The US military started carrying out strikes on suspected drug-carrying vessels in the Pacific on 21 October, 2025. Strikes have occurred off the Guatemala coast and near the coasts of Mexico and Colombia.
See Noonsite News with more details.
Remember – if transiting the Pacific coast in this area:
1. File your Float Plan (see notes on yacht security at the bottom of this section)
2. Keep your AIS ON
3. Keep your navigation lights ON
JRCC Alameda, Southwest Coast Guard District, Alameda, California (California and Eastern Pacific Ocean waters off the Coast of Mexico and Central America.)
Phone: (800) 246-7236 and/or +1 (510) 437-3700
Email: RCCAlameda1@uscg.mil
Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America. Take care in all parts of the country, including Guatemala City.
Cruisers should take basic safety precautions and use common sense when ashore. Avoid walking alone in isolated areas, especially at night. Don’t carry large amounts of cash around or wear expensive jewelry.
The risks of petty theft, pickpocketing and assault increases during regattas and festivals. Do not leave drinks unattended.
Dinghy thieves operate throughout South America and the Caribbean basin. Be sure to lift, chain, and lock your dinghy and outboard when not in use, especially at night. When leaving your dinghy ashore, ensure that your dinghy and outboard are securely locked.
AirTags and other cell based/Bluetooth tracking devices are being used by cruisers to track their dinghys/outboards. Some thieves are aware of this practice and may detect, locate and disable them. Understand the limitations of using tracking devices. (See this May 24 Jost Van Dyke, BVI CSSN report.) The use of GPS trackers (rather than Bluetooth trackers) is recommended. See this Report by David Lyman.
Advice throughout the region is to remove items from the deck that may be tempting for thieves. When going ashore close all hatches, lock your boat, hide valuables out of sight and secure any loose items, including fuel/jerry cans and jugs. Keep the boat well-lit to deter boarders. It is also advisable to keep your cockpit/salon areas and hatches locked at night when sleeping onboard.
A new method of corruption appearing in Caribbean islands is for a “finders” fee to be demanded when a stolen dinghy is “found”. (See this Nov 23 Tyrell Bay, Carriacou CSSN report and this Apr 24 Clifton Harbour, SVG CSSN report.)
Care should be taken here as there have, in the past, been a number of yacht boardings and robberies. Increases in patrols in the Rio Dulce area has resulted in better security, however, the Navy does not patrol at all times and it is not recommended to anchor in lonely anchorages overnight.
Local advice is to moor in one of the many marinas that are around the bridge, which are not expensive. Or, if you really do not want to to go in a marina, anchor in front of the village of Fronteras, in front of one of the nearby marinas, or in a group all monitoring the same VHF frequency. However, if leaving your yacht unattended for any length of time, it might be advisable to have someone check on it regularly as thefts have occurred from yachts left at anchor by their owners who have gone away for a period of time. See Rio Dulce Security Reports.
If you want to anchor down the river then choose Texan Bay. It is recommended that anchoring overnight in or near the Rio Tatin should be avoided.
Be particularly careful in Livingston. If at all possible, do not leave your yacht unattended there and keep everything locked and stowed away if possible.
Dinghy and outboard thefts occur frequently, from boats in marinas as well as from boats anchored near marinas.
The Caribbean Safety and Security Net (CSSN) collects and shares reliable reports of crimes against yachts in the Caribbean, helping cruisers make informed decisions.
The CSSN website offers current and past incident reports, stats, regional piracy info, and annual summaries. Here are some of the ways to use their site:
Visit the CSSN Interactive Map or the CSSN Guatemala Incidents to keep up to date with the latest incident reports.
Users can also check Guatemala Security Reports for information on the latest incidents.
Interested users can also review the Noonsite Piracy & Safety Pages.
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
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Checking in this morning to Guatemala. They will apparently do a PCR test tomorrow on us. We have been told that we will have to quarantine for 12 days irrespective of the result. Though our feeling on this one is perhaps this one incorrect information as it seems illogical. They have stated that we could quarantine in the designated marina though. Which is nice….Good luck folks and avoid those hurricanes.
Port livingston Guatemala. Also, spring tide worked on a bearing of 220Mag for a 1.8m draft vessel.
US Embassy latest news. https://gt.usembassy.gov/news-events/
Guatemalan President also reported that this also applies to Canadian citizens, as well as US citizens.
Lilia Hartmann, author of the Guide to the Rio Dulce, has now confirmed the rules that regulate the entry and stay of a yacht in Guatemala:
1. Boats entering Guatemala from abroad will receive a cruising permit valid for 3 months. The cost of this permit will be US$ 50,00, to be paid at the bank located near the customs office.
2. Boats who wish to remain longer are recommended to ask immediately for an additional 9 month permit at the cost of UD$ 150,00. If they do not ask for the extension straight away, the captain will have to return to Livingston to do this later.
3. Boats who wish to remain after the first 12 months may obtain a permit to remain an additional 12 months at a cost of US$ 150,00. This extension may be renewed each 12 months thereafter, but it requires that the vessel is located in an INGUAT (Istituto Guatemaltteco de Turismo) registered marina and there must be a contract with the marina.
Re. the above comment, Raul Veliz, the customs agent in Livingston, reported that these rules have not officially been approved yet. More information when we have it.
On Friday, March 28 there was a meeting at Nana Juana Hotel & Marina in Rio Dulce that was hosted by the Guatemala Ministry of Tourism (INGUAT) where it was announced that the rule regarding vessels having to leave the country for three months has been rescinded and the old system will be implemented. This is very good news for all.
The rule that will take effect April 1 is as follows:
1. Boats when initially entering Guatemala from abroad will receive a cruising permit valid for three (3) months. The cost for this permit will be $50.00 US dollars plus Q60.00 (about $7.80 US).
2. Boats who wish to remain longer have the option to obtain an additional nine (9) month permit at a cost of $150.00 US Dollars.
3. Boats who wish to remain after the first 12 months as described above may obtain a permit to remain an additional 12 months at a cost of $150.00 US Dollars.
4. The extension described above for periods beyond the initial 12 month period may be renewed every 12 months thereafter indefinitely for a fee of $150.00 US Dollars. These extensions also require that the vessel be located in an INGRATE registered marina and there must be a contract with the marina.
There is no requirement that vessels leave the country for three (3) months or any other period to qualify for these extensions.
The fees stated above are SAT fees and do not include fees that may be charged by immigration or an agent.
Be advised that after the first 3 months in Guatemala, you must be staying at one of 8 ‘registered’ marinas in order to qualify for a 12-month extension. Marina rates are going up as services remain the same…
When arriving or leaving Guatemala via Livingston it is best to use a “tramitador” or agent for a reasonable amount. The one to use is Raul Morales Veiz, tel +502 7947-0888 mobile +502 5510-9104, navieraservamar@gmail.com Livingston Izabal Guatemala