Sail Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico

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Mexico’s Baja Peninsula runs nearly 1300 kilometers from the tip at Cabo San Lucas to the California border. The Sea of Cortez (more formally known as the Gulf of California) on the east side of the peninsula harbors some of the best cruising waters in North America. As many as 340 days of sunshine on the Sea of Cortez and the usually reliable northwest winds at 10 to 15 knots, during the period between December and May, helps create some incredible cruising conditions. Sailors with only basic navigational skills find cruising in these waters a good way to develop their resumes as short passages and secure anchorage combined with the on-water conditions allow for minimal challenges. Snorkeling and diving in crystal clear water and exploring deserted islands are among the favorite pursuits of cruisers. The Sea of Cortez is home to abundant wildlife with sea lions, rays, dolphin and hundreds of species of tropical fish competing with the dozen or so whale species that inhabit these waters for attention. The largest animal on earth, the blue whale, is frequently sited in the Sea along with the other types of Cetaceans that breed in the warm waters of the Sea’s sheltered bays. 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. In addition to the city of La Paz, bareboat charters may be arranged leaving from the town of Loreto (with its own international airport). Yachtsmen sometimes arrange for charters leaving Loreto, making stops at Isla Carmen, Isla Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida before they navigate to La Paz where they terminate their sail. Sailing your own bareboat charter in the waters of the Sea of Cortez is a worthy addition to your list if visiting quaint Mexican towns, exploring idyllic islands and observing whales and other wildlife in their natural habitat sounds like your definition of a dream come true.

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