This info is all from our experience, keep in mind that it has been years since we visited Mexico so many things may have changed:
ATM/CREDIT CARDS/ PERSONAL CHECKS:
Serefin bank gives a better rate then Bancomer and their machines are always working. We also heard about some fraud problems they’re having with Bancomer. Before heading into the Sea of Cortez, make sure to change those $ 100 bills into smaller ones. Most of the places in the upper sea will not have change for big bills.
In 1998 practically nobody in La Paz took credit cards, that may have changed over the years. Marina de La Paz although accepts personal checks. Cabo is big tourist place, so no problems there.
CHARTS AND GUIDES:
Definitely get Charlie’s Charts, but it will not give you all the infos. William’s and Cunningham are more detailed. Also get Sea of Cortez Fishing Charts ($ 5.95), which give underwater depth contours for easy “Structure” identification. Navigation aids incl. Buoys, lights, longitude and latitude lines, plus rocks and reefs. Fish locations, specie types and blow up details of certain areas. Very helpful!
FISHING LICENSE: By Mexican Law, everybody on a vessel should have a fishing license, what the Mexican Fish and Game Office doesn’t tell you is, that you don’t need one for the boat. So don’t buy one, unless your a commercial fishing vessel. The Nuevo Vallarta Port Captain, told me that if you look on your documentation papers under “Restrictions”, if it says, “no restrictions” that means you don’t need a fishing license. Also vessels from other Countries then Mexico, don’t need licenses for the boat or dingy, just for each person on the boat.
PROVISIONING:
do not over provision on canned goods, you can find everything in Cabo and La Paz, Mazatlan, Guatalajara etc. There may be less gringo items on the mainland. Save room for some good bottles of champagne or wine instead. Wine is readily available and some of the Mexican wines are good, but not as good us our wine. Although they sell good bottles of wine here from as far as France and Chile, but you pay the price. A Robert Mondavi bottle goes for an easy US$ 45.00.
TOURIST VISA:
for anyone cruising Mexico for longer than 180 days, I suggest to get the FM3 Visa. A tourist visa is only good for 180 days, then you have to leave the country and re-enter with a new visa. You’ll hear a lot of horror stories about the Mexican Immigration, don’t believe them until you had your own experience. We haven’t had a problem, they are friendly and very helpful. They may let you sweat a little with your Spanish, but they do speak English. We received our FM3’s in La Paz within 10 days. We were told of rumors from either impossible to get it, to a pain in the ass, it takes for ever…! Try too apply for one in the States, it we’ll be easier to get all the necessary papers that you’ll need. If the Mexican Consulate in your City wont do it, San Diego will give it to you usually within the next day.
MEXICO'S ANCHORAGES:
BAJA PACIFIC
ENSENADA
Marina Corall, reservation needed. Lots of surge. Great Hotel Facility, massages, Jacuzzi, fitness room can be used by cruisers. Town has great Grocery Store, which compare to the US. We had a great wine tasting trip to the St. Tomas Winery in town!
PUERTO SANTA TOMAS
Lots of kelp in anchorage, rolly, but it gets you out of the wind.
PUNTA COLNETT
Good anchorage for over night gets you out of the wind also.
ISLA SAN MARTIN
2 Anchorages, one inside Caleta Hassler, which holds a small fish camp. Be mindful upon entry of the reef on your port and the lobster holding pens and pangas on your starboard. The bottom is rock and sand with decent holding, but beware of north easterlies. If this occurs slide easterly around to the backside of the reef near the lagoon.
BAHIA SAN CARLOS
Lots of rocky sections in anchorage. Re-anchor if you hear scraping, or you won’t sleep at all!
ISLA CEDROS
Beware rare, stiff easterly blows. Can be rolly. We didn’t go ashore, but Village has a convenience store. There also is a phone service and a hore house.
BAHIA TORTUGA
Pangadero, George (Horhay), will bring you fuel, good water, and some other supplies. He charges the store prices, give him a generous tip and maybe some toothbrushes/T-shirts for his pretty wife/kids. Of course you can go ashore and check out the little tiendas yourself. There is a phone and some little restaurants. We bought shrimp here for a very good prize. The shrimp were quick frozen in salt, you need to soak them for quite a while in fresh water, or they’ll be salty. Wind can blow for days.
