Mexico for me. I've don't want to go a whole lot farther south.

So to the original question, no I don't believe the Reef will survive. I think they're gonna shut it down Open a new beach front, maybe but I just don't think rvers have that big of an impact economically so I don't believe we are the answer to saving Rocky Point

hypoxia wrote:
bah humbug! It will spell the end of RV parks on the beach.

Nah, someone will build another but will be further out of town & more expensive.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

bah humbug! It will spell the end of RV parks on the beach.

Today's El Imparcial has pictures of all the construction equipment and some facts. This is not a dream. The construction is underway as we speak. I do not understand how they came up with all the figures but here are some: 480 million pesos initial investment,12 months to build the first stage,8000 tones a day of rocks for 2 months, 900 employees( direct and indirect for the initial construction . Here is the most optimistic figure: 1,496 million pesos of economic impact PER YEAR. The port extends into the ocean FOR 1290 METRES! Able to handle 3 ships at once. I sure hope the Gov. has done their homework or this will be the biggest white elephant in Northern Mexico. Personally I think the idea has merit but perhaps on a smaller scale. About 15 years ago they had plans for the Escalera Nautical. Kino ,PP, Guaymas and 2 places in Baja were all getting small ports and marinas. The idea was that yachts and large sailboats would visit all of these places. There was to be power, water and sewer at the marinas. Of course it never came to pass. The coastal highway may be another fiasco. It is nowhere near complete and see very little traffic. The port in PP and Guaymas is supposed to be complete in August of 2015.

Dave: According to the newspaper the cruises will begin in LA and PP would be the first stop.

Moisheh

The plans for the marina and cruise ship facility have been in the office at The Reef for years. Every year they say that this year construction will start.

Last winter they had a floating drilling rig directly off the beach from the RV park taking core samples. It foundered in a storm and was towed away.

They said that they would begin blasting rock from Black Mountain to build the enclosure for the marina this last summer, and that the RV park might have to close because of all the construction. None of that happened, of course.

The plan is to have a cruise ship docking facility off shore from Sandy Beach, then tender passengers in to shore.

The articles in the local press last year said that the whole plan was contingent on three things: Getting cruise ship fueling infrastructure in place, changing Mexican law to allow gambling on cruise ships in the gulf, and getting a cruise line to commit to running Mexico-only cruises. I wonder if any of those things has happened yet.

The draw is that Mexicans could go cruising without needing passports, visas, etc.

I bet Mexico Russ knows what's really happening with this project.

They will do what all cruisers do. Buy trinkets. Take pictures of locals. Make snide comments . Eat and drink. Take tour of half finished condos. But seriously the Gov. is sure thinking this will restore the local economy. If they are wrong PP is doomed.

Moisheh

Well, there goes the neighborhood! I really don't know what a boat load of people will while tied up in PP. The PP economy can sure use the influx of $$