Puerto Chiapas : Profile

Location

Puerto Chiapas is the southern most port in Mexico and 14 miles north of the Mexico-Guatemala border on the Pacific coast.

Logistically, it is the ideal place for northbound yachts to wait for a safe crossing of the notoriously windy 260-mile-wide Gulf of Tehuantepec. For southbound boats, it is a convenient stopover for refuelling, reprovisioning and for handling Zarpe paperwork before departing Mexico into Central American cruising waters.

Formally known as Puerto Madero, the name was changed a few years ago after the cruise ship terminal was built. Cruisers report that a great deal of work is on-going to improve the port and make it welcoming to visiting yachtsmen. The new Marina Chiapas opened here in December 2011.

Clearance

Call the port captain on VHF Ch. 16 when you are near the sea buoy to ask permission to enter the port and give notice of where you intend to moor. All of the port officials speak English and all formalities can be carried out at the marina.

Note that if you checked out of Mexico in Huatulco you cannot enter Puerto Chiapas for any reason (except emergencies) with out having to check back into (and out) of the country. Being low on fuel, tired, engine problems, and similar is not considered an emergency.

Docking

The curved access channel into the new private yacht basin lies off the eastern corner of the east bay, at Puerto Chiapas. The east bay also houses the Mexican navy base and two fuel docks.

Cruise ships enter and dock in the northern bay of Puerto Chiapas, so if boaters wish to anchor there temporarily, it is at the discretion of the port captain. The API charge 80 peso/day for mooring here.

The marina’s access channel and yacht basin are dredged to a minimum depth of 15 feet at mean low water. The location provides 360-degree shelter from Tehuantepec winds.

The harbormaster is called Enrique Laclette.

The marina operates a shuttle into Tapachula for shopping, twelve miles inland.

Last updated January 2012.

Marina Chiapas
Marinachiapas@hotmail.com
All 40 berths have potable water, shore power (110v, 220v and 440v), Wi-Fi, dock boxes and access to the marina’s showers and laundry rooms. Guests can also use Internet services in the marina office building. 70-ton travel lift and dry storage. Fuel dock near marina entrance canal - best to arrive at high tide.

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