The Rio Dulce is a highly desirable cruising destination with convenient accommodations for boaters, numerous marinas, complete marine services, haulout facilities, unmatched scenery, safe harbors and every other service a boater needs. The Rio Dulce is considered by boaters to be the best "hurricane hole" in the Caribbean.

RIO DULCE MESSAGE BOARD

Looking for information or advice? Do you have items for sale? Are you looking to buy something? Or, if you would just like to chat with other people interested in the Río Dulce, come start a conversation on the Maya Paradise Message Forum: http://www.mayaparadise.com/bbswelcome.htm

CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION

The town of Livingston is at the entrance to the Rio Dulce and here is where you must take care of vessel check in and check out.

THE BAR

The mouth of the Rio Dulce has a sand bar which must be crossed before reaching the deep water of the river. Vessels drawing more than 5 feet must take care to enter where the bar is the lowest. Vessels drawing over 5 1/2 feet should cross the bar at high tide. The deepest it ever gets at the deepest point during the highest tide is 7 1/2 feet.

Tides Tables (Rio Dulce Entrance)

MARINE RADIO

Almost everyone on the Rio Dulce monitors the local hailing frequency, channel 68. Channel 68 should be used only for hailing, distress calls or general announcements to the fleet. As soon as you make contact, please move to a different channel such as 66, 67 or 69 immediately. The National Police monitor channel 16 so if you have an emergency or distress call use channel 68 to call other boaters or channel 16 to call directly to the police. Please note that the police speak only Spanish.

A directed net is held each morning at 7:30 AM on channel 69. The net usually takes about 15 minutes to complete. There are segments for priority traffic, mail call, services offered or needed, buy, sell or trade and commercial announcements. The net ends with a trivia quiz.

The Northwest Caribbean Net is held each day on 6209 +/-3kHz USB at  (8:00 AM local time). The Northwest Caribbean Net is a directed net. A weather report is given and check-ins are requested from boats in the waters of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. The net finishes with boat to boat contacts. Several boats anchored along the Rio Dulce usually check in to this net every day and this would be an opportunity for you to talk directly with boaters on the Rio Dulce.

Ham Maritime Mobile Nets

BOATING SAFETY ON THE RIO DULCE

Hidden Hazards

The waters of the Rio Dulce are largely clear and free of debris but there are occasional hazards in the form of floating or submerged logs and tree branches. In the smaller tributary rivers and in calmer spots away from the main stream of the river such hazards are more common. They are also more common after heavy rains that wash debris down from the hills. Always keep a sharp lookout.

At night, fishing nets are strung up at many points along the river. Nets are often placed on either side of the point at El Castillo. If you run afoul of one of these nets you will probably have to cut your propeller free with a knife.

It is very enjoyable to explore the numerous tributary rivers of the Rio Dulce. Many of them can be followed upstream for miles. The smaller rivers often contain submerged logs and branches but rocks are also a hazard. When traveling the smaller rivers, the water can suddenly become shallow with rocks just below the surface and then immediately deepen again. Fortunately, the water in these rivers is usually clear and these hazards can be spotted by a person stationed at the bow. The best boat to take on these trips is a cayuco (dugout canoe) because they are tough and won't puncture. In a cayuco you can just drive right over most obstacles, raising and lowering the engine at the right moments.

Boating at Night

You need to be especially careful when boating at night. Most of the small boats on the Rio Dulce are wooden canoes (cayucos) operated by local residents for their personal use, fishing, hauling materials or just getting around. Cayucos range from very small up to huge 50 footers loaded with tons of cement or bricks. Very few boats have running lights or lighting of any kind and the noise of your own engine makes it impossible to hear other boats. The possibility of a collision is high. For this reason you should always carry a flashlight or portable spotlight at night and use it to sweep the horizon. Not only will you see obstructions but other boaters will see you.

