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The Marina at Puerto Los Cabos: From Groundbreaking to Legendary Marina Design The vision of a marina in San Jose del Cabo has its roots in a feasibility study first done by a branch of the Mexican Federal Government. However, once completed the study was filed and forgotten, until local pioneers Eduardo Sanchez Navarro and Jorge Buch created an investment group and began planning. EDSA of Fort Lauderdale and Applied Technology and Management of South Carolina were brought in early on to create a master planned community, with the marina at its heart. From the beginning, the principals behind The Marina At Puerto Los Cabos were determined to create a unique look and feel. Harbour Town at Hilton Head was used as the inspiration for the curved basin section of the final design. Although the rectangular shape of boats and boat slips usually dictates a rectangular basin, the investors opted for some curved areas, as well as an island that could support a water feature or park. The result was a perimeter that was more open, uncluttered, and aesthetically pleasing. The dirt finally began to fly in early 2004, as excavators dug into the old soccer fields that would soon become a marina. At the same time the old fields were being taken out, new ones were prepared nearby to replace them, complete with a party area and playground. Word spread quickly that the marina that had been talked about for over a decade was now actually under development. Puerto Los Cabos soon established itself as the only resort in the area that would offer not only homesites but a world-class marina, golf courses, and hotels. The plan of the engineering team was to excavate the actual marina basins at the same time the 3 breakwater structures were being built. As anticipated, once the excavation progressed the basin filled up with primarily fresh water from the existing water table. Although visually impressive the engineers knew they still had a long way to go, using dredging, to remove further material and achieve the necessary depth. The basin would only be opened to the sea during the last phase, in 2006, when the temporary lake would finally be connected to the tides and salt waters of the Pacific. This could take place only when the breakwaters were ready to absorb the wave action that would otherwise make the passage impossible. Extensive underwater sonar surveys had already taken place, as well as computer modeling, to determine the best placement for the 3 breakwater structures. It was known that a submarine canyon near the proposed entrance could be used as a natural advantage for the approach to the marina, and this was incorporated in the final placement of the breakwaters, also known as jetties. Actual construction of a “rubble mound” breakwater involves 3 different sizes of rock. Medium sized rocks are used first (1-3 feet in diameter), which are brought in by dump truck from the Arroyo San Lazaro quarry site nearby. Once the medium rocks are in place, smaller rubble is dumped in to help lock them in place and to allow construction vehicles to drive further out on the structure. The process is continued until the largest cap rocks, some over 30 tons, are put in place by crane. These cap rocks will absorb most of the energy from ocean waves (including hurricanes) before they get to the medium rocks that form the nucleus or core. Even before construction began, a continual convoy of dump trucks was employed to bring in the thousands of tons of rocks that would comprise the jetties. These trucks will run 6 days per week for 8 months just to keep up with the quantities needed to finish what will be the largest private breakwater ever built in Mexico. With over 22,000 linear feet of dock space and dedicated slips to over 150 feet, The Marina at Puerto Los Cabos will quickly establish itself as the most ambitious marina project in all of Mexico!
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