Western Caribbean

[Chrissy]

What is the situation like in Guatamala and Belize for cruising these days/ We are planning on sailing there next winter. Has anyone left their boat in the Rio Dulce?
Thanks

[AnchorageGuy]

Chrissy, We have lots of info on cruising Belize and Guatemala including the Rio Dulce on our Sea Trek website. We have several friends still down there and several that leave their boat on the river, come back to the states for short or long periods, then return. No problems.

[Bugged]

We were in the Rio from June to November 09, and looked around Belize/Guatemala waters before and after. If you go to Rio you can float around Lake Isabel for a while, but of salt water cruising there is little in Guatemala. Belize is different, and a little better, but our experience with officials made it a place we would not revisit. Many of the the cays are either private and being developed for homes/hotels, or are parks, and require an entry fee, which is open to abuse by officials, to enter.

Sorry - cannot give you a sunny prognosis!

Jeff

[Chrissy]

Thanks for the info....will check out site. Our boat is in the Bahamas over this summer and hopefully in the Rio Dulce next summer. We live in Ontario and are home for 6 months.
cheers,
Chrissy

[alaskamountainman]

My friends Nancy and Daniel Dryden were anchored near Monkey Marina in the Rio Dulce two years ago. Their vessel "Sunday's Child" was boarded by four men who assaulted both sailors with machetes and ice picks. They killed Dan and left Nancy wounded. Dan was 66 at the time.

[sageofsalem]

I went to the rio right after the Drydens were attacked by four drunk punks in a cayuco. They are all dead, except for one, i think, and the Rio is quite safe. There is a Naval patrol, instituted and funded by the marinas and businesses of the Rio Dulce and believe me, it is safe.

You still have outboard theft, as you do everywhere, but there has been no violence since those terrible times.


I have kept my boat, unattended (locked tight) for almost two years as I have to care for my cancer-stricken Mother. Not a problem.

The Rio is the best Hurricane Hole anywhere in the Americas. It is the best place to leave your boat if you have to travel somewhere and the natives and the cruisers I have met are very friendly.


The "powers that be" in the Rio took the Dryden murder very seriously.

[MarkJ]

Theres a long interesting article about the murder and the other deaths here

http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?x=8157