Port Elizabeth (Bequia) - Clearance
See SVG Formalities for full details on clearing into and out of St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
General Process:
Customs offices are located at Port Elizabeth and at the J. F. Mitchell Airport located at Paget Farm.
Bequia is used to visiting yachts, so clearing in at Port Elizabeth is straightforward.
The Customs and Immigration offices in town are in the building marked ‘Bequia Revenue Office’. It is opposite the ferry dock.
Customs opening hours:
- Monday to Friday 08:30-18.00 (with an hour for lunch 12:00-13:00)
- Saturday same hours as Mon-Fri (closed 12:00-15:00 for lunch)
- Sunday/Holidays 09:00-18:00 (closed 12:00-15:00 for lunch).
Watch out for weekend overtime, charged from Saturday afternoon.
Be sure to clear in as soon as you arrive to avoid any problems. All payments must be in cash.
Last updated: July 2023
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Related to following destinations: Bequia, Port Elizabeth (Bequia), St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Port Navigation
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Please note that customs is closed from 12-3 on weekends and public holidays.
Who doesn’t like Bequia? Very large bay, plenty of restaurants, two very large beaches, Moonhole, hikes, easy dinghy dock, marine parts store, stores, produce stands. Only negative was the charter party boats that come in on weekends and play their loud music ALL DAY on the beach. View our blog, pics and video here. https://bluedotvoyages.com/bequia-moonhole-the-big-swell/
Our engine failed as we entered the Prince Rupert Bay (Bequia). We got hold of Kerry of Kerry Marine Services 1 784 530 8123. He towed us to a mooring and fixed the engine. I can highly recommend him. We’ve had a fantastic stay. Never felt unsafe and nothing was stolen. A lovely island.
I think it is too hash to recommend to avoid Port Elizabeth, Bequia.
We experienced the anchorage to be safe, and also patrolled by tha maritime police.
People are friendly and restaurants are of good quality.
When it comes to security, common sense and locking the dinghy is key.
Seems like the situation has approved in 2024.
Reported by the Caribbean Safety & Security Net:
DATE: 2019-02-08 10:00
Country Name: SVG
Location Detail: Bequia Admiralty Bay- Port Elizabeth
EVENT: Theft
HAND: 1
Stolen Items: Shoes, flashlight and pump
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: Shoes, a flashlight and the pump were stolen from the unlocked locker of a dinghy at the public/Government dock in Admiralty Bay. Another dinghy at the same dock also had a tool kit stolen from an unlocked bow locker the same night. A report was made on the local VHF net, no police report was made.
Spent a night anchored off Tony Gibbons Beach. We were not met by any boat boys. We were not directed to any buoys. Customs closed for lunch but opened punctually at 13:00 Both the customs lady and immigration man were friendly and helpful. They did not want any crew lists. They stamped our (EU) passports with six-month visas.
Customs cost about EC$ 75 and immigration was free. They took payment in Euros. The whole process took about 15 minutes and no one minded that we both came. The locals are really friendly and no one pressured us to buy anything. A SIM card for 30 days with 8GB of data was about EC$110 and they installed and activated it. Welcome to paradise
Bequia – Port Elizabeth
A lovely stay in Bequia – good food, bustling village and lovely setting. Moored on a well serviced and robust mooring provided by “Phat Shag” for 10 days over Christmas. Going rate EC$50 per night and helpful, polite and responsive service provided.
Picked up 450 litres of water EC$200 from Daffodil – floating yellow boat. Found local fruit and veg very expensive to buy, but the choice of restaurants great – good meals at Mac, Lauras, Fig tree, Jacks beach bar.
There are some taxi drivers, that can take you for a 1-hour tour on the island.
We didn’t know that they also want a tip at the end (extra for the payment).
So, because we didn’t tip the driver he told the navy that we have illegal drugs on board.
The navy took us from a restaurant, where we ate, to the boat and searched for an hour… after it, they release us back to shore…
It was really unpleasant!
Customs does not use SeaClear, closes at 18:00, and is CASH ONLY.
Bequia
We arrived in Admiralty Bay in late December 2017. It was very busy here with lots of boat boys competing to help you take one of their buoys. We decided to anchor and anchored below the monument, good holding but you need to drop the anchor in a sandy patch.
We stayed here 4 days at anchor and then took a mooring buoy for another 4 days, owned by Mr Blue Sky. It cost $40 EC per night and they were good mooring buoys – we checked them and they are concrete based.
Groceries:
Doris’s food store was expensive, best left for special occasions.
Good supplies at the xxxx supermarket and they have a hardware store on the first floor.
Laundry by Daffodil, 3 large loads (including sheets, beach towels, clothes) with next day return for just $75EC – VERY impressed. They will also take your garbage for $5EC. There is no recycling here for sailors, except on the streets for general use.
You can negotiate when buying at the street fruit/veg stores, ask the price first before agreeing to purchase or you will get stung.
I forgot my flip flops, so had to buy some – the price started at $30EC and I got them down to $15.
Food and drinks:
The Plantation Hotel has a lovely bar and restaurant, friendly staff and not too expensive. Go during happy hour.
We went to Maria’s cafe but were disappointed by the service.
Good food and service at Mac’s.
Services:
Gas (LPG) can be refilled by Dockside Marine and we collected the next day. They were very helpful and gave directions to other places that may have had spares we needed.
We really liked this place, such a lovely feel to it. We did a trip around the island for $70 USD for 4 people. Went to the historic canon site, the top of the hill and the turtle sanctuary (disappointing, apparently it’s better when the owner is there to explain things).
Friendship Bay
Anchored for 4 nights over Xmas 2017. It was quite rolly with heavy swell coming into the bay. There may have been a decent dinghy Pontoon here previously but there is now a large concrete super yacht pontoon which is too high to get onto from your dinghy.
There is a lower part around the side but be careful not to get your dinghy wedged under the concrete.
The hotel here is lovely and the staff were very friendly. Food was great. All prices were in USD.
Customs is open every day, including Sunday. We arrived Saturday evening and waited on the boat until Monday morning to check in. They were NOT happy with us. They said we could be fined up to 5000 EC, but he let it go this time. We won’t make that mistake again.
The CSSN has received a recent report of tools and spares stolen from a dinghy while moored in the Admiralty Bay area. Please remember to properly stow and lock any loose items while away from your yacht or at night. There have been multiple reports in recent years of theft in this area.
Update on Moorings by Chris Doyle via St Vincent and the Grenadines Cruisers Facebook Page:
Most guys in Bequia are now charging $60 EC a night for their balls (and whatever may happen to lie underneath them). Remember they are not regulated, have no legal standing so unless you check them with mask and snorkel there is no guarantee of reliability.
Tobago Cays Marine Park is now running the moorings in Salt Whistle Bay, the same charge. These are new so should be OK but you would be very wise to check for yourself.
REFRIGERATION REPAIR Daniel’s Refrigeration not in business- retired. The good refrig technician is Sam Saville 784.529.1682
Jeff has given more details about this burglary in a report posted adjacent dated June 2013.
June we were anchored in Bequia, the first night we had a person board our boat while we were asleep and entered the centre window of the catamaran and stole several electronic items. We contacted the police, they came out to the boat and spent 2 hours writing a report.
We tried to get a copy of the report before we left but they wouldn’t provide us with a copy. They said we would need to email them and request a copy. We have emailed and called and still can’t get the report for our insurance company.