Mexico

PAST 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.  

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