A

bout ...Mexico

Isla, Isla, Isla.  So much fun and a great place to stop.  If it wasn't for hurricanes, we might never leave.  The food here is fabulous.  Be sure and try the street vendors.  The food is inexpensive and great.  My personal favorite, pescado frita at Picus.  Ummm...I can't wait to go back again.

CHECK IN-CHECK OUT PROCEDURES

April 2007:  We went into El Cid Marina in Puerto Morelos where we checked in thru the marina.  Immigration, agriculture, and Port Captain are all in the office at El Cid.  Cost to check in was $60.00 US.  They have a copier so all you need are your crew's list, boat documentation & passports.  Easy! 

Word of Caution:  We've always heard it was more expensive to check in at Cozumel or Puerto Adventuras.  Our friends on Corazon and Liberty both checked in at Puerto Adventuras ... we paid $60 US ... they paid $250 US!  It's true.

April 2006:  We checked into Isla Mujeres using Miguel from Marina Paraiso as our agent.  We took the following information into Miguel to get the process started: 

1. Documentation
2. Passports
3. Crew List
4. Importato (we got this on our first trip here and it lasts for 10 years)

Miguel completed a one page form and said we needed five copies of it.  Some for Sanitation and some for Immigration.  Since I have a copier on board, I had already made extra copies of all of the above, however, I didn't need most of the copies this time.

Sanitation is the first stop.  Only the Captain is needed here.  It's a small office staffed by only one young girl who speaks no English.  We gave the girl the copies of Miguel's form and in our broken Spanish we were able to complete the forms stating that we did not have any infectious diseases.  She then completed the agricultural form and one other, stamped and returned 2 copies of Miguel's form and we were on our way.  (It is my understanding that occasionally they will send an inspector to the boat, but it is rare.)

Next stop is Immigration.  Captain and crew are needed here.  There we give the Immigration Officer Miguel's forms (freshly stamped from Sanitation), the three forms from Sanitation and our passports.  He has us complete the Immigration form then stamps everything and we are on our way again.  We will take the Immigration form (one for each of us) to the bank next time we change money and pay our fees. 

Next stop Miguel.  We give Miguel all our stamped stuff and he takes care of the rest.  We go back at 5:00 pm that evening and pick up our paperwork and pay him the fees. 

Cost to check into Isla were:

• Fees paid to Miguel:  $528.00 pesos
• Tourist Vista:  $214.00 pesos each person

We paid about $25 US for Miguel to handle our paperwork (included in the fees above).  If we had done it ourselves, it would have required a trip into Cancun.  After paying for the ferry over, taxi (or if you are us, buses), and the ferry back, I can't see that you'd save more than $5 or so dollars.

Directions to:

Marina Paraiso:  In the south east corner of the harbor.  Located on Rueda Medina which is the main street.  The dinghy dock is also located on Rueda Medina.

Sanitation:  Located on Guerro. 

Immigration:  Located on Rueda Medina.

Bank:  Located on Rueda Medina just about 1 block from Immigration.

• 3/2006 - Here is another check in experience as told to NW Caribbean Net.  
• 4/2005 - Sea Trek's experience checking into Isla in 2005.

We've been in and out of Mexico twice.  Each time the procedure was different.  Note that we don't mind the check ins & outs, however long it takes,  as long as the people are friendly and in Isla, they are friendly.  

The Importato is causing great confusion right now.  We have heard you must get it within 5 days of checking in, within 10 days of checking in, not at all if you don't leave your boat in Mexico longer than your tourist visa.   Honestly, we can't get a straight answer anywhere.  We do know that without the Importato, your boat must leave Mexico when your Tourist Visa expires (30, 60, 90 days).  The Importato lasts for 10 years and the Mexican government seems to think it's very important...that makes it important to me as a visitor.  We have heard reports of people that did not get their Importato and left their boat in Mexico after their visa expired and then were surprised when their boats were impounded.   News from the NW Caribbean net says this can now be done over the internet by going to the following site:  Importatas.  However, that takes the fun out of going to Cancun via ferry, catching 2 buses to the airport and finding the right building to make the application.  We kind of enjoyed the process! 

