GOOD NAUTICAL: ISLA ESPIRITU SANTO, SEA OF CORTEZ, MEXICO
GOOD NAUTICAL: ISLA ESPIRITU SANTO, SEA OF CORTEZ, MEXICO
This link is for the northernmost bay on the island.ย There are many up and down Espiritu Santo.ย All are interesting and fun to explore.ย A Park Pass is required and can be obtained in La Paz: https://goodnautical.com/mexico-pacific/anchorage/el-mezteno-isla-espiritu-santo
Good Nautical: Puerto Refugio in the Northern Sea of Cortez, Mexico
Good Nautical: Puerto Refugio
in the Northern Sea of Cortez, Mexico
29ยฐ 32.3883' Nย 113ยฐ 33.5799' W
Many say that in the Sea of Cortez you can be where the desert meets the sea.ย This is truly the case in Puerto Refugio.
Puerto Refugio is a small cove within the wide bay at the northern tip of Isla Angel de la Guarda. Isla Granito, the 1km long skinny island lying at the entrance to the bay, blocks some of the northerly swell but the anchorage is still very rolly when a norther is blowing. The western cove is very well protected from all other directions.ย In the summer months this bay is a calm place to anchor and spend time exploring.ย There is a sea lion rookery and a pelican rookery in different parts of the bay.ย Many people will visit this bay as their last stop on the way to Puerto Penasco.
Anchorage
Rocks extend from the western point towards the boney finger of rock that juts out from the south side of the cove. Anchor in the northwest corner of the bay in 4.5m on a sandy bottom. The southern part of the bay is scattered with rocks and islets and a lookout on the bow is recommended if trying to enter this part of the cove. Dinghy ashore to the beach and be careful when landing if waves are breaking.
Photos taken in July and contributed by SV ARROWย and crew
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ย
SEA OF CORTEZ
CABO SAN LUCAS TO PUERTO PEรASCO ~ 700ย nm
- Cabo San Lucas to Los Frailes 41.8 nm
- Los Frailes to Bahia de los Muertos 43.9 nm
- Bahia de los Muertos to La Paz 52 nm
- La Paz to Bahรญa de San Gabriel Cove 17.8 nm
- San Gabriel Cove to Caleta Partida 11 nm
- Caleta Partida to Isla San Francisco 21 nm
- Isla San Francisco to Bahia Evaristo 9.8 nm
- Evaristo to Aqua Verde 42 nm
- Aqua Verde to Puerto Escondido 23 nm
- Puerto Escondido to Loreto 14 nm
- Loreto to Caleta de San Juanico 23.4 nm
- Caleta de San Juanico to Bahia Concepcion 43 nm
- Bahia Concepcion to Santa Rosalia 48.9 nm
- Santa Rosalia to Bahia San Francisquito 79 nm
- Bahia San Francisquito to Bahia las Animas 32.2 nm
- Bahia las Animas to Bahia los Angeles 19.8 nm
- Bahia Los Angeles to Bahia Refugio 42.1 nm
- Bahia Refugio to Puerto Penasco 107.2 nm
Seafarers typically move quickly from Cabo or San Jose de Cabo and head for La Paz, a magnetic cruising port and epicenter of the lower sea of Cortes for provisions, culture and food. The next sizable city on the Baja side is Loreto close to 150 miles north, with some of the most spectacular cruising spread out between. From Santa Rosalia north to the Bahia de Los Angeles area vistas and locations gets more remote and you tend to see less cruising yachts. In the northern sea Puerto Peรฑasco is a cruiser friendly spot to put up and haul out with most work done by cruisers themselves. The proximity to Arizona / US Border for parts makes this a very popular place to haul out.
Weather in the Sea of Cortes is very much seasonal.
The prime seasons for exploring this area under sailย is from late Octย to Decย ( Fall ) and Apr to Jun ( Spring )
Jan – Mar suffer from strong Northerners๐จ, cold and sometimes gale force winds of 30+ knots that originate in winter high pressure in the southwestern US, and blow the full length of the Sea, kicking up some serious short period square wind waves and swell. They can blow for 2-4 days, with short periods of lovely cool weather in between.
Jul – Oct ย is the Hurricane Season ๐ with intense heat and humidity of summer. Summer SE/Tropical Storm Season – hot and humid
There is a general rule of following the water temperature when cruising in the sea. Too cold ? Head south – Too warm ? Head north !
LA PAZ
LORETO
Puerto Peรฑascoย
CABO SAN LUCAS TO PUERTO PEรASCO ~ 700ย nm
Cabo San Lucas to Los Frailes 41.8 nm
Los Frailes to Bahia de los Muertos 43.9 nm
Bahia de los Muertos to La Paz 52 nm
La Paz to Bahรญa de San Gabriel Cove 17.8 nm
San Gabriel Cove to Caleta Partida 11 nm
Caleta Partida to Isla San Francisco 21 nm
Isla San Francisco to Bahia Evaristo 9.8 nm
Evaristo to Aqua Verde 42 nm
Aqua Verde to Puerto Escondido 23 nm
Puerto Escondido to Loreto 14 nm
Loreto to Caleta de San Juanico 23.4 nm
Caleta de San Juanico to Bahia Concepcion 43 nm
Bahia Concepcion to Santa Rosalia 48.9 nm
Santa Rosalia to Bahia San Francisquito 79 nm
Bahia San Francisquito to Bahia las Animas 32.2 nm
Bahia las Animas to Bahia los Angeles 19.8 nm
Bahia Los Angeles to Bahia Refugio 42.1 nm
Bahia Refugio to Puerto Penasco 107.2 nm
