Warning about Forteleza

Published 12 years ago, updated 5 years ago

From the email sent on 14th July 2012

Don’t go there unless absolutely necessary!

If you anchor off the Yacht club you will be robbed at knifepoint within hours. It happened to a French boat while we were there. Anchoring is not allowed within the breakwater off the Park Marina Hotel. The same group that owns the shipyard built the breakwaters and they also own the hotel/marina so they have no interest in letting you anchor in their basin for free. The marina supervisor will ask you to move in or move on.

The marina holds the dubious distinction of being the world’s most expensive marina ($1 USD/ft/night) while simultaneously being the world’s worst marina. You must med-moor to the crappiest docks imaginable. The metal boxes that make-up the docks are all in various stages of sinking & tilting. The water supply is via a long, long water hose (assuming you brought one) and the electrical supply sparks on the dock as it moves in the surge.

On the up-side, being in the marina gives the crew access to the hotel swimming pool which is greatly appreciated on hot afternoons. The shopping nearby is interesting, but don’t be caught on the street after dark. A motor yacht captain who was there in May of 2012 was mugged three times! All-in-all, our recommendation is don’t go there.

Rick Goltz

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