Permit· Placencia Peninsula· Other Caribbean
Big Creek Port of Entry (Independence / Mango Creek)
16° 30.9′ N · 88° 24.3′ W
The deep-water banana and oil port across the lagoon from Placencia is the official port of entry for southern Belize; customs, immigration, Port Authority and BAHA quarantine have offices just outside the port gate.
Practical
It is a secure port: you cannot now take a boat or dinghy into the port - security turns you away (Noonsite reader 2018; earlier Soundings advice to anchor beyond the white buoys and use a roofed dinghy dock is out of date). Anchor at Placencia and take the water taxi to Mango Creek (about US$12 return for two, 2018), then a taxi round the offices (about US$12.50); allow 3 hours and aim for the 10:00 am water taxi; or hire a car (about 1.5 hours by road). 2018 costs: immigration environment charge US$7.50 for two and a boarding charge of US$45 without anyone boarding. Customs issues the zarpe; leave within 24 hours. Say you are departing at 9:00 am, not dawn, to avoid overtime, and you can often check out a day ahead (Noonsite). Fees vary day to day; the Facebook group Belize Cruisers Net has current reports. Hours Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to noon and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The port channel is busy and narrow; port described as 6.5 m deep (VYA). Position: Wikipedia Big Creek.
Best for
Clearing in or out of southern Belize from Placencia
Nearby
- Hokey Pokey Water Taxi (Placencia to Mango Creek)2 NM away
- Placencia Fuel Dock & Town Dock2 NM away
- Placencia Provisioning (Wallen's, Everyday, Top Value)2 NM away
- Barefoot Beach Bar (Placencia)2.1 NM away
- De Tatch Restaurant (Placencia)2.1 NM away
- Placencia Laundries2.1 NM away
- Rumfish y Vino (Placencia)2.1 NM away
- Tipsy Tuna Sports Bar (Placencia)2.1 NM away