wide open bay - first stop if you are bashing up from Cabo - or a easy bay to anchor in if you come in at night - lot's of room - if you do encounter south or south westerlies you can move across the bay - classic stop over of the Baja Haha Rally

Bahia Santa Maria is a large crescent shaped bay which lies just south of Cabo San Lazaro. It is defined to the north and south by rocky islands and bounded to the east by a narrow strip of sand ridges which separates it from the huge lagoon of Bahia Magdalena behind.

There is no permanent settlement in Bahia Santa Maria but a dinghy ride up into river channels at the north end of the bay reveals a cluster of fishing shacks with brightly coloured pangas tied up along the bank.  From November to May itinerant fishermen stay in the bay to fish for tuna, jacks and dorado.

Approaches

Make sure to stand at least 2NM off Cabo San Lazaro and 0.75NM off Punta Hughes before turning east to enter the bay. Watch out for lobster pots at the point.

Anchorage

The bay is well protected from the swell and it is possible to anchor anywhere in the bay in 5-10m in sand. The northern anchorage near the river mouth is best for the prevailing northwesterly winds. If a south or south westerly breeze blows up the anchorage on the southern side of the bay is more protected. Access ashore is by beach or river but be careful crossing the bar at the river mouth.

Facilities

In such a remote and beautiful place it was a big surprise to find we had great cellular reception. Otherwise there are no facilities.

The town of Santa Rosalia was founded by a French company in order to mine copper from the surrounding hills. The mine closed in 1954 but the facilities were never dismantled and plans to resurrect the mine are being considered. Despite it’s industrial heart Santa Rosalia boasts a French influence in it’s architecture, particularly the gothic-inspired Iglesia de Santa Barbara built of galvanized steel and designed by Gustave Eiffel.

Santa Rosalia is a roadstead anchorage but it is possible to anchor inside the harbour wall for protection from the swell. However the harbour is open to the south and during the summer months some swell can get in. Call the Port Captain to request permission to enter the harbour.

Approaches

No info

Anchorage

Anchor inside the harbour wall in 6m on a muddy bottom. Land the dinghy at the small beach northwest of the marina or go tie up at the floating dock at the marina.

Facilities

Santa Rosalia is a big town with plenty of options for provisioning and refueling. There are several grocery stores, banks, a hospital and numerous restaurants and hotels in the town. The Iglesia de Santa Barbara and the Mining Museum are interesting to visit and the El Boleo bakery cannot be missed.

In the mid-seventies surfers noticed the amazing waves peeling off Punta Pequeña as the swell wraps around into Bahia San Juanico. The bay is now recognised as one of the ten best surfing spots in the world.

Approaches

No info

Anchorage

Punta Pequeña lives up to it’s name and provides little protection from the Pacific swell. Anchor in 5m on a sandy bottom and expect a rolly night. Breaking waves can make taking the dinghy into the beach hazardous.

Facilities

The village is host to a couple of abarrotes and restaurants.

Wide open relaxing anchorage - windmills on the horizon - expats surfing - small stores - quiet Baja town - Big bar Palapa with Wifi and strong cell phone signals - enjoy !

The bay at Asuncion is home to the local fishing fleet and harvesting shellfish is one of the main sources of income for the community. The water is incredibly clear and no discharge is allowed to be dumped into bay in order to preserve the high quality of the abalone.

Approaches

No info

Anchorage

Anchor in 8.5m in sand and mud on the northern side of the bay. Swell wraps around Isla Asuncion making the anchorage sometimes rolly. Waves breaking on the beach make getting ashore in the dinghy quite an adventure.

Facilities

The village has several abarrotes and a stall selling fresh fruit and vegetables. Wifi is available at La Bufadora Inn and Shari can arrange fuel delivery by jerry can to the beach from the petrol station. There are a couple of restaurants in the village, we feasted on Chilli Rellenos stuffed with prawns, crab, lobster and octopus at Restaurante Mari, it was the best meal we had in Mexico and a delicious tribute to the outstanding seafood in the village.

Bahia Tortugas is a beautiful circular cove which lies 20NM southeast of Punta Eugenia. The large, well sheltered bay is open to the southwest but two rocky headlands protect it from most of the westerly swell. There is plenty of space for plenty of boats to swing on anchor. It is the first stopping point for the Baja Haha Cruisers Rally.

Approaches

No info. Watch out for fishing floats at the entrance to the bay.

Anchorage

Good anchorage can be taken almost anywhere in the bay in 7-10m on a sandy bottom. The anchorage on the northern side of the bay past the jetty gives easy access to the village.

Dinghy in to the beach and meet Pero who, for a small stipend, will keep an eye on the dink while you have a look around.

Facilities

The village has several shops, a couple of restaurants and a cantina on the beach with wifi, cold showers and colder beers. There is patchy cellular reception in the bay. Fuel is available by jerry can from the petrol station in town, payment is by cash only. The Enrique family sell fuel at the dock or can deliver it to your boat at an extra charge and/or a free lunch. Watch out for scams as short measuring and water in the fuel have been reported here.