Progreso Marinas and Water Sports

The picture was taken at Marina Torre in the Yucalpeten harbor just west of Progreso. Twelve year old Liliana Gutierrez Calero, who is standing in front of her dad’s Hunter 30 sailboat, is holding a 15-pound snook caught in local waters. This picture was taken by Juan Manuel Mier y Teran over the Easter holidays when Liliana, her parents and her older brother lived on board their sailboat for the week long vacation. Liliana also has her own 11-foot Kiwi sailing dinghy and is becoming quite a sailor! Her dad, Manuel, is the owner of two marinas, Marina Paraiso in Progreso and Marina Paraiso in Isla Mujeres, so she has sailing in her blood.

1. Marina Yucalpeten
2. Marina Tortugas
3. Marina Torre
3. Marina Chavetas
3. Marina Paraiso
4. Marina Laguna Mar

When one thinks of the Yucatan, one thinks of Mayan pyramids and colonial cities. However, there is a lot more to the Yucatan. While sailing and fishing are things the locals do regularly, sailing has not been organized to the point where it is offered easily to tourists. It is possible to hire boats for fishing.

The Yucalpeten harbor is about four miles west of Progreso and is shaped like a three leaf clover. In this harbor you will find the large local fishing fleet, fish packing companies (that export fish and octopus worldwide), the Navy base, two condo complexes and eight recreational boat marinas. The private boats you see at these marinas include powerboats and sailboats that range in size from dinghies to 70-foot yachts.

If you look at a map, you will notice that Progreso is strategically located for boats coming from or going to Texas from the Caribbean, so it is common to see foreign boats in the harbor that come in to re-fuel, provision and/or re-group after the passage from or to the States.

In the local marinas, there is a fleet of some 30 sailboats that range in size from 11 feet to 46 feet. On any given weekend, on the west side of the Progreso pier, you will see the white sails of several sailboats enjoying the breezes of the Gulf of Mexico. Progreso is known for its consistent winds in the 12-15 knot range. There is even a local yacht club that is not very active, but it does exist!

June 1st is Dia de la Marina or Seaman’s Day where festivities that include ceremonies, marathons, dances and taco parties go on for several days. Marina Laguna Mar also sponsors a yearly sailboat regatta the weekend closest to June 1st. In the summertime there are regattas just about every weekend where Hobie Cat 16’s, Sunfish and windsurfers race for the various cups that are offered.

A young Yucateca with a fish she caught in the bay just moments before!

Marina Silcer is a sail club located on the beach in Chicxulub and it is one place where you can rent windsurfers and small sailboats. This is a happening place where you will also find people practicing kite-boarding on the weekends after about 2 PM when the wind picks up. It is also the place to have a delicious seafood lunch right on the beach.

Recommended reading
Progreso
Marina Silcer
Beaches

Visit our maps
 Map of Progreso
 Map of Yucatan Peninsula

Hotels
Hotel Progreso
Email: hotel.progreso@hotmail.com
Hotel InterMaya
Email: hotelintermaya@hotmail.com
Condhotel Progreso
Website: www.condhotelprogreso.com
Hotel Yakunah
Website: www.hotelyakunah.com.mx

Activities:
Marina Silcer - Sailing, fishing & more
Website: www.marinasilcer.com
San Crisanto Mangroves
Website: Click here for information
Rio Lagartos Expeditions
Website: www.riolagartosexpeditions.com
Red de Ecoturismo de Yucatan
Website: www.redecoturismo.com
K'ab
www.kab-yucatan.com/fishing.html

Events & Activities Calendar
Click Here for a complete description of the activites, events and attractions in the Yucatan.

Promotions & Discounts
 Click here to get the best deals for your visit in the Yucatan.

New development in the area:
Flamingo Lakes Golf & Country Club
Playa de Coco
Villas Telchac
Playa Maya

To read in Spanish
Click here