Permit· Punta Gorda· Other Caribbean
Punta Gorda Port of Entry (Customs Dock)
16° 6.0′ N · 88° 48.1′ W
Belize's southernmost and, by cruiser consensus, friendliest and cheapest port of entry: all the officials share one white 'Welcome to Belize' building about 200 feet from the town dock - the usual check-out for boats bound for Guatemala's Rio Dulce.
Practical
Customs dock 16°06.012'N 088°48.056'W (Ventura Yacht Agency). Visit in order Customs, Immigration, Health/Quarantine and Port Authority; about an hour ashore; officials rarely board small yachts. Hours Monday to Friday 8:00 am to noon and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm; clearing between noon and 1:00 pm has been charged at overtime rates. A fifth office in the building charges BZ$10 for a dinghy. The only charges should be Agriculture, Port Captain and the departure zarpe (Noonsite); 2020 reader figures: immigration free for the first month, BAHA BZ$50, Port Captain BZ$100 for a ~40 ft monohull, BZ$40 per person to check out (verify locally). Immigration extensions US$25 per person per 30 days (VYA). SailClear in advance saves time; Notice of Arrival 48 hours ahead. Leave someone aboard - the anchorage is an open roadstead. Water taxis run daily to Puerto Barrios and twice weekly to Livingston, Guatemala (Wikipedia).
Best for
Cheapest, simplest Belize clearance; check-out for the Rio Dulce
Nearby
- Fajina Local Maya Restaurant (Punta Gorda)0.1 NM away
- Punta Gorda Town (provisions & market)0.1 NM away
- Punta Gorda Anchorage0.2 NM away
- Punta Gorda Market Days0.2 NM away
- Asha's Culture Kitchen (Punta Gorda)0.4 NM away
- Marian's Bayview Restaurant (Punta Gorda)0.4 NM away
- Toledo Cacao Festival0.5 NM away
- Wild Cane Caye Anchorage11 NM away