Question Revillagigedo Park Fees

[PK1]

I'm booked for a liveaboard trip to Socorros in December of this year. I understand from the operator that Park fees have been increased substantially, to USD 100 per day; by no means a trivial amount for a 7-day trip. The good news is that the Park fees are waived for retirees. The catch however is that you apparently need an official letter certifying that you are a pensioner. In the case of the United States, I don't believe that the federal government issues any such certifications for anyone other than former federal government employees. I asked whether a pay stub or W2 form showing my pension would qualify but was told that it would not. Has anyone else faced this problem? Any suggestions on how to resolve?

 

[PamelaH]

I'm booked for a liveaboard trip to Socorros in December of this year. I understand from the operator that Park fees have been increased substantially, to USD 100 per day; by no means a trivial amount for a 7-day trip. The good news is that the Park fees are waived for retirees. The catch however is that you apparently need an official letter certifying that you are a pensioner. In the case of the United States, I don't believe that the federal government issues any such certifications for anyone other than former federal government employees. I asked whether a pay stub or W2 form showing my pension would qualify but was told that it would not. Has anyone else faced this problem? Any suggestions on how to resolve?

I just used my Social Security Benefits record with sensitive stuff redacted. Worked fine. So if you collect Social Security you can use that. Just log in to the website and find the last annual letter you got and send that in.

 

[PK1]

I just used my Social Security Benefits record with sensitive stuff redacted. Worked fine. So if you collect Social Security you can use that. Just log in to the website and find the last annual letter you got and send that in.

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I don’t yet collect Social Security, just a pension from my former employer.

 

[PamelaH]

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I don’t yet collect Social Security, just a pension from my former employer.

Maybe they can give you a letter saying you no longer work there and are collection a pension. Or maybe some letter that you got when you started collecting would work. I think a variety of things will work. Good luck! Socorro is magical. I'm going back for a 2nd time in Feb.

 

[Manuel Sam]

HR should have a pension verification document - mine says that I am receiving $X a month and having $Y deducted for Fed and State taxes. I also threw in a letter from HR congratulating me on my retirement. That and the Social Security Annual Benefits Summary is what I submitted and it has worked thru 3 trips so far.

The operator should only charge the Park fee on days when the boat is in Socorro - not for in-transit days during the crossings.

 

[Cybernurse]

Has anyone noticed the park fees will be about $180 per dive day from 1st January 2025? And it looks as though foreign retirees will now have to pay as well as the under 60s ​

 

[JustinJRL]

180$, yuck!!

This seems like extortion. As a Canadian with a weaker dollar, I will reconsider my Nov/Dec 2025 trip, perhaps I will be headed elsewhere.

 

[ps444mike]

ya just got the email and wow the park fees are out of control..

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Why are they doing this?
Is it just a money grab to soak rich Americans?

 

[runsongas]

its not aimed at americans in particular, its to both aim at more upscale tourists and lower the amount of demand for trips. I guess they could have also capped how many liveaboards/trips are allowed, but this has a side effect for more revenue for conservation (or graft depending on how cynical you are)

its similar to the proposed park fee hike for komodo, they want richer tourists to get rid of the backpacker crowd by hiking the fees, and to reduce how many tourists visit