BAHIA ASUNCION
Windy otherwise good anchorage. Watch buoys, traps. Don’t anchor at Isla Asuncion, it stinks (birds).
HIPOLITO
Not in Charlie’s Charts, just park around the panga buoys, good holding in sand with some rocks. Trade candy for lobster. Most people don’t stop here, because it’s not in Charlie’s Charts. There are some little convenience stores.
PUNTA ABREOJOS
Neat town, very isolated. Airstrip, supplies. We anchored in second anchorage away from the village, very quite, except for the coyotes at night, good holding. Has several little convenience stores.
BAHIA SAN JUANICO
Lovely place to go ashore. Trade candy, lures, weights, line for lobster. If you’re there for Super Bowl Sunday, you can watch it here. Just look for the big satellite dish on the hill, good restaurant too.
There are about 4 little convenience stores.
BAHIA SANTA MARIA
Excellent, but very windy. If on way southeast, go on to Man-O-War. On way back, stop here for rest and lobsters. Give wide birth around Punta Hughes. Getting dingy a shore, can be quite adventurous here.
BAHIA MAGDALENA
During the season, lobster pots are every where in the entrance so a night entry is not suggested. Your best anchorage is Man-O-War cove. Anchor below Port Captains Gregorio’s office. He will check you in and out in about 10 minutes at no charge. Have extra copies of your paperwork. (If you don’t want to check in Belchers is fine, just for one day, it’s just north of the entrance). Gregorio can help to get supplies with lobster or abalone. (Bottle of whiskey, cloths or hats, appreciated). To get fuel in San Carlos is not recommended, Gregorio will get it for you ($25). Also when entering the Magbay entrance, try to do that on an incoming tide. We got there just as the tide was coming out, had so much current against us, that we were only doing one knot over ground. Gregorio will take you into San Carlos for a shopping spree for a small amount.
CABO SAN LUCAS
Very noisy and rolly anchorage do to jet-skies, pangas and fishing boats. Marina very, very expensive. If any swell exist, anchor well out in 30 feet, not past (north) the light. Watch fathometer, as a big storm can re-arrange bottom.
Shopping: anything is available. I found a store like a Smart & Finals called Pro-San, which even sells some gourmet items. Watch the prices, since some are written in pesos and other in dollars. The dollar prices are expensive, but at least you know you can get Tide (big box & 27.95) or big bottles of extra virgin olive oil for about the same. Stock up on toilette paper here, they have Marathon. The ones sold in regular stores are terrible, go right through your fingers and you have to change the rolls up to 2 times a week. If no other choice I find the Pedal (green package) the best. Kleenex is OK too.
About a 5 minute drive from Cabo direction Todo Santos, just passed the Coke plant is another wholesale place. They have pretty much everything in bulk. We got some good prizes on wine, rum, juices, paper towels, (toilette paper is of poor quality), coffee etc. We found an excellent dark rum “Ron Palmas” made by Bacardi, try it, you’ll like it. 24 pesos or $2.75 (in La Paz 34 pesos) for a 1 liter bottle, can’t beat that. Vodka we buy LM Vodka, 23 pesos a bottle (plastic) and tastes no different then Smirnoff.
Email: there is a Cyber Café in Cabo and also the Papelleria store in the Marina has a telephone outlet, where you can hook up with the computer.
Restaurants: The Stop Light, across from Planet Hollywood, excellent and good prizes. Chicken and Rib place next door, great. Pancho’s, very, very excellent but a little expensive, try their tortilla soup the best in Mexico. For happy hour go to the Office on the beach, two for one. Don’t order a pitcher of Margarita, unless there is several people. We ordered the pitcher and we sat there for hours to finish the two pitchers between the two of us. Almost forgot, up the street from Pancho’s is a Sushi Restaurant, they have half price from 4 to 6 PM.
SEA OF CORTEZ
The higher up you go into the Sea watch the tides, especially around points, try to go with them. Currents can be very strong.
