1) Chiapas, Mexico Marina Chiapas is a bit secluded with only one restaurant that closes at 6pm. A taxi ride to Tapachula, the closest town, is $250 pesos. However, it’s very pretty surrounded by mangroves, which makes for great bird watching. Plus – there are amazing sites to see in this state with the help of a tour guide. We highly recommend Miguel Angel Alvarez Davila (toursdiscoverchiapas@hotmail.com). Miguel is a federally licensed tour guide and uses only licensed tour vans which is very beneficial in getting around and with any interactions with the Federales, etc. He took us on the known “safe” road, which while longer protected us from potential problems. He and his knowledgable crew took our group (Footloose, Paradisea and Sonamara) on a safe and gorgeous adventure. Beware, there are long drives, but worth it!
We first did a day tour to nearby Chocolate Town and Izapa Ruins:
Lunch included the most delicious tamales by Senora Petra
Izapa Ruins are only an hour drive. Miguel is a novice historian with great interest in Maya Culture, so his insights are invaluable.
Then a 5 day tour to Palenque & San Cristobal: 12-hour Drive to Palenque: Here our guides Miguel, Favio, and Lupe explain some Mayan mythology.
Zona Arqueologica, Palenque: Maya city state flourished in 7th Century. goose bumps
Aluxes Wildlife Park, Palenque: Love Birds
Another long drive to the magical, quaint city, San Cristobal de las Casas, about 6500 elevation. Jackets required! Many interesting museums here including Na Balom. Indigenous woman pictured here at Na Balom, selling handmade shawls and blankets.
Santo Domingo Church, San Cristobal:
Last day of the tour included a stop at Cascadas El Chiflon. Here’s our group enjoying the hike and scenery!
And Lou (Sonamara) taking the fast way down on a Zip Line!
Fair Winds everyone –
Lisa & Michael
FOOTLOOSE
2) Chiapas, MX – Landtouring
Hello from s/v Paradisea, currently in Marina Chiapas, along with s/v’s Sonamara and Footloose.
Three couples at Palenque
Updating our experience with Miguel of Discovery Tours. He supports Panama Posse (PP) with discounts. He took 6 of us on a 5 day tour to Palenque, including the Aluxes Ecopark (great “zoo” of local, tropical animals, all in a natural setting), San Cristobal, Cascadas El Chiflon – beautiful and has a great zip line. He took the “long” way to avoid the troubled road between San Cristobal and Palenque. He arranged to have a adjunct guide, Fabio, modern van with A/C and reliable driver Manual. And great service and attitude! Also, flexible, informative, always smiling, and happy to be around. Rate was $55/person/day. Hotels and meals extra. Some long driving days, but still, we loved it and highly recommend the use of Miguel by other PP mariners. In addition, separately, he arranged to drive us to Tapachula 2 days later for provisioning, gratis con
propina. A high-quality operation: he has a Mexican Federal Tourist license. And there’s more: he’s a lawyer in Chiapas when not touring!
contact info:
cell phone: 011-52-962-133-6820.
email: toursdiscoverchiapas@hotmail.com.
Capt. Hour in Puerto Madera (across from Marina Chiapas);
Miguel helping us provision at WalMart
Paradisea at Palenque.
Leaving Chiapas on Wed for Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Bob & Maureen
PARADISEA
3) Northbound Canal Crossing – Shelter Bay Marina, Panama
FishVicious has transited the Panama Canal !!
We used Erik Galvez as recommended by the Panama Posse and received great service. for a great price.
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
WooHoo! We’re in Shelter Bay Marina(another PP discount!) now preping for
Portobello, the San Blas Isls., and then Bocas del Toro.
Doug & Nancy
FISH VICIOUS
(note for details and info about the Panama Canal and past reports go to)
http://www.goodnautical.com/poi/panama_canal
4) Papagayo Warriors, Nicaragua & Costa Rica
Sailing the coast of Nicaragua. It took 17 days from Marina Puesta Del Sol to Bahia Elena. Tough, tough days.
No problems other than winds 50+ knots.
We only went ashore once, in Pie de Gigante.
Now we are in Playas de Cocos and loving Costa Rica
Can you guys suggest some good places to stop on the way through Costa Rica?
(note from Alejandro on REBELLIOUS: Playa Muertos on the south side of Ballena )
Hi! Does somebody have a phone or know how to contact a water taxi in Playa Del Coco, Costa Rica?
(note Giovanni +506 8743 5445 and another number is +506 8830 9626 or use your hands and try VHF 10 call for AQUA TAXI )
Also, does the Marina Papagayo still have a Panama Posse discount?
(note from Marty on HAPPY DANCE there is a discount at Marina Papagayo, 3 days for the price of 2; 7 days for the price of 5, etc
Picture by Jon Vipond
Jim & Susy
OCTOPUS GARDEN
5) Tehuantepec, MX Weather tip via email
I use query@saildocs.com
Put anything in the subject line
In the body put
get offpz7
only and you will get all of Mexico,
put
get offpz8
only and you will get all of Central America pacific side, it’s free, fast, and works on my iridium go as well as normal email.
