Two Week Sailboat Charters from La Paz Baja Mexico
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SUGGESTED TWO-WEEK CHARTER
If you have the time, really think about a two week charter. There is another set of beautiful and interesting islands in the Puerto Escondido area. Many of our two-week charters have been return charters. We also can do a one-way, two-week charter, either picking Seascape up in Puerto Escondido or La Paz (check under FAQ). That would really be the ideal charter. Return charters and one-way charters will probably want to spend more time in the Loreto/Puerto Escondido area. Remember you get an extra day and 10% off on the second week. This suggested two-week charter is based upon leaving La Paz and returning to La Paz, with the supposition that this is the first time for you on Seascape. Return charters will probably want to spend more time in the northern part. SATURDAY: Seascape is available for boarding after 6:00 p.m. If you desire you may sleep aboard that night for free. Many charters come from Los Angeles and arrive on the 8:10 p.m. Aero California flight. We will pick you up at the La Paz airport and take you right to Seascape. We can also pick you up in La Paz if you have arrived from San Jose del Cabo or elsewhere by bus, and can meet your plane at the La Paz airport any time. SUNDAY DAY 1: Your charter officially begins. If you want to have breakfast at the Capri restaurant which is 100' from where Seascape is docked, with your permission, I will join you. I will then take you to CCC, a large supermarket, where you can provision. We will do a walk-through , and then leave you to provision at your leisure. When you have finished shopping, you can take an inexpensive cab back to Seascape. After you have stowed things, we will do an orientation of Seascape, go over the cruising chart and answer any questions that you may have. You must leave by 1:30 in order to make the best anchorage which is Caleta Partita at the island of Espiritu Santo, a 23-mile sail. If you leave by 2:00 p.m. you can still make the southernmost anchorage on Espiritu Santo, San Gabriel. The latest that you could leave would be 3:00 p.m. and you would anchor at Playa Pichilinque which is where the ferries dock. It is about 2 hours from La Paz. MONDAY 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 Pichilinque, 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 out, walk the beach and do some rock climbing. My favorite spot in Ensenada Grande is the southern finger. It has beautiful rock formations and a small beach at the end. 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'. TUESDAY DAY 3: This is a big day for you. If you are at Caleta Partita, just bypass Ensenada Grande and catch it on your way back. Be sure you leave by 10:00 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, at the north end of Partita 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 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 about four hours away, and almost due north. This is one of the best places to have your fishing lines out. If you don't, you have no chance at all! Freshly caught fish, barbecued are the greatest. If you see a Mexican panga going by, wave them over and ask them if they have any fish to trade for or sell. One of the things to do is give them agua (Spanish word for water) for free. They will have a container to empty your water into. Most fishermen are very friendly, but it is best not to invite them aboard. San Francisco Island has one of the best anchorages available. There is a large hook on the west side where the only anchorage is. The northern part of this anchorage, close to the cliffs, is the most protected. WEDNESDAY DAY 4: Leave about 10:00 a.m., taking the western side of San Francisco Island. When you are north of SF island, you will see Coyote Island. This is the only island in the Sea of Cortez that has a permanent settlement. It was "grandfathered in" when permanent settlements were banned.. You may want to visit it. If they have fish, they would be glad to sell you some. Also you can visit the southern part of San Jose Island, one of the largest in the Sea of Cortez. However, the anchorage is only for the day time. As big as San Jose Island is, there are no overnight anchorages. The best attraction is the mangrove area, just a short distance from the beach. Small clams have been in abundance there. Make sure you leave in time to get to your next anchorage which is Caleta San Evaristo, which is on the Baja. There is a great small harbor with lots of protection. You may want to visit the small village and the salt ponds there (check your cruising guides). THURSDAY DAY 5: To get to your