Buenas noches:
We just returned from a quick visit to La Costa, Bahía and environs, in
particular. One of the daytrips we had planned was to check out Coco Beach
Village and El Matal. We took the panga to San Vicente ($0.30 per person each
way), and negotiated a taxi to take us to El Matal, wait for us while we poked
around for a few hours and return us to the panga dock in San Vicente ($40 for 2
pax).
El Matal is aboutn 45 minutes to an hour from San Vicente, depending upon
traffic and road construction. It was about 45 minutes to El Matal, just under
an hour returning, due to more traffic.
The community is exactly as described, a sleepy fishing village, the residents
of which seem to be mostly poor from a financial standpoint, but quite happy and
very friendly. Not a lot of activity, but this was a Sunday, which may explain
this. Slight digression: We had an absolutely delightful lunch at a little
local restaurant up the main street from the beach on the left as you are going
out of town. Can't remember the name, but we each had a fried dorado platter
which included tostones, salad, rice and a generous portion of very fresh fish,
two bottles of water, a coke and a 600 ml Pilsener for the princely sum of
$7.00.
Coco Beach Village lies immediately north of El Matal. And I mean immediately,
as in the village ends at the south wall of Coco Beach Village. Maybe it was
not what I was expecting, but it was sort of surreal to me to see little simple
huts and shacks, then all of a sudden these nice beach homes...no buffer, just
black then white.
I'm not saying this is a bad thing, I just thought it was strange. I guess I'm
more accustomed to seeing neighborhoods change gradually, subtlely.
Anyway, I counted 7 homes in various stages of construction. There may have
been others in the back row of lots, but I could not see any. A few appeared
finished or nearly finished. The construction quality looks above average. The
designs are southwest style. I was surprised at how close some of the homes
were to each other. The lots seem to run narrowish and longish.
The lots are definitely beachfront. I estimate each house is perhaps 100 feet
from the top of the beach. I could make out a high tide mark that appeared to
have crested the top of the beach berm. I'm no expert, but I wonder about what
would happen with a tsunami or even a very large king tide. These homes may be
fine, they just appeared a little closer than I would like.
We did not walk through the property, which is clearly fenced, and there are
many signs pointing out it is private property. We walked around on the beach
for a half hour or so, and did not see a soul. A couple of the homes look
occupied. No workers present, but then it was Sunday.
As for value, that is clearly in the eyes of the beholder. I think that the
lots sell for around $60K, and I think I read that building costs are around
$60-65 PSF for american finish standard. That would mean a 1,000 SF home would
cost around $125K or so for the house and land. I assume landscaping, fencing,
appliances, etc are extra. Is that unreasonable? I don't think so for new
construction directly on the beach. In fact, in better economic times, I could
see there being even more activity there.
I know there has been some spirited discussion on thos and other forums
regarding this development. I am truly trying to take a neutral position and
report what I saw. Any opinions are just that, my opinions, which I have tried
to present without judgment. I suggest that, if you are interested in Coco
Beach (or any development for that matter) go and visit it firsthand. Don't
rely too much on secondhand or further removed "information".
Andy Tomlin
Ecuador
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