A Cruising Guide to The Northwest Caribbean

A publication like this is actually the result of a blending of many people's knowledge and experiences. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following for their help in this effort: Captain Lee Bakewell of the S/V Escape Cay; Jack Boatwright; Bob, Margery, Alex, and Sweet of the S/V Island Time; Alicia Bonnet; Steve Bowden of Sea Tech Systems; John, Vivian, and the entire staff of Bluewater Books and Charts in Ft. Lauderdale; George and Helen Brown of the S/V True Colors; Valeria Cerezo; Marco Antonio Linares; Karen Carpenter of the S/V Rasmus; Nelson Christiana; Cherie and Sandy of the S/V Namaste; Captain Dale Westin; Julie and Michael Frick of the S/V Surprize; Jim Gibbs, Pier 83, Rio Dulce; Joyce and Roger Hill; La Ceiba Shipyard; Richard and Nancy Laub of the S/V Cookie Monster; Jim, Nikki, and everybody at Mario's Marina; Mike McCoy of the S/VHaliai; Mike, Sherry, and Ima Payne of the S/V Gitane; George Munro Sr., and George Munro Jr. of Port Antonio, Jamaica; Paul and Linda Petzold; Randy and Sherry of the S/V Procyon; Roger Quigg of Jolly Roger Cruises in Roatan; Chris Parker of the Caribbean Weather Center; Penny Pilkington; Mike and Karen Rhea of Rhea of Hope; Roady (ILMTB); Daniel Rouse of the S/V Yankee; Daryl and Cristal Simpson of the M/V Izabal Queen; Sharon Smith of the S/V Beach House: Dave Waltz of the S/V Victoria; Jack and Pat Tyler of the S/V Whoosh; Bruce and Rosa Van Sant of the M/V Tidak Ара; and Tom Williams of the Montego Bay Yacht Club
If there is anybody I have neglected to mention here, rest assured that it is an oversight and I sincerely apologize.

