Guatemala Security for Yachts
ALERT: U.S Military Strikes – Guatemala
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
Emergency Contact:
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
Overall Crime and Safety
Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America. Take care in all parts of the country, including Guatemala City.
As with everywhere in Central and South America, avoid walking alone during the night or in isolated places.
Maritime Issues
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.
Hoist your dingy and outboard on deck always at night here and be sure to secure them properly to the yacht (i.e. locked). Dinghy and outboard thefts occur here frequently, from boats in marinas as well as from boats anchored near marinas. It is not advisable to leave your dinghy in the water at night. Lift and secure your dinghy onboard if at all possible, though unfortunately this does not seem to deter the most determined of burglars. See
Guatemala Security Reports for information on the latest incidents.
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.
The Caribbean Safety and Security Net (
safetyandsecuritynet@gmail.com) provides information by anchorage or by island, so sailors can plan their cruising in the Caribbean with an eye to appropriate behaviour and precautions wherever they decide to go. Should you have suffered a boarding, robbery or attack on your yacht or have information about a yachting-related security incident, go to the
CSSN homepage and click on the "Report an Incident" icon. The associated form is quick and simple to complete and ensures that all the necessary details are reported. The CSSN is the most comprehensive source of Caribbean security incidents against sailors. Remember, it is every cruiser's responsibility to ensure that incidents are reported. Also, cruisers can subscribe to e-mail alerts, follow on facebook and twitter and listen to the SSB Voice Service.
Also be sure to check the Noonsite
Piracy & Safety Pages
Last updated: December 2024
