Entering by boat: Guatemala
What to do to enter Guatemala by sea: the procedures, the papers to present and the ports where you can clear in.
Check with the authorities before you leave (last checked on 28 October 2026).
The steps
- Anchor off Livingston, Q flag up.
- Customs, immigration, health and port captain visit (often through a local agent).
- Receive the 3-month cruising permit.
- On departure, zarpe from the port captain and exit stamps.
Papers to have on board
- Passports for the whole crew
- Crew list
- Boat papers (registration certificate)
- Outward clearance from the previous country
Good to know
- For the Río Dulce, clear in at Livingston at the river mouth; the bar is shallow (≈ 1.8 m): cross at high tide.
- CA-4 90-day visa for crew, shared by Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
- Main source dated October 2021: check fees.
Ports of entry
The ports where you can clear in, and the services available there.
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In the app, free: the map of every port of entry and its offices with their contacts, the crew list and the entry forms filled in for you, ready to print or send to an agent.
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This information is gathered from public sources and sailors’ experience. It does not replace the country’s authorities, whose word is final: check before you leave.