One Week Sailboat Charters from La Paz Baja Mexico

Suggested One Week Sailboat Charter

DAY BEFORE YOUR CHARTER:
SeaSirena is available for boarding after 6:00 pm the night before for sure (please check with us, as she may be available for boarding at an earlier hour).

If you desire you may sleep aboard for free.

DAY 1:
Your charter officially begins. We will do a formal orientation of SeaSirena, if we have not done one the day before. We will go over the charts and cruising guides and answer any questions you may have. Then we can take you to CCC, (if you have not done it the day before), a large supermarket, where you can provision. We can do a fast walk-through and then leave you to provision at your leisure. When you are finished, take an inexpensive cab back to SeaSirena. 

It is important that you leave the dock at the latest by 1:30, as it is 23 miles to the island of Espiritu Santo, the best anchorage which is Caleta Partida. If you leave by 2:00 pm, you can still make the southernmost anchorage on Espiritu Santo, San Gabriel. The latest that you could leave would be 3:00 p.m. to anchor at Playa Pichilique or Playa Falso (off the beach), which is also the place where the ferries dock. It is about two hours away.

DAY 2:
Do some sailing as it is only a short distance to your next anchorage. If you have made it only as far as Playa Pichilique, head for Caleta Partida. If you have gotten to either Caleta Partida or San Gabriel, head for Ensenada Grande, which is on the island of Partida. Take the kayak or dingy, and go to the beach and do some rock climbing. 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 echos! Tuck back in there as far as it is feasible. Do not anchor in less than 15'

DAY 3:
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 10 a.m. as this will give you plenty of time to stop at Los Islotes and sail to San Francisco 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 charterers 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 SeaSirena 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.

DAY 4:
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.

DAY 5:
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, 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 down to El Cardinal which is a long narrow bay, well-protected, with a sandy beach at its head.

DAY 6:
 Sail on down to Espiritu Santo Island and stay at the southern most anchorage, San Gabriel. Take your time and do a lunch-stop in the El Candelero or Puerto Ballena area.  Go ashore and check out the old well there. If you stopped at San Gabriel at the first day of your charter, you might want to go to a different anchorage such as Balandra on the Baja. But don't do it in the winter time as it is open to the north. Go on further to Pichilinque.

DAY 7:
This is a half day for you because you have to get back to the dock by 2:00 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 one of the anchorages you like so well 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 & 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.