Welcome to Omoa, Honduras
For all our visiting international guests…
Dear HIBO 2025 International Guests:
First of all, we would like to thank all foreign boats for the effort in making the trip down in order to participate in this edition of the Honduras International Billfish Open. The Organizing Committee of the Club de Pesca del Caribe is thrilled to host you and eager to do everything we possibly can to make your fishing adventure more comfortable and worthwhile.
Some of you are already familiar with the information below, but if you are a first time participant this will all be new to you. Also there might have been updates regarding last years information regarding Fuel Logistics, Taxi Service option, Jackpot buy in categories, and other valuable information that will help make your stay much more pleasant.
Marina Coordinates
15° 47.446′ N – 87 °59.615′ W
This images will serve you as reference of the Puerto Cortés/ Omoa area as well as the coordinates of “The Marine Grill & Marina” (also commonly known as Acantilados), which will be the official venue for this year’s event. After you cross south of the Belizean barrier reef, there is no need to worry for other shallow reef areas inside the Puerto Cortes-Omoa Bay, you just enter your coordinates in your GPS and head straight down to the Marina´s entrance depicted in the second picture attached.
You just enter your coordinates in your GPS and head straight down to the Marina´s entrance depicted in the second picture.
Here is also a google maps location as an alternative for reference.
Dockage
Marina space will be tight, but we have managed to give priority to foreign boats on the dates of the event. You will find official HIBO signs on each available dock with the names of the boats for those reserved spaces. There is security 24/7 so you will not have any issues leaving your fishing gear in the boat. Please note that if a participating boat did not reserve a spot, we will not be able to guarantee accommodations for your vessel.
Radio Comunication
Channel 63 International
The official communication channel for the HIBO is Channel 63 (International). Some radios have tricky processes when changing from US to INT mode, so please review this process in advance because we won’t be able to hear you if you are in the US or Canada mode. Our “repetidora” offers clear communications from Puerto Cortes all the way up to South Glovers or even near Placencia. We will have our handy with us on Thursday 20th if you happen to need to communicate with us during your trip to Omoa.
Cellphone Comunication
To make your trip more pleasant & convenient, we will be incorporating as a courtesy for each participating boat, one Honduran SIM CARD that contains 10 Gigas of WIFI data and unlimited local phone calls (SIM Cards expire March 27th). These SIM CARDS will be handed out to you once you arrive to the Marina. You will also need this service in order to upload all your videos through the Dropbox link. (Please read the rules & regulations, where this upload process is explained in further detail).
Immigration & Customs
As we have done in previous events, Honduran Immigration authorities will be inside the marina to help you out with this process when you arrive on Thursday, and when you depart on Sunday. Please remember to bring along with you the boats Set Sail document (Zarpe) provided by Belizean officials, all of your crews passports, $20 in cash per person for immigration fees ($10 for entry & $10 for departure), and a Crew List document containing the name of the each member traveling in the boat, along with the date of birth and passport number. This document will be handed out to the Immigration authorities and can be handwritten for your convenience.
Fuel
Fuel Logistics will be provided by UNO – LA MEGA gas station. In order to guarantee fuel supply, please read carefully all the information below. Please take into consideration that this service does not accept cash as a form of payment. Also, take into account that Fuel will be delivered to the Marina, but supply will not be guaranteed unless you place your order at least 24 hours before. That being said, we strongly suggest that you preorder and prepay the gallons of fuel needed a few days in advance.
Fuel will be delivered to the Marina, but supply will not be guaranteed unless you preorder and prepay at least 24 hours before. Fuel will be delivered during the following schedule:
- Thursday, March 20th — From 1:00 pm onwards
- Friday, March 21st — From 4:00 pm onwards
- Saturday, March 22nd — From 4:00 pm onwards
- Sunday, March 23rd — From 7:00 am to 11:00 am
To coordinate your orders, please contact us via Whatsapp or phone call through the following numbers:
- +504-3177-6637
- +504-3349-4221
If by any chance fuel cannot be supplied by LA MEGA Gas Station, there will be a pickup truck that has been equipped with a large gas tank with a long-incorporated hose so that you or your crew can quickly be driven to a gas station, fuel up the tank and come back to the marina to fuel up your vessel. We suggest you use this option only as last resort.
