We are currently sailing north, and stopped in Xcalak to check into
Mexico. The Port Captaina informed me that as of 4/26/10 she can no longer process entry or exit for yachts. She did type and stamp a statement on the back of my
Belize zarpe granting permission for us to enter
Mexico pending formalities at a port of entry. We spent two nights on a
mooring in Xcalak to let my sick First Mate rest, and found it fairly well sheltered behind the reef. The pass is very narrow and requires settled conditions and good light. The village is essentially dead. We sailed to Majahual, based upon the PC's
advice that we would find a good anchorage and could process in there. She was wrong on both issues. The PC in Majahual informed me that he could not process us, there is no Immigration Officer, and that we should just defer until Isla Mujeres. There is no sheltered anchorage for yachts, due to very shallow
water behind the reef. We draw 4.5' and just barely got in and tied up to a concrete
dock which the
Navy uses for their Interceptor
boats. Then there was mucho discussion and negotiation over letting us use the only
dock space that could accommodate our
draft. My recommendation is for yachts to bypass both Xcalak and Majahual.