Description:
This port is a known hurricane hole. Puerto Chiapas is the southernmost port in Mexico and 22.5 kms (14 miles) north of the Mexico-Guatemala border on the Pacific coast. Cruisers recommend this as a good place to haul out and do bottom work on your boat, and even store it during the rainy season. Prices are reported to be very reasonable.
Logistically, it is the ideal place for northbound yachts to clear into Mexico and wait for a safe crossing of the notoriously windy 480 kms (260 mile) wide Gulf of Tehuantepec. For southbound boats, it is a convenient stopover for refuelling, reprovisioning and for handling Zarpe paperwork before departing Mexico into Central American cruising waters.
Formally known as Puerto Madero, the name was changed a few years ago after the cruise ship terminal was built. Cruisers report that a great deal of work is on-going to improve the port and make it welcoming to visiting yachtsmen. Marina Chiapas opened in 2011.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
If you email your arrival ETA to the marina in advance, a 24 hr watch will be kept for you. Access to the port from sea is easy between breakwaters and the channel to the marina from the port is buoyed.
Call the port captain on VHF Channel 16 when you are near the sea buoy to ask permission to enter the port and give notice of where you intend to moor. All of the port officials speak English and all formalities can be carried out at the marina. Note that the Port Captain only operates Monday to Friday, therefore a weekend arrival will slow clearance down.
If you call the marina when you are a couple of miles out, they will come out to greet you and guide you in. Note that when the marina office is shut, the dock staff only operate on handheld VHF radios, and therefore they won't hear you until you are well within the harbour. Dock staff work 24 hours.
At times dredging takes place here which can obstruct the entrance channel as you come into the marina. It is very well lit at night.
Position:
14° 41.641'N, 92°25.16'W (Harbor entrance)
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