Contents

INTRODUCTION

THE BASICS

Anchoring

Clothing-What to Bring

Currency

Belize

Cayman Islands
Guatemala
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Customs and Immigration
Belize
Ports of Entry
Cayman Islands
Ports of Entry
Guatemala
Ports of Entry
Honduras
Ports of Entry
Jamaica
Ports of Entry
Mexico
Ports of Entry
Dinghy Safety
Electricity
Flora and Fauna
Health Concerns
Holidays
Hurricane Holes of the Northwest
Caribbean
The Cayman Islands
The Northern Coast of Jamaica
Guatemala
Honduras
Language
Phoning Home
Radio Nets
Safety and Security
Tides and Currents
Time
Weather Broadcasts
THE LOCAL CULTURES
The Garifuna
The Maroons
Rastafarians
The Maya
Early Pre-Classic Period: 2,000 ВС — 1,000 ВС
Middle Pre-Classic Period: 1,000 ВС — 300 ВС
Late Pre-Classic Period: 300 ВС — 250 AD
Classic Period: 250 AD — 900 AD
Post-Classic Period: 900 AD — 1521 AD
The Mayan People
The Popol Vuh and Mayan Mythology
The Maya Today
Ancient Mayan Cities
El Mirador
Tikal
Quirigua
Copan
Chichen Itza
Palenque
Itzapala pa
USING THE CHARTS
LIST OF CHARTS
Jamaica-The Northern Coast
The Cayman Islands
Guatemala
Honduras
INDEX OF CHARTS
Jamaica-The Northern Coast
Cayman Islands
Guatemala
Honduras
HEADING TO THE RfO DULCE
From the Gulf of Mexico and Florida
Westward to the Rio DuIce
From the Windward Passage
From the Eastern Caribbean
From Panama
THE NORTHERN COAST OF JAMAICA
Customs and Immigration
Information
The Local Currency
A Brief History of Jamaica
A Few Notes on Transiting Jamaica's
Northern Coast
Port Antonio
Oracabessa Bay
Ocho Rios
St. Ann's Bay
Discovery Bay
Rio Bueno
Falmouth Harbour
Montego Bay
Bogue Lagoon
Lucea
Bloody Bay
THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
Customs and Immigration Information
The Local Currency
A Brief History of the Cayman
Islands
Cayman Brae
Little Cayman
Grand Cayman
Georgetown
North Sound
East Channel
REPUBLICA DE GUATEMALA
Customs and Immigration Information
The Local Currency
Security in Guatemala
A Brief History of Guatemala
ahia de Amatique (The Bay of Honduras)
Rio Sarstun
Las Siete Altares
Cabo Tres Puntas
Bahia de Graciosa
Puerto Barrios
Morales and Bananera
The Rfo Dulce
Medical Care on the Rio Dulce
Transiting the Rfo Dulce
Livingston
Livingston to El Golfete
El Golfete
Cayo Grande
Laguna Salvador and Laguna
Calix
Bahia de Tejano
Bahia Buenavista
El Golfete to the town of Rio Dulce (Fronteras)
The Castillo de San Felipe de Lara
Lago Izabal
Denny's Beach
Mariscos
Puerto Refugio and the Rio Oscuro
Bocas de Bujajal and the Rio Polochic
El Estor
Finca Paraiso
Finca Jocolo
The Rest of Guatemala
Guatemala City
Antigua
Semana Santo in Antigua
Panajachel and Lago Atitlan
Chichicastenango
Quetzeltenango (Xela)
El Peten and Flores
Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa
Montericco
HONDURAS
Customs and Immigration Information
The Local Currency
A Brief History of Honduras
Las Islas Santanilla, The Swan
Islands
A Brief History of Las Islas Santanilla
Islas de la Bahia, The Bay Islands
Isla de Guanaja
Savannah Bight
El Bight
Bonacca
The Canal to Pine Ridge Bight
The Northern Shore of Guanaja
Pine Ridge Bight
Michael Rock
Mangrove Bight
Roatan
The Southern Shore of Roatan
Isla Barbaretta
Helene and Morat
Mr. Field Bay
Old Port Royal
Port Royal
Calabash Bight
Fiddler's Bight
Oak Ridge Harbor
Hog Pen Bight
Jonesville and Bodden Bight
Carib Point Bight
Neverstain Bight
Second Bight
Old French Harbour and Fantasy Island
French Harbour
Brick Bay
Dixon Cove and Lower
Dixon Cove
Coxen Hole
West End
The Northern Shore of Roatan
Sandy Bay and Anthony's Key
Mud Hole and Hottest Sparrow
Lagoon (Turtling Bay)
Big Bight
Johnson Bight and Milton Bight
Pollytilly Bight
O'Henry and Roatan
Utila
Security At Utila
Puerto Este (East Harbour)
The Cays Southwest of Utila
Cayos Cochinos
The Northern Coast of Mainland Honduras
Trujillo
La Ceiba and Puerto de Cabotaje
Tela
Punta Sal and Laguna el Diamante
Puerto Cortes
Omoa
A LITTLE BASIC JAMAICAN
A LITTLE BASIC SPANISH
DINING IN THE NORTHWEST CARIBBEAN
The Cayman Islands
Guatemala
Honduras
Jamaica
BUSING AROUND CENTRAL AMERICA
REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READING
APPENDIX
A: Navigational Lights
Belize
Cayman Islands
Guatemala
Honduras
Northern Coast of Jamaica
The Yucatan Channel
The Yucatan Coast of Mexico
B: Marinas
CI: Service Facilities in the Cayman Islands
C2: Service Facilities in Guatemala
C3: Service Facilities in Honduras
С4: Service Facilities in Jamaica
D: Waypoints
Cayman Islands
Guatemala
Honduras
Northern Coast of Jamaica
E: Depth Conversion Scale
F: Metric Conversion Table
INDEX