Mexico - West Coast - Online Cruising Guide

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Lonely Cove with North Protection

Sea of Cortez - Mainland Side

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Decent Protection on a Gorgeous Shore

Sea of Cortez - Mainland Side

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Quick Escape from La Paz

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Surprisingly Little Used Stopover

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Raw and Beautiful, With North Protection

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Drop Dead Surroundings, Drop Jaw Pricing

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Welcome to The Cheap Seats

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Sandy Fishing Town with Mellow Vibe

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Rowdy Days, Quiet Nights, Gorgeous Always

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Espiritu Vibe at its Finest

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Shockingly Good Snorkeling Right Off The Beach

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Spectacular Setting for Settled Weather

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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It’s a Roller Coaster of Red Rock

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Wow! Just…. Wow.

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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The Espiritu Classic

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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A Little More Privacy, But Mind The Bar

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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In The Heart of This Lively City

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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An Incredible Beach, and Welcome West Protection

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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The Heart of Cabo Craziness

Baja Pacific Side

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A Mellower Alternative to Cabo Craziness

Baja Pacific Side

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More Room Than You Need, With a Wind Machine

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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A Short Hop, But a World Away

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Sweet Mile of Sandy Anchoring, But Open Roadstead

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Shallow SE Protection with a Wifi Bonus

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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An All Time Favorite, But Technical Anchoring

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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A Gorgeous Classic That Checks a Lot of Boxes

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Big Pocket Anchorage with Colorful Bluffs and Nutty Snorkeling

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Small Pocket with Big Fish

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Easy Anchoring for an Entire Armada

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Your Return to The World of Connectivity

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Your Private, Perfect Nook

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Remote and Beautiful Beach with Good Snorkeling

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Gorgeous, Quiet, and Multifaceted

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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They Don't Call it The Aquarium for Nothin'

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Gorgeous, Good Surf, But Mind the Bugs

Mexico Mainland - Central

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A Keyhole Anchorage With Great South Protection

Mexico Mainland - Central

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An Unexpected Irish Connection

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Surgey But Lovely Resort Marina with Poolside Fun

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Great Value in a Protected Marina. Good Food Too.

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Banana Tows, Music and Jet Skis, Oh My!

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Kid Boat Center of Universe. Fun for Adults, Too

Mexico Mainland - Central

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A Dream Around Christmas, Nightmare in Spring

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Accessible Beach Town with Imposing Swimming Guest

Mexico Mainland - Central

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A Surfing Break for a Day or a Week

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Rare Mid-Coast Island Anchorage

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Sweet Mexico Beach Town with Just Enough of Everything

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Your Peaceful Sleeping Oasis

Mexico Mainland - Central

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You Thought THIS Was Your Dream Destination?

Baja Pacific Side

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Get Out of The Weather, Discover a Whole Other World

Baja Pacific Side

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Excellent, Well Protected Bay with Room for The Sixth Fleet

Baja Pacific Side

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Dusty Funky Quiet Expat Surf Haven

Baja Pacific Side

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Surfers and Whale Watchers, Look No Further

Baja Pacific Side

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Quiet Baja Beach Town with Expat Cruiser Community

Baja Pacific Side

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All Weather Anchorage with Dusty Funky Town

Baja Pacific Side

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A Bustling Town with Just About Everything

Baja Pacific Side

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A Lovely Oasis on a Rocky Shore

Baja Pacific Side

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Dusty Town Built on a Bluff

Baja Pacific Side

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Gorgeous Remote Bay and Challenging Inlet if You Dare

Baja Pacific Side

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Hang Out Just Below the Nose

Baja Pacific Side

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Full-Time Summer Camp for Adults

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Eery and Gorgeous, But Noisy Chain

Mexico Mainland - Central

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The Galapagos of Mexico

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Longboard Surf Haven with Identity Crisis Ashore

Mexico Mainland - Central

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Photogenic Mellow Jungle Beach Town

Mexico Mainland - Central

Mexico – Pacific Coast

Mexico’s pacific coast is a well-deserved magnet for cruisers from all over the world, in particular those from the west coasts of the US and Canada. It’s common to find crews down here that left the states for a short trip through Mexico on the way to the South Seas, and are still here a decade or more later. It’s “easy living” at it’s finest: Good food, friendly people, a tight and ever changing cruising community, excellent anchorages, natural wonders, and the currency exchange rate makes it hard to find another place with more bang for your buck.

Clearing In

Checking in to Mexico on a private vessel is often a more arduous task than any other country in the Caribbean or Central America. It’s actually the most difficult, next to the United States. There are a number of steps to go through, which may include: Aduana (customs and immigration), Port Captain, Agricultural Inspection, Health Inspection, Temporary Import Permit for your vessel.

It is expected that you will clear into Mexico at the first available port, so these services are more available, and more streamlined, at select ports North and South, with limited availability at the more interior ports. Best spots to stop are Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, Huatulco, Chiapas, Puerto Angel. (there may be more)

The old system of Port Captain “fiefdoms,” which had to be checked in and out of at each segment of coastline, almost like a new country border, has given way to a more civilized check in/out procedure at the Port Captain level. These interactions with the Port Captains is typically short and quite pleasant, with no cost. It keeps you on the right side of their ledger, and should make help more available to you, if you should need it.

Finances and Logistics

While credit cards are widely accepted in major cities and large town in coastal Mexico, it’s still very much a cash economy, and exclusively so in the smaller villages. ATMs attached to actual banks are typically safe, while those at gas stations or convenience stores, or in an alley somewhere, should be eyed with due suspicion. Fraud and theft is rare, but does occur. Mostly it’s best to have a bank to go to if the machine eats your card, or lacks the funds you requested. The exchange rate is typically quite favorable for most western currencies, making Mexico an excellent bargain.

Marine services and parts are available in a scattered fashion, and getting items shipped into and around Mexico still poses some issues, notably loss of valuable items in transit. It is often best to have guests bring items with them in their checked baggage, to save the hassle and get access to items not found in Mexico’s chandleries. Labor and common parts can be quite inexpensive, including stainless fabrication and canvas work. But marinas, boat yards, and specialty marine parts (notably bottom paint) can be more than US prices.

Insurance

Technically insurance isn’t required to sail in Mexico, but you’ll find it nearly impossible to stay in a marina, and you can find your boat impounded and your carcass in jail if something goes wrong and you cause damage to a dock, another boat, reef, etc. At the very least, get a liability-only Mexico policy from any number of providers. They are typically under $200 US per year, and will give you, marina operators, and authorities piece of mind.

More to come…

Quick links to Pacific Mexico cruising areas:

Pacific Mexico Anchorages

Sea of Cortez - Baja Side

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Printed Cruising Guides to Pacific Mexico

Contrary to popular belief, we’re HUGE fans of printed cruising guides, and consider them essential gear for cruising any coast. Below are the OCG recommended cruising guides for this area. Following the links and purchasing these cruising guides (or anything else) helps fund OCG through a small commission. Thanks!

Charlie’s Charts – Pacific Mexico

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Rains Guide to Pacific Mexico

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Mexico – West Coast

Mexico – Pacific Coast

Clearing In

Finances and Logistics

Insurance

Pacific Mexico Anchorages

(recently added)

Caleta Lalo

Bahia Algodones

Bahia Falsa

Playa Pichilingue

San Marte

Marina Puerto Escondido – Moorings

Rattlesnake – Puerto Escondido

San Evaristo

Ensenada Grande – Isla Partida

Recent Posts From Pacific Coastal Mexico

Printed Cruising Guides to Pacific Mexico

Charlie’s Charts – Pacific Mexico

Rains Guide to Pacific Mexico

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