Billy Estes
Newbie
What paperwork and cost at port of entry mexico?
Hey Jim - a new thread might be best, but I'd like to hear more about your trip from Key West - type of boat, weather, how you managed the Gulf Stream, where you're headed (Rio Dulce?), etc. I assume you're at El Cid in Puerto Morelos - will you also stop at Puerto Aventuras?Hey Billy,
We entered Mexico on the 21st of March at Isla Mujeres which is near Cancun. We used an agent. Didn't have to but chose the easiest path. We went to the Puerto de Isla Mujeres Marina and met with Hernan the agent. His fee was $300. We had already completed the TIP application online and I recall that the fee was $52. We also had to pay about $50 per person aboard for visas. We did not have a zarpe from the US but they wanted one and accepted our fuel receipt from Key West as our zarpe. They did note, however, that from that point forward a zarpe is required. They want a crew list but it was easily completed by hand by the immigration folks and I was listed as the owner and my wife the captain. This was handy as we had two principles aboard so allowed more booze. (At least that is what the customs guy said.) You need to be sure to get a visa for each person aboard or you may have difficulty leaving by other means than your vessel. We were boarded by customs and agriculture to look for any contraband or health issues. We have two cats aboard and they were looked over by the health guy and there was much discussion of the process to get them out of Mexico and into Belize. We haven't done this yet so something new to learn. Headed to Belize soon so a new process to learn As Peter says, part of the experience. I recommend a smile and a happy attitude as you navigate your way through any of these crossings including back to the US. You will get through all of it with patience and grace. Slow down and enjoy the process. Jim Rincon Feliz, Puerto Morelos, MX
I know, it seems silly, but as Peter stated, their country, their rules. We just lucked out in that we already had the WA State cards, as we saw absolutely no mention of it in any of the literature, nor had anyone said anything about it on any of the online forums we frequent.
Even in the US, local interpretations vary. Height of my heavy travel was in the years after 9/11. I recall the requirement for removing shoes at TSA security checkpoints had just been removed for Trusted Travelers. Going through the Detroit security line, an officer pointed to my shoes and said I needed to take them off. I asked in a fairly friendly way why since the rule had changed. What really changed was his attitude: he leaned forward a bit, squared his jaw, and asked me if I was telling him how to do his job, and whether I wanted to make my flight today (question mark intentionally ommited).This is a good point. Expect that at any moment the process will change. Last week it was this, this week it is something else. Last port it was this and this port it is that. Gotta be ready to go with the flow. Once there was a typo on fishing permits in Santa Rosalia out of Mex City. The annual price was accidently changed to a daily price so it was near $100/day/person. The Capt in Santa Rosalia did not want to rock the boat and show Mex City their error so for a year that was the price. We said we wouldn't pay that and he said he wouldn't either. Since he was the one to check permits, no one got one for a year LOL. This is part of the charm of Mexico, sometimes it just doesn't have any logic.