Beware of Puerto Madero, MX

[Quijote]

Hi folks,
We just left Mexico for El Salvador, checking out of Puerto Madero. We discovered that, as of the first of the year, the responsibility for checking yachts out of Mexico has shifted from the immgration office at the Tapachula airport to the immigration office in downtown Tapachula. The downtown office didn´t have a clue how to do this when we blundering into their office. But they had decided to apply the rules dealing with cruise ships to yachts. They showed me a printout of the applicable law and it said explicitly that it pertained to "embarcaciones commerciales" (commercial vessels). However, they would not listen and insisted on charging us $262 for 1 to 500 passengers. We paid it, but only because we wanted to leave and we had no resources to fight back with. I will make an official protest through channels. At some point, they will get their wrists slapped. In the meanwhile, we want to warn mariners to check out through Hautulco to avoid the immigation at Puerto Madero.
PS: do not count on a response because I rarely get to internet down here.
Bet regards,
Richard Black
S/V Saeta
Sceptre 41

[dana-tenacity]

When I was ther ethe Port Captain at Huatulco was ripping cruisers off, maybe depart from Acapulco is best, then only stop at anchorages without officials.

[alohaboat]

Originally Posted by dana-tenacity

When I was ther ethe Port Captain at Huatulco was ripping cruisers off, .

How long ago was that?

[dana-tenacity]

Before the new rules, around 2000/2001

[alohaboat]

Although I haven't been to Huatulco...yet.......my understanding is that things have changed dramatically there. I know they have in other Mexican ports. I'm cruising there now.

[dana-tenacity]

I sure hope so, other than that I fell in love with Mexico, would love to go back again

[Quijote]

Hi again,
When we were at Puerto Barillas in El Salvador, we ran into a couple who had also been bilked out of $262. They had actually cleared for El Salvador from Huatulco (Chaue Marina) where they paid only $30. But after the Gulf of Tehantapec, they were beat and decided to enter Puerto Madero. Mistake! They got screwed over by immigration when they tried to leave. Even the port capitan was unusually blunt about the actions of immigration. He has actually advised some cruisers to 'just leave'.
Regards,
Richard

[Charlie]

Hi Richard:

Will keep that in mind. I have been following your blogsite WWW.sailingflamenco.com and am putting a plug in for it here. I hope you don't mind. It is a great site. Lots of interesting info on the west coast from San Diego to El Salvador. (and more to come I'm sure) If you guys get a chance have a look. Still have not figured how to post to it though.

[dana-tenacity]

The port captain at Puerto Madero was a really nice helpful guy back when we passed through, I wonder if that's still the same guy.