Rio Dulce, Guatemala

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It's so sad, regarding lenseman's report that officials try to make things more & more difficult for everyone in any walk of life... Yes I know, I know its their job to make it so...
Who will lose out?? The genuine people who make money from cruisers! It's sad:(
 
lenseman said:
I received this information last year and it will directly affect your planned destination. It came from Cruisers Network Online and I have been searching for it (and now found it) ever since you mentioned your plans:

Boat Papers Guatemala

Our unresolved experience in Guatemala I feel is important to share -
Click to expand...

I am going to check this out as I have also heard rumours about this. (I will be 2 months late leaving the river myself!)

I will post more info when I have it

lenseman said:
Are you European? :D

Also see this link for further information. ;)

http://www.mayaparadise.com/izabal/riodulce/boater_information.htm
Click to expand...

We are from the UK.

The Mayan paradise link may not be up to date as the guy who updates it is no longer on the river.
 
OK, I'm still looking at the Rio Dulce at the moment, but I have a question or two for those of you who are there and know what the score is.

1. Any update on the visa thing, as we would like stay there for whole of the hurricane season.
2. we draw 2.1m (7ft) can we clear the bar or not, there seem sto be differing views on what the actuall depth at the bar at HW is? If we can't clear the bar then obvioulsy we can't go there.

Cheers
 
Ariadne said:
. . . . . we draw 2.1m (7ft) can we clear the bar or not, there seem sto be differing views on what the actuall depth at the bar at HW is? If we can't clear the bar then obvioulsy we can't go there.
Click to expand...

I refer you to my post above which you might have possibly missed the link:

The mouth of the Rio Dulce has a sand bar which must be crossed before reaching the deep water of the river. Vessels drawing more than 5 feet must take care to enter where the bar is the lowest. Vessels drawing over 5 1/2 feet should cross the bar at high tide. The deepest it ever gets at the deepest point during the highest tide is 7 1/2 feet.

Tides Tables (Rio Dulce Entrance):

http://www.mayaparadise.com/izabal/tidesidx.htm
 
Ariadne said:
OK, I'm still looking at the Rio Dulce at the moment, but I have a question or two for those of you who are there and know what the score is.

1. Any update on the visa thing, as we would like stay there for whole of the hurricane season.
2. we draw 2.1m (7ft) can we clear the bar or not, there seem sto be differing views on what the actuall depth at the bar at HW is? If we can't clear the bar then obvioulsy we can't go there.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Re question 1
We are following this up with Raul the Agent at Livingston as to the very latest information. We have heard rumours about customs changes in the Pacific coast that are not in force here yet.

The current situation, as we understand it here, is that when you arrive at Livingston to check in (do not go to Puerto Barrios), the following happens

Immigration

Will give you 90 days, after that, the official options are

a) Leave the country for 72 hours and then return giving you another 90 days.
b) Go to Guatemala City – 6 hours by bus and speak to Immigration there who will give you another 90 days

What we do is go to Omoa in Honduras every 3 months which is only 2 hours away by car, stay the night, have a beer or 2 and then return (you can even return the same day but there MAY be a charge) Border charges about $5

This is Central American and there are other options

Customs (SAT)/Port Captain
Will give the boat 3 months or 90 days when you arrive and you also apply for a further 12 months extension, AS LONG AS THE EXTENTION IS GRANTED BEFORE THE FIRST 3 MONTHS IS UP , i.e. apply for the extension when you arrive. After the 15 months you should leave

If the boat is here after the allotted period you pay a fine when you do leave which is about $0.67 per day for every day over. I spoke to Raul at the end of December 2011 and this is what he advised me to do.

Another option is to go to the Sapadillos Cayes in Belize just before your 3 months is up, about 25 – 30 miles away, and return. Guatemala regards this as OK and you do some kind of partial check into to Belize (but at much less cost)

If/when we hear things have changed I will post an update

Re question 2
At high water springs, i.e. tidal heights of 2 foot or more, boats drawing 7 or even 7.5 feet can and do get in every season. This usually done by getting Raul to arrange 1 or 2 launchas to haul you over, (ropes from the mast) and drag you through the soft mud. This is worth arranging with Raul before hand as you then know the costs, there are always launchas around who will offer to help but may not have done it before
 
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