We learned info last week about a change in the Belize check-in process that will modify our plans this year. A boat we know went to Placencia to check in at Big Creek / Independence as they always do (just as we & most everyone else has done several years running). This time they were told that all officials would come to their boat in Placencia harbor; they had to stay onboard until they arrive and pay an additional US$150 for this service, no choice. Belize is particular about people bringing in fresh fruits, veggies, eggs and meats from another country; they will confiscate them if they are found during inspection. An on-board inspection has been more likely if you check in at Punta Gorda but since we've traveled to Big Creek / Independence on our second and subsequent check-ins, no such inspections have occurred. Rumor is that most boats will be subjected to this new procedure and cost. Gotta love Belize, always looking for a new way to get into your wallet. 😏

We decide to check-in at Punta Gorda. One advantage of a Punta Gorda check-in is that all officials are in the same building, no traipsing from building to building in the heat. The trick to a (relatively) quick check-in and no on-board inspection there is to arrive before lunch with just enough time to get the paperwork completed. It also helps if you have a small dinghy and/or the seas are a bit rough. But we want to make Placencia harbor by nightfall so take our chances with an early arrival check-in. Food inspection-wise we have just 1 apple, 1/2 carrot, 1 sm rib of celery and 1/4 of an onion, no fresh meat, less than a dozen eggs; if we get inspected and they want to confiscate that, it's not much of a loss.

We planned to get underway at 6:30am from Tres Puntas but it's closer to 7am when we do. We arrive a bit after 9am, anchor and dinghy to the Immigration / Customs / Port Authority dock. The Belize process is slow and paper intensive; no one has incentive to do things efficiently or quickly. We have to fill out 6 forms including one requesting a ridiculous detailed accounting of ships stores, another on personal stashes of tobacco, alcohol and such, one for details on the boat and dinghy, plus 2 others, and of course the tourist cards. The Belize officials fill out their own 4 or 5 forms and ask questions while they do. Since we don't have any oranges or bananas or fresh meats or plants or pets, the Health / Quarantine inspector says he doesn't need to inspect the boat stores personally. Still today's process takes us nearly to 11am, cost B$145 (US$77.50) for a 7 day stay. We'll extend the stay if needed in Placencia or Big Creek / Independence.

It's about 6 hours to Placencia Harbor. We'd like to put up the new sails but we have wind on the nose and if we're going to arrive before sunset, we don't have time to mess around. The decision pays off... we're anchor-secure in Placencia a bit after 5pm, before sunset.