Recommended cruising guide to Central America

[John on Ghillie]

We will be sailing the Pacific Coast of Central America next fall/winter and probably leaving the boat there for the summer. We are looking for recommended cruising guides and possible places to leave the boat. Thanks.

[benbis]

Which guide did you decide to get?

[model 10]

You will need several cruising guides, Bauhaus and Charlie's Charts may be the best.
I've seen boats left in Golfito and Puntaranes, CR. Also the marina in Nicaragua, which is getting sport fishing boats now. Boats also spend the summer at the marina or the river anchorage in El Salvador. All kinds of places in MX to stay.

[model 10]

I just noticed you have a 55' boat. Golfito would work but that might be it for while unless you draw under maybe 7'? There are also couple of sport fishing boat marinas in CR that might work. But not the rivers in EL Salvador and Nic.

[John on Ghillie]

Originally Posted by benbis

Which guide did you decide to get?

We got the Charlie's Charts guide for Mexico and it seems good at first read. We head off for San Fran from Uclueclet in about 3 weeks. Plan to do that in one hop weather permitting. We will then spend the winter in Mexico. We appreciate everyone's comments

[nhschneider]

We left our 48’ ketch in the water at Shelter Bay Marina on the Caribbean side of the Canal for about 4 months and it was fine although we did have a responsible cruiser look in on her weekly. It’s a very safe and secure marina with over-built docks and fingers.

The Bauhaus book was fabulous for Panama and the San Blas Islands. We used a very old book by Patricia Rains for Costa Rica and countries north of there. Pacific Mexico by Shawn Breeding and Heather Bassmer is very good but has very limited information on the southernmost ports in Mexico.

Fair winds and calm seas.

[John on Ghillie]

Great suggestions and thanks. I will try to find those books on line. Which way did you head after Panama? BTW, we have limited wifi on the coast here so I may not be back on line for a number of days now

[danimalafloat]

Originally Posted by nhschneider

We left our 48’ ketch in the water at Shelter Bay Marina on the Caribbean side of the Canal for about 4 months and it was fine although we did have a responsible cruiser look in on her weekly. It’s a very safe and secure marina with over-built docks and fingers.

The Bauhaus book was fabulous for Panama and the San Blas Islands. We used a very old book by Patricia Rains for Costa Rica and countries north of there. Pacific Mexico by Shawn Breeding and Heather Bassmer is very good but has very limited information on the southernmost ports in Mexico.

Fair winds and calm seas.

We are currently docked in Shelter Bay and are having a hard time finding a marina with a dock and electricity anywhere in CR, or Nicaragua. Do you happen to know of any safe marinas on the Caribean side of Central America? We have a 44' Brewer and typically leave the boat which sounds similar to your program.

[nhschneider]

Originally Posted by danimalafloat

We are currently docked in Shelter Bay and are having a hard time finding a marina with a dock and electricity anywhere in CR, or Nicaragua. Do you happen to know of any safe marinas on the Caribean side of Central America? We have a 44' Brewer and typically leave the boat which sounds similar to your program.

I’m sorry but we sailed directly from Jamaica to Panama and missed the Caribbean side of Central America so I can offer no first-hand experience. However, I have heard that there are good facilities along that coast.

Good luck, fair winds and calm seas.