Earthworks & Site Prep on Holbox: clearing, rock excavation and compacted fills
Every project on Holbox starts with the platform: clearing, rock, fills and levels done right decide whether floors crack, pools leak and roads sink. The island is sand over shell and limestone with a very high water table, so conventional asphalt structures are rarely suitable; pavers, stabilised sand and concrete are the realistic options.
What We Do
Compacted Fills & Platforms
Sascab and crushed stone in controlled layers, compacted and lab-tested, for buildings and roads.
Levels & Drainage
Grading so rain moves away from buildings, toward planned infiltration points.
Clearing & Stripping
Removal of jungle and organic soil, preserving trees marked for protection and chipping vegetation on site.
Clearing permits on Holbox
Holbox is inside the Yum Balam protected area; the island limits cars, and any street or site work faces strict environmental rules and coordination with the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas. We confirm these authorisations before any machine enters the site.
Levels and runoff on Holbox
Streets flood after rain because the water table is near the surface; grades, permeable paving and avoiding hard surfaces are the main tools. Platforms are graded so that rain moves away from buildings toward planned infiltration points.
Plants, materials and access on Holbox
All materials cross by ferry from Chiquilá and move on the island with small vehicles, which makes Holbox the most expensive zone for paving and earthworks.
Traffic and work windows on Holbox
High season from December to April and summer holidays crowd the streets; works are planned in short phases with minimal noise and machinery.
Earthworks Prices (2026) — Holbox
| Work | Detail | Price (MXN) |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing and stripping | Vegetation + 15–30 cm organic soil | $20–$60 / m² |
| Excavation in limestone | Hydraulic breaker, load and stockpile | $360–$840 / m³ |
| Compacted sascab fill | Supplied, 20 cm layers, 95% Proctor | $420–$680 / m³ |
| Spoil haulage | To authorised site, up to 20 km | $120–$230 / m³ |
Useful pages: Earthworks & Site Prep — Riviera Maya · Road Construction on Holbox · Asphalt Paving on Holbox · Concrete & Pavers on Holbox
Why Clients Choose Recrea for Earthworks
- Compaction tested by an accredited lab: Proctor and field density reports on every layer
- Drainage first: grades, kerbs and infiltration wells engineered so water never sits on the pavement
- Fixed price per m², layer by layer, with thicknesses written in the contract
Tell us about your site — Holbox
Frequently Asked Questions
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