Livingston - General Info

Where is Livingston?

The small town of Livingston sits at the mouth of the Rio Dulce in Honduras Bay. It has no road or rail connections to the hinterland, just boats, and planes. The center of the town is at the top of a steep hill.

Entrance Notes and Cautions for Livingston:

It is not a port to be entered at night, as the lights are unreliable and fishermen often set their nets then, too.

There is a wide sandbar at the entrance to Rio Dulce; boats with a draft of over 5 ft (1.50 m) must enter at high tide and the maximum draft which, in theory, can be carried through at high Spring tide is 7.5 ft (2.20 m). However, the channel frequently changes. Advice on the state of the tide may be obtained on Channel 68. The bottom is soft mud and not rocky.

Cruisers also warn that the location of the outer marker buoy can not be trusted and it is recommended to request a local guide on first-time entering (contact Raul, approximate price $25).  Raoul has a towboat on standby and monitors VHF Ch 16 and 68 continuously, especially near high tide.

There may be a multitude of small fishing vessels covering the channel, so plan ahead. If you can have a spring tide at first light, this is the best plan. Obviously good visibility is helpful.

Security

Yachts are advised never to leave the boat unattended here. If for some reason you cannot leave a person onboard, be sure to lock up and do not leave anything on deck. Dinghy and outboard theft continues to be reported here along with thefts from yachts at anchor. See Noonsite Security Reports.

Position:

15° 49.56'N, 88° 44.18'W (river entrance)