Mexican Land Agency Sets Sights on Celestún Beach Property

Mexico’s land development agency has launched proceedings to claim a beachfront property in Celestún, marking the latest action in an ongoing campaign to verify federal ownership of coastal lands across Yucatán.

The Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU) published a notice on August 1 that it will measure and demarcate a 2.01-hectare (5-acre) property called “Adonay” located directly on Celestún beach. Property owners and neighbors have 30 working days to present documentation challenging the action.

The Adonay property sits at coordinates 20°53’56.17″ North and 90°23’8.78″ West, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) west of Mérida. It measures 159.1 meters (522 feet) along its northern boundary with the Gulf of Mexico and extends 125.1 meters (410 feet) inland to the Celestún-Sisal highway.

Engineer Sergio Manuel Adrian Osorio, SEDATU’s appointed surveyor, will oversee the boundary determination process. Anyone claiming rights to the property must appear at SEDATU offices on Calle 6 in Mérida’s Díaz Ordaz neighborhood within the deadline.

This marks SEDATU’s second major coastal land action in Yucatán within 16 months. In April 2024, the agency initiated similar proceedings against a 16.4-hectare (40.5-acre) beachfront area called “Playa Linda” in Telchac Puerto, about 31 miles (50 kilometers) north of Mérida.

The Telchac case involved property where SEDATU claimed federal ownership of land bordering the Gulf of Mexico. That property measures approximately 1,644 meters wide and is bounded by Calle 112 to the west and Calle 21 to the south.

SEDATU actions reflect broader federal efforts to clarify land ownership along Mexico’s coasts, where development pressure has increased significantly. The agency, created in 2013, handles agricultural, territorial and urban development issues, including land disputes and property regularization.

Under Mexican law, beaches themselves remain federal property that cannot be privatized. The Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone extends 20 meters (65 feet) inland from the high tide line and belongs to the nation, though individuals can obtain concessions for specific uses.

Recent incidents throughout Yucatán have highlighted ongoing tensions over beach access. Residents in coastal communities are taking direct action against barriers that block public access to beaches.

Property disputes along Mexico’s coasts have intensified as real estate values rise. Celestún, known for its flamingo reserve and pristine beaches, has attracted increased attention from developers and investors. The town sits within the 146,000-acre Celestún Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest mangrove areas in the Gulf of Mexico.

The current SEDATU proceedings follow established legal protocols for determining federal property boundaries. Mexican federal law guarantees public beach access and prohibits blocking passage to coastal areas, with violations carrying penalties up to 12 years in prison and substantial fines.

In the Celestún case, SEDATU must publish notices in the Official Journal of the Federation, the Official Journal of Yucatán state, and a major circulation newspaper. The agency will also post notices near the disputed property.

People who fail to present documentation within the 30-day window will be considered to have accepted the boundary determination results. The process allows affected parties to present property titles, possession documents, or other evidence supporting their claims.

According to SEDATU’s description, the Adonay property borders vacant federal lands to the north and abandoned properties to the south. Its location north of Celestún’s urban area places it in a zone that has seen limited development.

Both the Celestún and Telchac cases represent SEDATU’s systematic approach to coastal land verification, part of broader efforts to clarify property rights in Mexico’s rapidly developing beach communities.