Transportation
Taxi drivers have been coordinated to transport foreign boat crews to and from your hotels, as well as to run some errands if the case presents itself. Below you will find the list of the Taxi Drivers, their phone numbers, and the defined rates to the places you will most likely frequent. We suggest you contact them in advance and pre-arrange necessary trips like hotel drop offs and pickups with your crews corresponding time-schedule.
| Taxi Driver Name | Cellphone | Observations |
|---|---|---|
| Jose Hernandez (Chepe) | +504-9536-6272 | Taxi Head Coordinator / Only speaks Spanish |
| Jose Antonio Hernandez Dubón | +504-9802-9123 | Speaks English & German |
| Fabio Portillo | +504-8762-9188 | Speaks English |
| Esteban Roberto Hernandez | +504-9562-7794 | Only speaks spanish |
| $ U.S Dollars | Lempiras | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From the Marina to: | One Way | Round Trip | One Way | Round Trip |
| River Park Hotel | $6.00 | $12.00 | L150.00 | L300.00 |
| Super Barato Supermaket | $7.00 | $14.00 | L175.00 | L350.00 |
| Costa Azul Hotel / Puerto Cortes Municipality Beach Area | $8.00 | $16.00 | L200.00 | L400.00 |
| Viña del Mar / Omoa | $8.00 | $16.00 | L200.00 | L400.00 |
| Down Town Puerto Cortes | $9.00 | $18.00 | L225.00 | L450.00 |
| Hotel Paraiso | $15.00 | $30.00 | L375.00 | L750.00 |
If you prefer air conditioned car service, we have incorporated a new VIP Taxi Service company for your convenience, although prices for one way or round trips might be more expensive. Those negotiations will have to be done by your side. The VIP TAXI contact is ALBERTO MALLET and his cellphone is +504-3296-1509. They have a fleet of 14 air conditions cars at your service as well, although they do not speak English.
In the event that the taxi services are all taken at any given time, our tournaments committee has organized Chauffeurs with pick-up trucks to take you or your crew to your destination. To arrange this, please feel free to contact any of us directly or through the HIBO Belize Boat Whatsapp chat during reasonable hours. UBER is also an option, so we suggest you download the app in your phone just in case.
Event Access Wrist Bands
Each participating boat will receive 5 (3 Day Event Access) Wrist Bands as a part of the Tournaments Welcoming Kit. If your party has more than 5 crew members and wish to purchase more, you will be able to purchase them with the Tournaments Staff members that will be handing out the welcoming packages
The price for each extra 3 Day Access Wrist Band is worth USD $100 for adults, and USD $40 for children up to the age of 14 years old. If you only wish to purchase an extra wrist band for the final award ceremony, the cost will be USD $40 for adults and USD $15 for children.
Accommodations & Lodging
Our official hotel sponsor is Paraiso Rainforest & Beach Hotel. Please check their accommodations and rates in their website www.paraisohotelhn.com
There are other Airbnb beachfront condos sent to the HIBO – Belize Whatsapp Group that we recommend you look into. If you missed the links, please contact any of the organizing committee members in order to resend them to you.
Jackpot
Remember that aside of the tournament prize there is an optional jackpot in which you can decide to participate which will increase your winnings. Here is another link to its information and payment page, as well as another registration link.
We hope this document has covered all of the information you need to organize your trip. If there is any other information or doubt regarding your stay or any issue regarding your tournament’s participation, please don’t hesitate to contact any of the members of the organizing committee.
Hope to see you soon. Tight lines,
Best Regards
Club de Pesca del Caribe
Pescando por un cambio … Fishing for a change.