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Copyright. CRUISING CENTRAL AMERICA © Eric Blackburn ~ S/V Chickadee EL SALVADOR This attractive marina is located 9.8 miles up stream in the estuary of Bahia de Jiquilisco (hee-key-lis-co). A sand bar surrounds the outside of the entrance and local knowledge is a must. Though easier to enter than Bahia Del Sol, it is still recommended that approaching offshore vessels call Barillas Marina on VHF channel 16 one hour in advance of arrival for an escort. The swell runs highest between May to October. May is the month that signals the start of rainy season and extra precaution must be taken when crossing sandbars. The marina will dispatch a guide to pilot you safely across the sand bar and up the channel to Barillas. The operator is experienced and will lead you all the way to the marina. The service is free and operates in daylight hours only. When approaching the entrance to Bahia de Jiquilisco from either north or south, stay well clear of the coast and only pick up the offshore meeting waypoint from a due south approach. The offshore GPS meeting waypoint is in deep water at 13 degrees 07.02N and 88 degrees 25.16 W where vessels can wait for the pilot boat to arrive. The depth across the sand bar at its shallowest time in the year (mean low water) is 9 (2.7 meters) feet. The lowest depth in the channel is 24 feet (7.3 meters) at low slack tide. It is best to cross the bar on a rising tide. Radio the marina for tidal information Barillas Marina is in the process of anchoring an entrance buoy to mark the channel. Once inside the estuary a tropical paradise awaits. Bahia Jiquilisco is one of the best cruising grounds on the West Coast of El Salvador. A mangrove sanctuary of ecology and wildlife twists and turns in a kaleidoscope of directions. The occasional remote-fishing village charms the shores and palm fringe beaches. There is plenty to explore. Barillas Marina is a full service facility with 80 heavy moorings capable of holding vessels up to 60 meters (200 feet). The cost is US$11.30. per day per vessel regardless of LOA. (November 2005). Check in procedure is clean and simple. The Port Captain and Immigration office are under one modern roof at the marina. Friendly officials check you in and out hassle free. There is no cost to check into El Salvador. Request your international zarpe before departing El Salvador for your next country of visit. If you plan to cruise within El Salvadoran waters, request a national zarpe. Bahia Jiquilisco is away from populated areas and is far from the hurricane zone. Though hurricanes seldom hit the West Coast of El Salvador, when such a phenomena occurs, the 9.8 miles of winding estuary that separates the marina from the sea makes Barillas the perfect storm hide-out. It is a place where one could leave a boat for an extended period of time and travel overland or return home to North America or Europe. Barillas Marina is an ideal port for large power vessels. Security guards check unattended boats and their mooring lines by day and by night. In the event of an emergency they will contact you. Barillas Marina offers free LAN internet service. Cruisers can sit comfortably by the pool and download email. At the time of this writing, Barillas was planning to install a wireless internet node so cruisers could get online directly from their boats. The fuel dock dispenses clean US refined Texaco fuel, (gas and diesel). An unlimited amount of pure fresh drinking water is supplied from a deep artesian well. A fresh water hose and wash down service is permitted at the fuel dock for those wishing to rinse any salt from the decks of their vessel. The marina provides transportation service to the town of Usulutan, every Tuesday and Friday. The ride takes approximately 45 minutes. The service is free. A reasonable rate is offered on other days depending on number of passengers and time needed for the vehicle rental and driver. Check with the office for more information. Banking and provisioning can be done in Usulutan. Haul out arrangements can also be made with the shipyard next door. Duty free parts and shipping is available. Barillas Marina’s operations manager Heriberto Pineda can help you with any additional questions. For those wishing to arrive by light-aircraft, there is a designated landing strip at 13’ 15.54.94821 N 088’ 29.56.87491 W. Elevation: 4.682 mts. For more information on Barillas Marina Club and cruising Bahia de Jiquilisco write to : Barillas Marina Club |
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