 Belize City : Profile
Recent reports indicate that yachts have had good experiences clearing in at Belize City. Clearance can be accomplished more rapidly if the Belize port captain is called in advance of arrival on VHF Channel 16. Flying the Q flag, one can either anchor off or use the dock at the Holiday Inn Hotel.
Officials will come to the dock and complete clearance there, without boarding the yacht, with formalities taking about 15 minutes. Fees total US$50 - $10 for the Sanitation department, and $10 each "taxi fare" for 4 officials. If anchored, a customs boat will usually come alongside and the officials will board the boat, but if not, the captain should go ashore to the customs office. In this case the captain is usually accompanied back to the boat by a customs official for the necessary paperwork. The next office to be visited is immigration, which is in town north of the police station. Customs Tel. 011-501-2-73510, immigration Tel. 011-501-8-22423. The Immigration office is open on a Sunday but there is a 40USD/hour overtime charge.
For clearing out at Belize City it is necessary to purchase two special clearance forms available from Angelus Press near the police station. The first office to be visited is the port authority, which is quite far and requires a taxi ride. A charge will be made depending on the tonnage of the yacht. Customs must be cleared next, and finally immigration.
The anchorage at Belize City is an open roadstead and often rolly.
Mayan Marina at Moho Cay is no longer operational. There is now a new, full-service marina off the Western Highway, just south of the town. The other marinas arround the city (Holiday Inn, Raddison and Princess) are all shallow, and are relatively unprotected from the dangerous long rolling fetch.
Belize City is quite safe by day, although keep an eye out for pickpockets. Hold-ups and theft are regular events after dark, so use a taxi, even to travel short distances (make sure you confirm the price with the driver before you get in the car).
Cucumber Beach Marina
P.O. Box 1021, Mi 5.5 Western Highway, Belize City
Tel:+501 222 4152, Fax:+501 222 4161, VHF Channel 16
marina@oldbelize.com
Opening Hours: 0700- 1800 (office)
This marina is reported as having excellent security and very helpful staff, but limited deep draft berths for visitors (call ahead to reserve). Water, electricity, fuel, showers and laundry all recently installed. Haul out facilities and some repairs also possible. It is 5 miles from the town, but there is a bar, a small store and a new restaurant. The flies can be a problem in still conditions.
Clearance can be arranged from by the marina.
Radisson Fort George Hotel & Marina
2 Marine Parade, PO Box 321 Belize City, Belize CA
Tel:011 501 2 333331 800 333 33333, Fax:011 501 2 73820
rdfgh@btl.net
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