La Paz - Clearance

ALERT: Hurricane Norma (22 October 2023) damaged dozens of watercraft in La Paz as well as docks in at least three marinas. Recovery is expected to take several weeks and could impact cruising boats arriving for the peak winter season. Addionally, a multi-boat fire occurred on 2 November 2023 at Marina Palmira with at least one boat sinking in the fairways. Investigation is underway to assess the full extent of damage to the marina docks.

Clearance:

See Mexico Clearance page for full details.

Club Cruceros de La Paz has a boater's guide to a clearing in and out of La Paz which gives all the details you need to know in order to clear in and out of this port yourself. See http://www.clubcruceros.net/CruisingBaja/InOut.html

Customs and immigration offices are in the Federal building behind the municipal quay. Port captain's office in Calle Francesco Madero north of the quay.

Note that the port captain will not process a crew list for boats heading for other Mexican ports, they only require you to call them. This practice can be sticky if you head directly for Barra de Navidad, where the port captain requires paperwork!

Obtaining a Temporary Import Permit here, if this is your first Mexican port, is reported to be straightforward.

If you choose to use an agent, the cost for obtaining an international zarpe to leave Mexico from La Paz is about US$150, $100 of that is for a "sanitation" inspection, which amounts to the official filling out the paperwork. It is possible to NOT use an agent in this port, and clearing out can be significantly less expensive (usually around US$15).

Last checked:  April 2017