Boats at anchor should always use an anchor light. The best location for a light is at deck level. It is difficult for someone in a small boat to judge the distance to the anchor light at the masthead. A white light(s) at deck level is much more effective on the Rio Dulce. Best is to use both. A handy solution to this is the normal masthead light plus a kerosene hurricane lamp at deck level.

The incidence of accidents is higher on weekends because there are more boaters are some are intoxicated. The problem is at its worst on major holidays when hundreds of wealthy Guatemalans head for the Rio Dulce and the river fills with jet-skis and powerboats.

Emergencies and Rescue

There is no organized search and rescue on the Rio Dulce. If you have a boating emergency during the day and put out a distress call on the local hailing frequency (channel 68), many boats will be racing to your aid in a matter of seconds. However, there is no government sponsored search and rescue and channel 68 is not monitored during the night. There is talk of putting a 24 hour watch on channel 68 but this is not currently done.

Safety Equipment

Out on El Golfete and Lake Izabal the weather can change very suddenly and calm waters rapidly become very rough. In addition to the usual life-jackets it is a good idea to always carry drinking water, extra flashlights, plastic bags or sheets to ward off rain and a spare compass. Large plastic trash bags make fine raincoats with holes cut for your head and arms.

For a lesson in what can happen, check out "Kevin and Julie's Big Adventure".

BOATERS SECURITY

There are no emergency services on the river other than those provided by the boaters themselves. For this reason, monitored security channels have been chosen for the various marinas and areas around the river which are monitored by the boaters themselves. It is up to the boaters to respond to emergency situations. Various businesses around the river also volunteer boat or land transportation in the event of an emergency. Check locally with other boaters for the proper channel and procedures.

Rio Dulce Marine Channel Index
Rio Dulce GPS Coordinate Index

SERVICES

Fuel

There are three fuel docks in Rio Dulce. All three are on the El Relleno (south) side of the river near the bridge. The three are Esso, Shell and Texaco and all three offer, unleaded gas, pre-mix, and diesel. The town of Livingston has a Texaco fuel dock. Out on Lake Izabal there used to be a Shell fuel dock in El Estor (see map of Lake Izabal) but it is no longer in business. Fuel is available in town but you will have to carry gas cans back and forth from the dock. The situation in Mariscos, on the south shore is the same but there are young boys with pushcarts who, for a tip, will fetch the fuel for you as it's several hundred yards from the pier to the gas station. Five Quetzales per can is a typical tip.

Provisions

There are plenty of tiendas (stores) in Fronteras where you can buy all the basics for low prices. In the center of Fronteras is a typical Guatemalan open-air market where its possible to buy everything from fresh vegetables, fruit and meat to soap, pots, pans, shoes, rope and kerosene. The many sellers compete with each other which keeps the prices low. Prices are always negotiable. On weekends, an additional, larger market is set up under the bridge on the north bank,

There are several places which are set up for professional provisioning of boats where large quantities of professionally packed meats and other foods can be ordered. They represent the same companies that provision the freighters that sail from the ports of Puerto Barrios and Santo Tomas.

Marinas

There are several marinas in picturesque settings along the Rio Dulce. Some offer piers, 120/240 volt electricity and pure water hookups. Most also offer hot showers, cabanas and a restaurant. Some offer a laundry service. Two marinas are quite large with 75 spaces or more. There are also numerous small marinas associated with some of the hotels and plenty of protected anchorages. For more information see the Business Index.

Repairs

Rio Dulce has two marine supply stores which stock and sell items from the West Marine catalog and others. One shop performs sail design and repair in a large fully equipped sail-loft. Available also are repair and rebuilding of diesel and outboard engines, marine gear repair, wood and fiberglass construction and repair, etc. There is a boat haulout facility with capacity to 63 tons and 83 feet. Welding (steel, iron, stainless and aluminum) and carpentry workers are available plus a plentiful pool of skilled local labor.

Copyright © 1997-2008 Phillip Landmeier