The Life of Brad: March 2018 - Isla Mujeres, Mexico and checking in

Isla Mujeres where we landed and checked in to Mexico. What a pleasant surprise with great food (lots of seafood as expected), spots to have a few drinks and a very nice North Beach. Not to mention very sailboat friendly with a few protected bays where we passed quite a few foreign boats chilling for Free.

Well deserved

Cruising in to Isla passing many boats. Big American Fishing Boat.

I wonder what that storage
arrangement is.

BIG boats

2012 - 62 foot Sunreef Catamaran ($1mm)

We are here, let's check it out.
And start working on the sea legs.

Walking to the Port Captain Check In Point.

2 days to get checked in

Checking in to Mexico if you are the captain of a boat (expect 2 days):
0) CHECK OUT OF YOUR LAST PORT.
1) Capitania de Puerto, bring Zarpe, Crew List, Ownership papers, passport, 5 plus copies of everything
2) Migracion (Immigration), give passports
3) Bank to pay immigration taxes $32 usd (normally one of the taxes included in your flight to anywhere)
4) Get Migracion stamp
5) Agriculture check, may or may not need fumigation.
6) Aduana, likely need to bring the agent to the boat.
7) Pay about $500 usd.
8) Get 10 year Tourist Permit for the Boat in Cancun.

Once we were checked in it was only a matter of time before Arthur got the boat permitted and left to Puerto Aventuras where is Girlfriend and Dog were waiting on the A/C unit he had bought in from the USA.

While we were checking in to Mexico we stayed overnight in Marina Puerto Isla Mujeres which is fantastic for only a $1/foot. So $32 per night got all of us showers and time in the pool.

Great spot, Part of the Wyndham Co.

You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here

And Captain Arthur was gone

Sterling and I continued to hang out staying 3 more nights on Isla Mujeres to get a feel for the place. Two nights in Hotel Boca Inglesia (bland and pricey) and 1 night in Hotel Carmelina (cheap and friendly), both close to the North beach which was about 5 blocks away.

Recommend: La Mexicana for roasted chicken, Compadres for Tikin Xic and Hotel Carmelina.

Don't Recommend: Oscars for a sneeze of lobster on your pizza and Hotel Boca Iglesia.

Side Story: In Mexico watch the fine print on Booking.com. "not included: 16% VAT, 3% City Tax"

Super Side Story: Dead guy on the North Beach. I didn't take any photos and not sure what had happened; fisherman who washed up on shore or may be foul play. I got a quick glimpse seeing the deceased was wearing clothes just before the police put a tent and police tape around the body which was there until the sun went down. People who arrived later laid their towels right beside the tent. One lady beside me a few hundred metres from the scene said "I don't know what happened, but I'm just waiting here with my kids until they move the body." Tourism meets reality...