next anchorage at Agua Verde, leave by 9:00 a.m. as it is a long sail to Bahia Agua Verde. You will be sailing between the Baja & San Jose Island for a long way. Make sure you have your fishing lines out as this has been one of the best places for fishing for me. Be sure and check your cruising guides, especially since you are coming from the south. There are various reefs at Punta San Marcial when you get close to Agua Verde. It is best to give Arrecife San Marcial a wide berth. The most protected area is in the northern part. Agua Verde is one of my favorite places. There is also a small village there where you might ask for fish. Also if you speak a little Spanish, you might get one of the fishermen to take you fishing. We have also heard about one of the local families serving dinners. You just might want to spend another day here, but resist it because you are going to again come here again when you return south. FRIDAY DAY 6: You are sailing north again to Danzante Island and Honeymoon Cove. Make sure you take a good look at your chart and cruising guides. There is a series of small islands which are basically rocks called Candeleros, and you will see it is best to go close to the Baja side. You will love Honeymoon Cove. You might want to dingy to shore and climb up a little for a better view. In the west above Puerto Escondido are the Sierra del Gianta moutains, the hightest in Baja. See if you can find the "gorilla" which is 5800' high. SATURDAY DAY 7: It is a short sail over to Puerto Escondido. This is a very special place. Unfortunately years ago, the French came in with big ideas, and there is a large concrete wall and streets but no one living in the area. There used to be docks with a large boating population. Seascape was based here, as was the Moorings, when they first came to Mexico. It is here that you can get water, the best water on the Baja as it comes down from the mountains. Drink it without fear! You might want to walk up to Tripui, where there is small oasis of Americans, with a trailer park. It has a small store, restaurant and Laundry. There are usually 20 or 30 boats that are anchored at Puerto Escondido at any one time. You can anchor inside or outside at a place which they call the "waiting room". SUNDAY DAY 8 and MONDAY DAY 9: This is when you wish that you had another week, as we are going to give you some options. You can sail up to Loreto and day anchor off the Malecon. There is a small man-made harbor which would be good to dingy into. It is from this mission that Father Serra left to found the missions in California. The church is still in use. Next door is a good museum. The whole street in front of the mission is for pedestrians only. There are lots of good shops, and Cafe Ole restaurant is a good place to eat. You can do email, provision etc. Coronado island is just a small distance north of Loreto. It has a great shallow bay that is one of my favorites to play in. The anchorage is good for overnight too. There are also two great anchorages on the large Island of Carmen. You might just want to sail over to one of them Sunday, then visit Loreto on Monday and sail back to Puerto Escondido. Take a look at the charts and cruising guides. Talk to some of the yachties at PE. Your choice may also depend on the weather. TUESDAY DAY 10: Wherever you are, you need to sail back to Agua Verde because it is time to head south. If you did not get a chance to go ashore the last time, do it this time. WEDNESDAY DAY 11: A long day sail back to either San Francisco Island or Caleta San Evaristo. We had one of the finest sails that we ever had on this leg. With the winds at our back, we were making 8 and 9 knots at times. While it is a long sail, it should be a great one. Remember to put those lines out! THURSDAY DAY 12: A day with about a 5-hour sail. Sail to one of the anchorages on Partita island that you really liked, or go to one of the anchorages that you missed. FRIDAY DAY 13: Pick another anchorage that you like, or maybe spend another day at the anchorage where you were the night before. Kayak, swim, play on the beach, fish, snorkel, or go for a climb in the mountains. SATURDAY DAY 14: Unfortunately it has arrived, your last day. Leave early enough from whatever anchorage you are in so that you arrive at the dock by 1:00 p.m., and have a great sail to La Paz! We wish you many fond memories of Seascape, Baja, the Sea of Cortez , La Paz and Mexico and her people. We would like everyone to enjoy it the way we do. It is a feeling that continues to grow for us, and one which we hope you will share. |
Email: sailing@seascapecharters.com Phone: 888 759 1735 toll free
USA & Canada: 707 237 6784 Mexico: 612 128 7479