 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.
Belize Ports Authority
Contact Shirlett Martinz
Tel:223-0739
www.portauthority.bz, info@portauthority.bz
The anchorage at Belize City is an open roadstead and often rolly.
Cucumber Beach Marina is a 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. Although The Radisson Fort George Marina is useful for a short stop for supplies etc.
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).
Last updated January 2012.
Cucumber Beach Marina
P.O. Box 1021, Mi 5.5 Western Highway, Belize City
Tel:011-501-222-4129,, Fax:011-501-222-4199, VHF Channel 16, 68
www.oldbelize.com/index.php?section=4, marina@oldbelize.com
Opening Hours: 07:00- 18:00 (office)
A modern marina with good security and very helpful staff. Min depth 2m. It is best for visitors to call ahead to reserve a berth.
All facilities, fuel, laundry, pumpout, WiFi (in restaurant). 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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