CHARTS & GUIDES WE FOUND HELPFUL

 "Cruising Guide to Belize and Mexico's Caribbean Coast, including Guatemala's Rio Dulce" by Freya Rauscher is a must have for cruising the NW Caribbean

We recommend... Lonely Planet Mexico.  Island Hopping's guide has a new guide coming out in November 2006.

Download the NW Caribbean Charts Ebook.  This book was put together by several sailors.  As always, hurricane, etc. change waypoints and information.  Be sure to check with fellow cruisers for the most up-to-date and common sense rules.  You will need Adobe Reader to view this ebook.

MARINAS

	Marinas in Isla Mujeres... El Milagro - ericschott@msn.com or shellyschott@cox.net Marina Pariaso Puerto Isla Mujeres Club de Yates Nacho’s Marina North Fuel Dock
El Milagro		Marina Pariaso

Marinas in Puerto Morelos:  El Cid Marina

CRUISER'S NET  

If you have an SSB, 6209, with an alternate of 6212, at 1400z (8:00 am central daylight time) is the NW Caribbean Net.  They keep track of cruisers under sail and share information about weather, conditions, etc.  

In Isla, there is a cruiser's net on VHF channel 13.  Varies from 7:30 am to 8:30 am depending on daylight savings time.  

U.S. visitors to Mexico may bring a dog or cat by presenting the following certificates at the border:

• a pet health certificate signed by a registered vet in the United States and issued not more than 72 hours before the animal enters Mexico
• pet vaccination certificate showing that the animal has been treated for rabies, hepatitis, pip and leptospirosis.
  
  Certification by Mexican consular authorities is not required for the health or vaccination certificate. A permit fee is charged at the time of entry into Mexico.  Source:  SolutionsAbroad

GROCERIES

Isla's largest grocery store is San Francisco located on Morales at the main square.  You can buy most everything you need there.  They have a veggie section, deli counter (although don't expect Boar's Head or any good lunch meat ... but the Manchego cheese is really good), meat market, bakery, etc. 

There is also a more traditional Mexican market down the street from San Francisco.  You can buy vegetables and meat there, however, nothing is priced so I often feel like I'm getting Gringo'd there.  Sometimes though you have to go there when San Francisco runs out of things like avocados.    I'm also pretty sure you can get some very good meat there if you can figure out how to ask for it and then bargain for it.

Meritita's is a smaller grocery that has meat, veggies, canned goods & liquor.  Located at the corner of Juarez & Bravo.

The fisherman's coop offers fresh fish and lobster.  They are located at right behind Minimo's at the dinghy dock.

Homemade tortillas can be purchased just around the corner from San Francisco on Hidalgo.  Watch for a small sign hanging on the north side of the road.  Walk down the cement small pathway between buildings and you'll see the tortilla place.

There are several small tiendas (stores) scattered through out town if you are interested in exploring.

If you are ready to make a trip into Cancun, you will find a Sam's, a Walmart, Mexciana Commerical (our favorite) & several more large groceries where you can find any item you need.

San Francisco in Main Square	Mertita's	Entrance to Tortilla Factory

PROPANE

Be sure to fill your propane tanks before coming to Isla.  As of 5/06, you have to take your tanks into Cancun, via the car ferry (the fast ferry doesn't allow them).  Then it's about 20 minutes in a taxi to the propane place. 

ANCHORAGES WE'VE STOPPED AT ON THE WAY TO/FROM BELIZE 

• Hut Point:  Our next stop after Isla.  Easy reef to go thru if you have the Rauscher Guide.  Hard to get the anchor to set, but we had mild weather.  See my log for details.   View Sea Trek's thoughts on this anchorage.
• Bay of Achension
• Banco Chinchorro: 

Take a photo tour of Mexico:  Heart of Gold's Mexican Adventure 

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