Central America Cruising Guides

Created by doina. Last modified on 2008-11-01 10:16:42
Contributors:
Topic: Books,Charts and DVDs
Countries: Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama

Explore Central America – Parts 1 & 2
By Eric Baicy & Sherrell Watson, s/v SARANA

PART 1 – Pacific Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua
7th Edition: September 2008 (first produced October 2007)
E-book, 80 pp, US$13

PART 2 – Pacific Costa Rica
1st Edition: September 2008
E-book, 167pp, US$18

Available from www.sailsarana.com as PDF ready to print format.

These are 2 neat little e-books providing a useful guide for any sailor planning either a cruise to the Central American countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, or to Costa Rica. Conveniently, both guides have an interactive table of contents, making finding information quick and easy.

Part 1 was first produced in October 2007 as the authors felt that this region was lacking coverage by cruising guides, and has been continually revised over the last year, now in its 7th edition. This guide covers the Pacific side of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Part 2 is new and was completed in September 2008. This guide covers about 55 anchorages in Pacific Costa Rica and a bit of the western part of Panama where other guides have missed some hazards and key routes.

The beginning section of both guides includes useful general information on travelling in this area with pets, recommended charts, as well as a weather overview including specific information on hurricanes, and regional features such as the potentially dangerous winds in the Gulf of Tehuantepec in Mexico and the Papagayo winds found along the coast from Nicaragua to central Costa Rica.

Each country has a brief introductory section as well as further information on weather and tips how to access SSB email weather forecasts. Clear maps and diagrams accompany the descriptions of the ports, marinas and more secluded anchorages cruising yachts are likely to use. Waypoints are provided for channel entrances, anchorages and so on. Basic details are provided on formalities, facilities and sightseeing among other things.

There is a useful appendix containing addresses and details for transportation, hardware and other suppliers or services, 75% of which the authors themselves have visited or experienced.

Free updates of the guide are available from www.sailsarana.com.

There are also additional free resources for cruisers on the website, including the Bahia del Sol Cruiser’s Guide (2007), a List of Marine Suppliers for all of Central America (El Salvador to Panama), Ecuador Cruising Guide written by cruisers and research into cruising the Pacific coast of Columbia.