Update oct/23
Progreso and Yucalpeten Overview and Approach
Anchorage outside the Protected Harbor.
The long pier that runs 4 miles from shore, makes a good breakwater from the pravalent current and winds from the east, northeast and southeast. A good option for anchoring outside is just to pull close to the breakwaters from de westand anchor just 200 meters from the breakwater at basically any poit along the way. The holding is very good with sand/mud bottom.
On many weekends, this area bacomes a popular anchorage for day trips and family outings for the local boaters.
The long pier that runs 4 miles from shore, makes a good breakwater from the pravalent current and winds from the east, northeast and southeast. A good option for anchoring outside is just to pull close to the breakwaters from de westand anchor just 200 meters from the breakwater at basically any poit along the way. The holding is very good with sand/mud bottom.
On many weekends, this area bacomes a popular anchorage for day trips and family outings for the local boaters.
Loading...
This an areal view of Yucalpetan Harbor, starting from the inner lagoon going north to the entrance from the Gulf of Mexico. In the far noth one can apreciatte the main commertial pier with cargo and cruise ships and the long sanddy beach called " El Playon" that strats at the base of the main pier and ends at the entrance of Yucalpen Harbor..
Overview
The Port of Progreso has two main areas of operation, the commercial Port or Cargo Port, and the Small Fleet Port also Known as “Puerto de Abrigo de Yucalpeten” or Protected Harbor of Yucalpeten. So Yucalpeten is the Harbor where most Marinas and services for recreational boats are located, and the Cargo port is reserved for cargo and large shipping operation."Yucalpeten Harbor"(Also written YUKALPETEN) is Progreso´s small fleet harbor and the place where marinas, fishing fleet and shipyards are located. Yucalpeten is located 2 miles east of the base of Progreso´s main commercial pier, and is an inland manmade harbor.
Progreso and Yucalpeten Harbor are Official ports of entry in to Mexico, and you can arrive here directly from the U.S. and clear immigration and customs. The other official ports in the northern peninsula are Isla Mujeres and Cancun.
Safety should not be an issue in Progreso unless you don't take the basic normal precautions. Progreso and Yucalpeten are very safe places, and you can walk around the streets and you can take cabs, buses or ride a bicycle any where without taking any special caution other than the usual. As for your boat, Marinas are vary safe, but do lock your boat when you leave. Anchoring in the bay is also considered very safe.
The Port of Progreso has two main areas of operation, the commercial Port or Cargo Port, and the Small Fleet Port also Known as “Puerto de Abrigo de Yucalpeten” or Protected Harbor of Yucalpeten. So Yucalpeten is the Harbor where most Marinas and services for recreational boats are located, and the Cargo port is reserved for cargo and large shipping operation."Yucalpeten Harbor"(Also written YUKALPETEN) is Progreso´s small fleet harbor and the place where marinas, fishing fleet and shipyards are located. Yucalpeten is located 2 miles east of the base of Progreso´s main commercial pier, and is an inland manmade harbor.
Progreso and Yucalpeten Harbor are Official ports of entry in to Mexico, and you can arrive here directly from the U.S. and clear immigration and customs. The other official ports in the northern peninsula are Isla Mujeres and Cancun.
Safety should not be an issue in Progreso unless you don't take the basic normal precautions. Progreso and Yucalpeten are very safe places, and you can walk around the streets and you can take cabs, buses or ride a bicycle any where without taking any special caution other than the usual. As for your boat, Marinas are vary safe, but do lock your boat when you leave. Anchoring in the bay is also considered very safe.
Approach
What to expect? As you begin to make your approach to Progreso coming from the east (Cancun-Isla Mujeres) you will want to begin to make your distance from the coast a little bigger, since the 4 mile long commercial pier, has to be passed from it´s northern end. This pier only has arches to go under it at its first 2 Km, and no sailboat can go under the arches. If you are cruising on a smaller boat such as any center console or walk-around boat with no towers, you may go under the arches of the pier and avoid going all the way around it, but definitely no sailboat with a mast or yacht with a flybridge can go under the pier´s arches.
Once you are near the pier´s north end, you may pass by it on your port side at any distance you consider safe, but at the end of the breakwaters, you have to be careful and watch out for the main commercial shipping channel and the buoys that mark it, as well as the lights towers that are part of the port´s deep-sea nav-aids.
As you pass the northwest end of the pier, you can head straight to the entrance of Yucalpeten harbor where as you approach, you will see the the entrance marked by the breakwaters with the one marked green on the east and the red one on the west. You should take the center of the channel to take advantage of the deepest waters.
* Look also at the charts provided to see the details on the approach.
What to expect? As you begin to make your approach to Progreso coming from the east (Cancun-Isla Mujeres) you will want to begin to make your distance from the coast a little bigger, since the 4 mile long commercial pier, has to be passed from it´s northern end. This pier only has arches to go under it at its first 2 Km, and no sailboat can go under the arches. If you are cruising on a smaller boat such as any center console or walk-around boat with no towers, you may go under the arches of the pier and avoid going all the way around it, but definitely no sailboat with a mast or yacht with a flybridge can go under the pier´s arches.
Once you are near the pier´s north end, you may pass by it on your port side at any distance you consider safe, but at the end of the breakwaters, you have to be careful and watch out for the main commercial shipping channel and the buoys that mark it, as well as the lights towers that are part of the port´s deep-sea nav-aids.
As you pass the northwest end of the pier, you can head straight to the entrance of Yucalpeten harbor where as you approach, you will see the the entrance marked by the breakwaters with the one marked green on the east and the red one on the west. You should take the center of the channel to take advantage of the deepest waters.
* Look also at the charts provided to see the details on the approach.
WARNING: THE MAIN CHANNEL OF YUCALPETEN HAS HIGH POWER ELECTRIC LINES THAT GO ACROSS THE CHANNEL JUST BEFORE THE CHANNEL ENTERS INTO THE MAIN LAGOON. THIS LINES ARE REPORTED TO BE AT 80 FEET FROM THE HIGH TIDE, SO ANY SAILBOAT WITH A MAST TALLER THAN 75 FEET, SHOULD CONSIDER ONLY ENTERING INTO YUCALPETEN MARINA, WHICH IT’S ENTRANCE LIES BEFORE THE POWER LINES.
Last update May 2024