In late March, ZOFEMAT resumed its investigation into unauthorized commercial activities and access restrictions at Cascadas Beach, located between the old Cascadas Hotel and Villas del Arco at Médano Beach. ZOFEMAT, the Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone, is a public domain agency and part of Mexico’s National Heritage, as defined by national legislation.
The investigation follows years of citizen complaints about restricted access, parking fees, and unlicensed commercial use of the area. It turns out that anyone who has paid for parking there over the years has done so illegally.
Access to the beach, known as “8 Cascadas,” located in the Salto Seco stream bed in Cabo San Lucas, has been controlled for over a decade by a private individual. Allegations include illegal access blockades, unauthorized parking charges, and environmental degradation. During this time, the federal zone has been exploited as a paid parking area, with unregulated commercial operations like massage tents and recreational equipment rentals, all reportedly without permits.
Attempts to dry parts of the wetland have also been reported, posing ecological risks and increasing contamination. In response, municipal authorities have initiated a legal review. Rafael Álvarez, ZOFEMAT coordinator in Los Cabos, confirmed that investigators are evaluating whether the individual operating at 8 Cascadas holds any valid permits.
“At 8 Cascadas, we’ve made them aware, again, that charging for beach access is unconstitutional. No Mexican should pay to enter a beach,” Álvarez stated. “This is the second time we’ve been asked to intervene. We’ve sent investigators to determine what kind of permits, if any, are held. We are working directly with the people from 8 Cascadas.” He emphasized that all beach access must remain free and open to the public, as enshrined in the Constitution.
At the core of the issue is the conversion of federal land into a private business. Despite being public property, Cascadas 8 has been marked with “private property” signs and closed off for more than a decade, fueling public frustration over obstructed access, environmental damage, and unlawful commercial exploitation.
Although the area lies within a natural water channel, which by law cannot be privatized, it currently operates as a paid parking lot. A significant concern is that the fence installed in the channel could trap debris during hurricane season, potentially causing flooding or water diversion that endangers nearby communities.
Videos and images obtained by CPS Noticias and Tribuna de México show the near-total disappearance of the wetland and unsanitary conditions. Vendors, lacking proper facilities, have reportedly resorted to relieving themselves in open areas, further polluting this environmentally and tourist-sensitive location.
To date, neither SEMARNAT (the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources) nor local authorities have clarified the legal status of the property or issued any sanctions, despite its irregular occupation. That this situation has persisted for over ten years highlights a blatant disregard for federal law. According to the Constitution, beach access must remain free and open to all Mexicans. The beach belongs to everyone, and no one should have to pay to enjoy it.