SATURDAY:
Seascape is available for boarding after 6:00 p.m. If you desire you may sleep aboard for free. We can pick you up at the La Paz airport or bus station for free and take you directly to Seascape. Some charters provision right away, it is your choice. Most charters go out to one of our great restaurants. Right next to the dock is an excellent fish restaurant.
SUNDAY:
Your charter officially begins. Some charters have breakfast at a nearby restaurant. The orientation briefing can be done then or after you provision. Most of the time, the orientation
is done prior to your provisioning. We will then take you to CCC, a large supermarket, where you can provision. We can do a walk-through if you like, but I send out a separate email to you prior to your charter along with three other emails; SeaScape exterior, interior and how to get to SeaScape if we do not connect up. When you are finished, you take an inexpensive cab back to Seascape. Remember, “what you buy is what you eat.” Except for maybe catching some fish, there is no place to eat or buy provisions once you leave La Paz. It is important that you leave the dock at the latest by 1:30 p.m., as it is 23 miles to the island of Caleta Partida. Caleta Partida is between the islands of Espiritu Santo and Partida. If you leave by 2:00 p.m., you can still make the southernmost anchorage on Espiritu Santo, San Gabriel, but this is a limited anchorage depending on the time of the year. The latest that you could leave would be 3:00 p.m. to anchor at Falso , which is outside of La Paz bay about two hours away near where the ferries dock .
MONDAY:
Do some sailing as it is only a short distance to your next anchorage. If you have made it only as far as Falso, head for Caleta Partita. If you have gotten to either Caleta Partita or San Gabriel, head for Ensenada Grande, which is on the island of Partita. Take the kayaks and go to the beach and do some rock climbing. Fish off SeaScape or take the Whaler out and fish. My favorite spot in Ensenada Grande is the southern finger. There are beautiful rock formations and a small beach at the head of the bay. In the evening, I have heard owls and triple echoes! Tuck back in there as far as it is feasible. Do not anchor in less than 15'.
TUESDAY:
This is a big day for you. If you are at Caleta Partida, just bypass Ensenada Grande and catch it on your way back. Be sure you leave by 9:30 a.m. as this will give you plenty of time to stop at Los Islotes and sail to San Franciso island in the daylight. Los Islotes, which is at the north end of Partida island, has the largest sea lion colony in the Sea of Cortez. There are usually several boats around it, with many boats doing day trips from La Paz. Put on a mask and snorkel and swim with them. Many charters have said that this experience is the highlight of their trip. DO NOT ANCHOR because there are mostly large rocks on the bottom and you could lose your anchor. Have one person stay on Seascape at all times.
San Francisco island is four hours away and almost due north. This is one of the best places to put out your fishing lines. If you don't, you have no chance at all to have freshly caught fish, which when barbecued are the greatest! If you see a Mexican panga going by, wave them over and ask them if they have fish to trade for or sell. One of the things to do is offer them agua (Spanish word for water) for free. They will have a container to empty your water into. They are very friendly, but it is best not to invite them aboard. San Francisco Island has one of the best anchorages available. Anchor in the northern part close to the cliffs for the best protection.
WEDNESDAY:
San Francisco island is a great island to go ashore as it has a long beach. Walk over to the other side of the island and see the crabs scurrying about. There is a neat trail along the ridge at the south part of the island. See if you can find where many years ago a German supported himself for several years mining gold. It is also a great place to kayak and snorkel, along the cliffs at the northern part of the anchorage.
THURSDAY:
You should leave relatively early, as you are going to sail around the northern part of the island. You will see the island of Coyote which is a small island with permanent residents that were "grandfathered" in when permanent settlements in the islands of the Sea of Cortez were banned. You will also see the southern part of one of the largest islands in the Sea of Cortez, San Jose. Unfortunately there are no places on the entire island where it is safe to anchor overnight. You could stop again at Los Islotes if you have time. If you missed Ensenada Grande, go there, or go on down to El Cardinal which is a long narrow bay, well-protected, with a sandy beach at its head.
FRIDAY:
Sail on down to Espiritu Santo island and stay at one of the three anchorages on this large island. They are; El Candelero, Puerto Ballena and the southernmost anchorage, San Gabriel. The three anchorages are not as good as the ones mentioned earlier, but especially El Candelero is worth a visit even if you only go in there for lunch. Go ashore and check out the old well there. Puerto Ballena is the best one for an overnight stay. San Gabriel is the next best place to overnight, but make sure you are as close to the cliffs as you can be and tucked back as far as you can get. Depending on the season, it might be better to just do a lunch stop and go to the Baja and stay at Falso. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE CRUISING GUIDE BOOKS.
SATURDAY:
This is a half day for you because you have to get back to the dock by 1:00 p.m. at the latest. Make sure to get a start that allows you to make a leisurely return trip regardless of where you spent the night.
Again, this is a suggested itinerary. You might find you like so well one of the anchorages that you want to spend several days there, spending more time hiking fishing, or kayaking or just going out for a day sail and returning. Enjoy the sky at night, see how many stars and constellations you can identify. Can you find the North Star? BUT, be sure you relax and enjoy the place where the sea and the desert come together, the Sea of Cortez.
AND REMEMBER TO RETURN AND ENJOY A TWO-WEEK CHARTER. |
