Sail or Cruise Baja California Coast, Mexico

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Sailing or cruising down the Pacific side of Baja California can be a wonderful experience. The rugged coastline and only a handful of anchorages hide some of the most isolated parts of the peninsula. The season starts when the hurricane season ends (and the humity goes away), usually about the second week of October. There are two organized events for groups to sail (Baja Ha Ha) or cruise (FUBAR) down the coast. FUBAR is an acronym for Fleet Underway to Baja Rally. Some of the possible stopping off ways to get down are: Baja Ha-Ha Route (12 days): A passage of three days from San Diego to Turtle Bay (a little over 350 Nautical Miles (NM)). Then two days to Bahia Santa Maria (about 230 NM) and then a day and a half to Cabo San Lucas (about 200 NM). FUBAR Route (12 days): Starts with San Diego to Ensenada (65 NM) for two nights, then Ensenada to Turtle Bay (282 NM) for two more nights. Then Turtle Bay to Mag Bay (258 NM) for two more nights. Mag Bay to San Jose Del Cabo Marina (185 NM), San Jose Del Cabo Marina to Bahia de los Suenos Bay (75 NM) and finally Los Suenos to La Paz (52 NM) On you own can be a fix of any of the above Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the third-largest city in Baja California. Ensenada is now known as a cruise ship destination and as the heart of a wine country regarded as the best in Mexico. There is a street in Ensenada called "La Calle Primera" or Adolfo Lopez Mateos ("1st Street"). It's a tourism spot in Ensenada due to its many "Curios" (short for "Curiosidades" — trinkets and souvenirs) shops, restaurants, hotels, bars, and popular clubs such as the Hussong's Cantina and Papas & Beer. Bahia Tortugas (Turtle Bay) is one of only two spots to get diesel fuel on the 850-mile outer Baja coast. Bahia Tortugas is a great (usually required) stop that has an expansive bay with a stunning backdrop of desert mountains, with sheer cliffs dropping right into the water in some spots, and gradual beach slopes in others. On the northern end of the bay there's a tiny village with a run-down pier, a little outdoor cafe, a few stores, and bakeries. The town makes its living primarily on lobster exports to Japan. Bahia Santa Maria is a great place to relax, hike and explore. Bahia Santa Maria is inhabited only by a small group of fishermen who live in a dozen or so plywood huts in one corner of the Bay. Bahía Magdalena (Mag Bay) is a 50 km long bay that is particularly noted for the seasonal migration of the California Gray Whales that come here during winter to mate. The bay is also popular for commercial and sports fishing. Nearby mangrove swamps provide sanctuaries for sea birds. The bay is protected from the Pacific Ocean by the sandy barrier islands of Isla Magdalena and Isla Santa Margarita. The bay includes the small fishing port of San Carlos, as well as Puerto López Mateos. Cabo San Lucas is a beautiful spot. While touristy, it is pleasant and with character. once you get off the main strip. You can find some good deals in small restaurants outside the tourist belt, and even a place on the water with cheap eats and relatively cheap beer. However, it is expensive to stop here. Bahía de los Sueños (the Bay of Dreams) is located 35 miles south of La Paz, is a resort community with an elite fishing club, a Tom Doak 18-hole golf course, resort hotels and spas. Bahia de los Suenos used to be called Bahia de los Muertos, which is Bay of the Dead. When they decided to build a community and resort in the area, the developers decided that in order to make it more enticing for potential residents and visitors, they needed to change the name of the area. La Paz, the largest city in Baja California Sur, also the capital of this Mexican state, is big enough to provide virtually any needed support services, yet retains its small Mexican fishing village feel. La Paz offers a number of marinas where your cruising adventure may commence. Visitors to La Paz also find the local museums, restaurants, clubs, art galleries and theaters well worth their attention. Islands off the coast of La Paz are frequent targets of cruisers in the Sea of Cortez. La Paz is accessible through its modern international airport. Twin islands, named Isla Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida, connected only by a sand spit, possess mostly undisturbed ecosystems supporting diverse land and sea based life. Isla San Jose with its beautiful white sand beach and forests of cacti is another favored destination.

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