Sheltered behind the 800-mile-long Baja Peninsula, the third largest in the world, Mexico’s Sea of Cortez is one of the most unique cruising grounds on Earth.
A Baja powerboat itinerary begins in La Paz, Mexico, located about 137 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, the big-game fishing capital of the region. Heading north from La Paz takes you to numerous uninhabited islands that are often designated as protected areas, with white-sand beaches and beautiful coves to explore (see Baja yachting maps). Along the Baja shore are picturesque bays fronting the remote desert landscape and high hills, each with its own special charm and where the fishing, swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving is superb. Small fishing villages add to the ambience, as does a foray to Loreto from nearby Puerto Escondido to enjoy the laid-back, unpretentious local bars and restaurants. Strolling along the quiet lanes and browsing in the shops is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon and early evening. And, of course, there’s La Paz, the jewel of Baja, a city with cultural and historic sites, fine dining, eclectic boutiques, and many museums.
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La Paz to Caleta Lobos – 7.5 miles. The first day of your Baja powerboat itinerary begins at noon when you board your luxury power yacht and cast off the lines for a short passage north across Bahia de La Paz. A peninsula jutting into the Sea of Cortez forms the bay, and along its western shores are a number of intriguing anchorages. The one at Caleta Lobos (Lobos Cove) is well protected and quite scenic. There is good shallow-water snorkeling on fascinating coral formations teeming with tropical fish. As the sun sets, relax in the spacious cockpit of your power yacht and watch the shades of color illuminating the high hills turn from red to purple. Feel the stress of a busy life fade rapidly away.
Caleta Lobos to Ensenada Grande – 17 miles. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, watch the birds, and get fully into the slow pace of Baja time, then get your luxury Powercat under way for a splendid cruise out into the Sea of Cortez. As you drive, the waters of Bahia de La Paz widen. Ahead are the twin islands of Espiritu and Partida, very popular stops on a Baja powerboat itinerary. Isla Espiritu is a protected area with numerous bays and coves, and Isla Partida is home to the bay of Ensenada Grande, your overnight anchorage. Check out either island as a lunch stop. Just north of Isla Partida is Los Islotes, a formation of rocks and cliffs where you’ll find hundreds of golden-colored sea lions frolicking and sunning themselves. The snorkeling and scuba diving off Los Islotes is excellent, and swimming with the sea lions, which are curious and generally friendly, is lots of fun.
Ensenada Grande to Isla San Francisco – 18 miles. The third day of your Baja itinerary takes you north on an open-water passage to the beautiful and remote island of San Francisco. As you enter the horseshoe-shaped bay at the south end of this small isle, the pristine white-sand beach is bound to impress you. High hills climb to the east, and it’s possible to scale the heights to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez. The swimming and snorkeling are great in the bay, and there are lots of shells on the bech to attract the beach combers of the family. Isla San Francisco is a lovely place, idyllic and serene.
Isla San Francisco to Puerto Los Gatos – 32 miles. After a restful night at scenic Isla San Francisco, get under way for your next passage, a beautiful cruise north up the rugged coast of Baja. As you drive your powered catamaran, you enjoy the scenery from the spacious flybridge. To starboard is the expansive coastline of large Isla San José, but soon you emerge into open water again, with the shimmering Sea of Cortez stretching ever eastward. The remote island of Santa Cruz is off the bow and you start looking for the cliffs and plateaus near Point San Telmo, where you’ll anchor overnight at Puerto Los Gatos, a picturesque bay with high reddish bluffs and a spectacular white-sand beach. There are impressive sand dunes, some more than 50 feet high. You can also buy fresh fish and lobster from Manuel, a local fisherman operating out of Puerto Los Gatos.
Puerto Los Gatos to Puerto Escondido – 46 miles. Your Baja powerboat itinerary takes you on the last full day of heading north along the scenic coast to Puerto Esondido, nearly landlocked and considered the best protected harbor in the Sea of Cortez. It’s narrow entrance is behind a headland, which is how the harbor got its name (escondido means hidden). The harbor itself is worth visiting, but another reason to go is the chance to snorkel off Candeleros Poiint, visit Yellowstone Beach at Isla Montserrate, or go fishing off the north or south points of Isla Santa Catalina, all of which are on the way. Escondido is a sleepy little harbor, with two small stores and a restaurant about half a mile from the pier. It’s possible to arrange a taxi ride into historic Loreto, which has a number of shops, bars, and restaurants.
Puerto Escondido to Caleta San Evaristo – 77 miles. Plan an early start for your passage south to build in some intriguing day stops. If you didn’t check out Montserrate or Santa Catalina islands, they’re worth a visit, depending on whether you want a beach or fishing experience. Point Bellana offers superior snorkeling, and Bahia Agua Verde is beautiful, featuring a rare oasis of green vegetation and trees surrounding a small village all made possible because of a supply of fresh water. Otherwise, power on south to Caleta San Evaristo, which lies due west of Isla San José. The bay is ringed with white-sand beaches and sand dunes and offers excellent protection for northerly and southerly winds. There’s also a small village to explore. The fishing boats pulled up on the shore are picturesque.
Caleta San Evaristo to Puerto Balandra – 49.5 miles. On the last full day of your Baja powerboat itinerary, throttle up the twin engines of your luxury Powercat and head nearly due south back across the open waters fully in the groove, the yacht moving easily through the gentle waves, the scenery as stunning as ever from the spacious flybridge. Soon you leave the wide expanse of the Sea of Cortez in your wake and snug up along the west side of the peninsula that forms Bahia de La Paz. Your last overnight anchorage is in the quiet and scenic Puerto Balandra. It’s just north of Caleta Lobos. White-sand beaches proliferate and the setting is spectacular with excellent views of the mountains to the west.
Final Morning
Puerto Balandra to La Paz – 8 miles. Although you won’t want to cruise back to reality (you can always come visit Baja again!), the final leg of your Baja itinerary is an easy passage south back to the Moorings Power base in La Paz. Please check in by noon.
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