Belize Notifies Mariners on Reopening of Seaports for Small Vessels

by Carolee Chanona
sailing-san Pedro

The Belize Port Authority hereby informs the public that Cabinet has approved the reopening of Belize’s ports to small foreign pleasure vessels and live aboard vessels under the following boarding standards and clearance procedures including specific biosecurity measures.

  1. Small foreign pleasure vessels and live aboard vessels (less than 100GRT) shall not require a shipping agent to facilitate entry to and exit from Belize.
  2. Existing procedures will be maintained for entry to and exit from Belize territorial waters (Belize Port Authority clearance and Notice of Arrival; requisite passport and visa details; entry/exit clearance; immigration, customs, BAHA and other clearance).
  3. Four ports would be reopened for this segment based on demand: San Pedro, Ambergris Caye; Belize City, Belize; Placencia, Stann Creek; and Punta Gorda Town. Each of these destinations would have one designated location for processing of vessels.
  4. Passengers entering Belize shall be subject to similar requirements when entering at the airport, including proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival or proof of vaccination or be subject to testing by the MOHW, the use of the Belize Travel Health App, the use of masks, the use of Gold Standard hotels or tour operators, and compliance with all immigration, customs, and agricultural health requirements.
  5. Crew and passengers that have been at sea for 14 consecutive days or more without having visited another country or port, shall be exempt from providing proof of COVID-19 test or being tested upon arrival.
  6. Positive tests will require the quarantining of the entire vessel and its passengers and crew.

Belize: Open Maritime Borders for Yachting Tourism

Enjoy your own travel pod onboard. Photo by ROEming Belize

Warm trade winds and line-of-sight sailing makes Belize’s miles of cayes and palm-studded beaches a sailing paradise. And now, yachters can enjoy it for themselves after nearly 12 months of border closures: Belize reopens its maritime activities for yachting tourism, authorizing San Pedro, Belize City and Placencia as ports of entry.

For more information, contact The Belize Port Authority (BPA) at (501) 222-5666/5665/5662/5663. Alternatively, you can email [email protected].

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