Dock, Pier and Boat Lift Construction in the Riviera Maya

A dock lives in the harshest place on the property: salt water, sun, hurricanes and boring organisms. We design and build fixed docks on piles, floating pontoons, boat lifts and lagoon-front decks for villas on the Nichupté lagoon, the Puerto Cancún and Puerto Aventuras marinas, Isla Mujeres and Bacalar, including the federal permits that water works always require.

Quick answer: In 2026 a fixed dock on piles with a hardwood or composite deck costs about $9,000–$16,000 MXN per m²; a 2 × 10 m dock is roughly $180,000–$320,000 MXN before permits. Floating pontoons run $8,000–$15,000 MXN/m² and boat lifts $250,000–$650,000 MXN.

Dock and pier construction by Recrea Construction in the Riviera Maya — A Recrea Construction project

2026 prices: fixed dock on piles with hardwood or composite deck $9,000–$16,000 MXN/m²; concrete pier $18,000–$32,000 MXN/m²; floating HDPE pontoon $8,000–$15,000 MXN/m²; boat lift installed $250,000–$650,000 MXN. Permits and environmental studies are quoted separately and often take longer than the build.

What We Build

Fixed Docks on Piles

Treated hardwood, galvanised steel or concrete piles, with decks in tropical hardwood or composite.

Floating Pontoons

HDPE or concrete floats with gangways that follow the tide and lagoon levels.

Boat Lifts

Electric lifts for boats and jet skis, stainless and aluminium for salt water.

Dock Services

Shore power, water, LED step lighting and cleats, all marine grade.

Hurricane Detailing

Deck boards fixed to release under storm surge, piles designed for wave loads.

Federal Permits

ZOFEMAT or CONAGUA concession, environmental impact statement and municipal licence.

Permits first: water belongs to the federation

Any structure over the sea, a lagoon or a canal sits on federal property. On the coast that means a ZOFEMAT concession; on lagoons and inland waters, a CONAGUA concession; and almost always an environmental impact statement before SEMARNAT. In sensitive places, Bacalar's stromatolites or mangrove edges, approval may be limited or refused. We check feasibility before design so you do not pay for drawings of a dock that cannot be permitted, and we size the project to what is realistically approvable.

Materials that survive salt water

Piles: pressure-treated hardwood, hot-dip galvanised steel or precast concrete, depending on depth, soil and loads.
Deck: dense tropical hardwood (ipe, tzalam) or composite boards with hidden stainless fixings; no pine near salt water.
Hardware: 316 stainless or hot-dip galvanised throughout; mixed metals corrode each other.
Storms: we detail decks so boards can lift off in a surge instead of taking the piles with them, and lifts are raised and secured before a hurricane.

Dock & Pier Prices (2026)

Type	Structure	Price
Fixed dock	Piles + hardwood/composite deck	$9,000–$16,000 MXN/m²
Concrete pier	Concrete piles and deck	$18,000–$32,000 MXN/m²
Floating pontoon	HDPE floats + gangway	$8,000–$15,000 MXN/m²
Boat lift	Electric, installed	$250,000–$650,000 MXN

Useful pages: Padel & Tennis Courts · Coastal Protection · Wine Cellar & Home Cinema · Luxury villas · Luxury villa renovation

Why Waterfront Owners Choose Recrea

18+ years and 196 projects in the Riviera Maya, written warranty
One contract: civil works, specialist installer, MEP and finishes coordinated by us
Built for salt air and humidity: 316 stainless, marine coatings, vapour barriers where the tropics demand them
Permits handled: municipal licence, ZOFEMAT, CONAGUA and environmental filings when the project needs them
Fixed price with the specification written in the contract, English-speaking project manager

WhatsApp — 2 min

Call: 984 452 5333

Tell us about your dock

Frequently Asked Questions

In 2026 a fixed dock on piles with a hardwood or composite deck costs about $9,000–$16,000 MXN per m²; a 2 × 10 m dock is roughly $180,000–$320,000 MXN before permits. Floating pontoons run $8,000–$15,000 MXN/m² and boat lifts $250,000–$650,000 MXN.

Yes. Water and the shore are federal: you need a ZOFEMAT concession on the sea or a CONAGUA concession on lagoons, usually an environmental impact statement and the municipal licence. Building without them risks demolition orders and fines.

Only with great care. The lagoon is protected and its stromatolites are fragile; new docks face strict environmental review and may be limited in size or refused. We assess feasibility before any design work.

Permits typically take 4–9 months; construction of a private dock 3–8 weeks depending on piling method, access by water and weather.

Get a quote for your dock

Feasibility, permits, piles, deck and lift under one contract. Reply in 2 minutes.

Quote on WhatsApp

Fixed docksFloating pontoonsBoat liftsMarine-grade hardwareFederal permits18+ Years