Banana Bay Marina has organized a resource page so you can spend more time enjoying the country and less time doing paperwork and running around. Enclosed you will find the following information: Entry procedures, weather information, tide information, a key Spanish word and phrase list, and additional relavant links.

BOAT CHECK-IN - Upon your arrival to Golfito, you need to report to the Naval Base. Call Base Naval (Navy Base) on VHF Channel 16, they will ask for:
 

• Captain's name and passport #
• Vessel name and registration #
• Last port of call and Zarpe #

   

If Golfito is your first port of call in Costa Rica you must proceed to the quarantine area, near the commercial dock. Raise the yellow "Q" flag. Call the Port Captain on VHF CH.16. The port authorities (immigration, customs, quarantine, and port captain) may request that you stay onboard and they will come out to your boat by water taxi. On some occasions they will request that you dingy into there office with all the yachts papers and passports.

When finished with the port authorities you may lower the "Q" flag and move to the location of your choice. After your yacht is secure you should take your paper work to customs to receive your three-month cruising permit. If you have already checked into Costa Rica, you are free to proceed to the location of your choice. After your yacht is secure you should take your zarpe to the port captains office. To avoid delays or overtime fees, plan your arrival before or after the weekend. The port authorities are closed on Saturday and Sunday, and customs is closed on Monday. Check-in on Mondays will not be delayed but keep this in mind for your departure schedule. Official hours for these offices are Monday through Friday, 0800-1600 hours. Special clearance can be arranged for those on a tight schedule (overtime fees will be charged by the officials for this service.)

Call Banana Bay Marina on VHF ch. 16 or ch. 12, if we can be of any assistance with your check-in.

WEATHER - Weather in this part of the world is fairly predictable. The seasons, invierno (winter) and verano (summer,) are fairly well defined by changes in the amount of precipitation. Invierno lasts from June to December and consists of heavy rains usually in the evenings with temperatures a bit cooler than verano's normal 80º. Verano is sunny with occasional rainfall in the evening, usually for very short periods of time which helps to cool things off a bit.

WEATHER & TIDE FORECASTS
The following links provide up to date weather information:

NOAA
FNOC
Weather Buoy
Weather Routers
Costa Rica Surf Report
Weather Routing

THE BOATER'S VHF SPANISH DICTIONARY

ADELANTE - go ahead
ADUANA - customs
ALTO - stop
ANKLA - anchor
BANDERA - flag (country of vessel)
BASE (pronunciation BASAY) NAVAL - naval base
CAMBIO - change/ switch (to) or over
CANAL CATORCE - channel 14
CANAL DIEZ Y SEIS - channel 16
EMBARCACION - boat name
ESTE - east
MATRICULA - registration number
MUELLE (pronunciation MOYAY) - dock
NOMBRE - name
NORTE - north
OESTE - west
PANGA - dinghy
PUERTO - port
QUARANTINA - quarantine
SUR - south
TRIPULANTES - # of persons on board
 

RELEVANT LINKS

Billfish Foundation
Fisherman's Center
Passagemaker

GOLFITO TOURIST INFORMATION - Golfito has a population of approximately 6,778 people, and was at one point in history a true "Banana Republic." Today, it retains much of that rich flavor and boasts inhabitants from many countries and cultures. Access to most goods and services such as provisions, repair parts, and travel services is readily available.