The Custom's official now hands out a map to help you find your way around. Immigration is on the left at the end of the first block as you walk up the steep main street hill. Stop here and get your 3 month stamp.
To get to customs, continue up the road and when you see a Bank to your right, look for the sign that points the right turn to Customs. Turn right and go half a block to Customs on your left. Customs will ask you to make a deposit into that bank and then return with the receipt. This is the time to let the Customs official know if you are planning to stay more than the 3 months you have received and apply for another (9 month) extension.
Note: In Guatemala, you will be able to obtain three extensions (three months, nine months and one year) for up to 2 years stay in Rio Dulce without having to take your boat out of the country.
Once you are finished with Customs, continue up the same street Customs is on to the dead end, take a right to another dead end where you will find a small boulevard. Continue left , until you see the fence and gate to the Capitania. Enter the gate and ask permission to enter the Capitania building where the Port Captain will give you permission to navigate the coastal waters of Guatemala.
It cost us $250Q at both Customs & Immigration to enter Guatemala in 2006 for a total of $500 Q.
What about bringing my pet into Guatemala? According to the US Embassy website, you must do the following things:
- Take your pet to a US registered vet for a health certificate stating that the pet has been examined, shows no evidence of communicable disease, and has been vaccinated for rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus. The certificate must be executed within 30 days prior to the animal's entry into Guatemala.
- Take or mail the health certificate to the nearest office of the Dept. of Agriculture in the US that approves health certificates for pets.
- After the certificate is approved, you will need to have it authenticated by the Guatemalan Embassy or Consulate in the US.
I don't believe any of the boaters we ran into went thru all this... IF YOU BROUGHT A PET INTO GUATEMALA, WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE? Please email & let us know.
What opportunities are there for humanitarian work on the Rio Dulce? The Jungle Medic provides medical care to many of the area villages .... Jungle Medic Website. Rayodeesperanza.org runs a clinic in the village of La Esmeralda & is in the process of opening an orphanage.
What about getting Groceries? The town of Fronteras offers most of the day to day shopping you will need. It is quite different to shop in Guatemala than anywhere I've ever been. Vegetables are bought from individual vendors on the street. Nothing is marked and it can be overwhelming to ask the cost of every item before purchasing it. However, you really need to as it is very typical for the price to vary by large amounts...some vendors see GRINGO and the prices go thru the roof, others remain reasonable.
Meat, mainly pork & chicken, can be purchased at the Casa Guatemala store or our favorite Tienda Miriam's. There is also a new chicken store on the main street. We recently got brave and purchased some beef from a street vender...will let you know how that turns out! Often the shrimp man stops by Mario's Marina and you can buy shrimp from him for about $40Q per pound.
If you go to the Dispensa (the only large grocery in Fronteras) everything is marked. The selection is slim, but basics like rice, eggs, bread, milk, cereal, etc. can be purchased there.