RESULT
The important note is in the body only type get offpz7
, remove all else including signature line
Argan & Gloria
MAI TAI
6) THE ONLY ONE TIME IN US HISTORY
(as far as we know and this is a great trivia question if confirmed)
that the US Federal reserve note bill featured a landmark outside of the US
The back of each 1914 $50 bill shows Panama
to mark the celebration of the completion of the Panama Canal
Info from Jaime Figueroa our official Panama Posse Ambassador in Panama City – stay tuned for more info
7) LINE Position updates – remember weekly Panama Posse LINE CALLS @ 16:00 UTC
MARIAH, LIQUID– La Cruz, MX
JO – Chamela, MX
SEAGLUB – AY CARAMBA ! – SINGULARITY – Tenecatita, MX
VOLARE – Barra de Navidad Lagoon, MX
PROVIDENCIA , SLOW DANCER – Marina Puerto de la Navidad, Barra de Navidad, MX SIMPLE LIFE – Zihuatanejo, MX SIMPLE LIFE –Papanoa, MX anchored at 17 16.1457 N 101 02.78646 W FIGMENT & BLESSED – Vicente’s Moorings – Acapulco, MX
SV WINE N DOWN -leaving Chiapas – Northbound
FOOTLOOSE, SONORAMA, PARADISEA – Marina Chiapas, MX
DESTINATION – Land tour in Palenque, Vessel in Chiapas MX
AVANT, RAVEN, MADELEINE – Bahia del Sol, El Salvador All is well aboard Avant as we patiently await parts for our engine’s cooling system.
FLOATING STONES, SHEARWATER, TALIESIN ROSE, COQUETTE – Bahia Santa Elena, -> Playa Cocos, Costa Rica
SPREZZATURA, Marina Pez Vela, Costa Rica
KNOT RIGHT, CARINTHIA, LA MUSTACHE II, INTERLUDE, DAD’s DREAM – Vista Mar Marina, Panama
XENIA – Las Perlas, Panama
FISH VICIOUS – Shelter Bay, Panama
get your free app ios android etc at https://line.me/en-US/
– Register using your vessel name as the USERNAME ie SV SEAGLUB
– Next search for panamaposse and befriend us –
– wait and accept your PANAMAPOSSE GROUP INVITE
8) and then there were 92
As of this morning we are a fleet of 92 and that means that we are running out of burgees –
there are only 8 burgees left so if you know of folks who want to register now is the time !
9) WE DON’T SAIL ON A SCHEDULE – yet here are some dates
Bar Crossing Celebrations @ Bahia del Sol, El Salvador (Jan-Apr)
Flor de Caña Rum Tours @ Puesta del Sol, Nicaragua – (Dec-Apr)
Papagayo Survivors Party – it’s time ! @ Coconutz , Playa Cocos, CR (Early Feb’19)
Golfito Marina Village an IGY Destination Party @ Golfito, CR (May 1st, ’19)
and the over the top ….
Official Panama Posse Rally Completion Party @ Vista Mar Marina, Panama (May 25th, ’19)
10) Open CPN – for those seeking a backup Navigation system
Visit https://panamaposse.com/open-cpn and follow the instructions
To get your GPS position onto a windows/mac laptop for less than $30 get this unit
GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB GPS Receiver Amazon Link: http://a.co/d/8RJGxoK
To get your NMEA data into OPENCPN use your systems NMEA out cable and
connect it to this $59 NMEA 0183 out to USB cable (with green led NMEA signal indicator)
https://digitalyachtamerica.com/product/usb-nmea-adaptor/
For creating over 2.7 Gig’s of free Satellite Chart-lets
overlay into Open CPN for your voyage up and down the coast
– available from https://www.panamaposse.com/open-cpn a big BIG thank you to
Marc & Laura
LIQUID
11) Good Nautical is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization
All Fleet Update contributors will of course have access to all the shared data
from Mexico – Panama. Fuel docks, Anchorages, Marinas, National Parks, Routes, a.m.o.
Your registration to this season’s Panama Posse includes a free 1 year trial membership.
Please reply to this email to get your free login credentials and a quick tutorial.
If you have logged in already here are your maritime area quick links
(bookmark them for quick access)
http://www.goodnautical.com/gma/panama
We are also looking for relevant POI’s such as
national parks and
good dive, Kayak or snorkel spots
please contribute some info on them as you find them.
12) this anchorage is a PANAMA POSSE – GEM
http://www.goodnautical.com/costa-rica/anchorage/playa-cativo
details above – and this anchorage is right infront of a top 5 star eco lodge @ $500 night- free to anchor and has a dock
– a great GREAT meal there (call ahead for reservations)
– see blue butterflies
– hear howler monkeys
– pool
– watch big macaws fly by
– next to a wild life rehabilitation center which gives daily tours for a small donation
Picture by Agape
13) Reply to this email with any updates and
pictures we’ll include it in the next Fleet Updates
Dietmar & Suzanne
SV Carinthia
14) opt-out from the Fleet Updates simply reply with “REMOVE“