LOS FRAILES
very nice anchorage, good holding. There is a hotel along the beach, great Margaritas, but only have one, they’re potent! If a southerly blows, go around to the other side, just a couple miles north of here is Cabo Pulmo, one of the last living reefs in the Sea of Cortez. Anchor off the sand beach. Very rocky bottom, but beautiful anchorage and great snorkeling.
ENSENADA DE LOS MUERTOS
Excellent! One of our favorite. We spent two weeks here and caught Dorado right of the boat. Good fishing in this area, quiet anchorage and great for hikes.
PUERTO BALLANDRA
Stay on north side and watch submerged rock. (We did not anchor here, it’s open to coromuel winds, winds out of the west, which are similar to Santa Ana winds, they come up in the afternoon and blow through the night).
CALETA LOBOS
Bad holding, watch for coromuel, boat may drag. (Did not anchor here, do to same reason)
PUERTO PICHILINGUE
Good anchorage (Did not anchor here either too busy of a port)
LA PAZ
Coming down the La Paz channel, make sure you stay in the buoy area, or you may end up high and dry, lots of shoals. To cross to the Magote, line up the cross on the Magote side with the public pier, it marks the channel for a safe passage to the other side. Anchorage is very wild. Current is stronger then the wind, so boats are doing the La Paz-Waltz. Do to current and wind, always wet dingy ride into the marina. To us it was worth getting a slip in the marina. Also they now have moorings for rent. But be careful as they don’t have much weight on them and you might move.
Marina La Paz: Mary Shroyer, PH: (112) 2 16-46, 5 21-12
Marina de Don Jose: (112) 2 08-08
Shopping: LA PAZ: is a great place for shopping. There’s nothing you can’t find. Even for mechanical needs, anything is available. Just ask the Cruisers Net on (channel 22) in the morning and someone we’ll know.
CCC is by far the best supermarket, it has a lot of gringo stuff. The one on Colima is closer to the marina, but the one on Bravo, has a better selection. I even found fresh, fresh parmesan, Emmental and Gruyere cheese for less then at TJ’s. Don’t be shy on trying the Mexican Cheeses either, they are wonderful. CCC also gives you the best dollar exchange.
Email: There are several places for email. A cyber café, Omni Services (VHF CH 22), and an office right in the La Paz Marina.
Restaurants: El Cortejo was our favorite, we ordered Chateau Briant, which was prepared at the table and the cost was 8 bucks for both. Then the Camp Campestre, our other favorite, excellent food and low prices. The Marlin Club is a cruisers hangout, very expensive, but if you like steaks we heard that’s the place to go. We didn’t try it. Right around the corner on the main street of Marina de la Paz after 6 PM there is a Hamburger and hot dog stand, with the best hamburgers, we always paid less then 3 bucks for two hamburger and two sodas. On the Malecon just as you go up to the Port Captain there are guys selling fresh clams, try them, they are wonderful.
ISLA PARTIDA/CALETA PARTIDA
Great anchorage, good holding, but watch for coromuel.
ISLA SAN FRANCISCO
Great anchorage, with the clearest water.
PUNTA SAN EVARISTO
Neat little place, but has it’s own weather condition. We were here for three nights and every night around 8PM the wind started howling down the valley, 45 knots. It’s a local condition.
PUERTO DE LOS GATOS
Beautiful anchorage, but can be very rolly. Manuel and son Manuel will sell lobster and scallops. Great reef for snorkeling
BAHIA AGUA VERDE
In clear weather the inside passage can be taken. 25º31’340/111º00’670
The outer lad and long by Charlie’s Charts is way off! Very beautiful anchorage, one of our favorites. On the way up we anchored on the south side. Coming down in October we anchored on the north side. When in season you can by one of the worlds best goat cheeses here in town.
About 8 miles north from Agua Verde is are a few small islands. To the one closest to the peninsula is a little village, north of that village, there is an anchorage big enough for one boat. On the south side of the anchorage is a rock and at low tide you can walk out to the rock. In-between the rock and the beach is a hot spring, which you can use only at low tide, really cool.
There is one little store here, doesn’t have much and you’re lucky if you can find limes, tomatoes, potatoes and onions. There is a little goat farm here, and if you’re here at the right time, they sell one of the best goat cheeses in the world. A small restaurant will serve you goat, if you order in advance.
LOS CANDELEROS
Nice anchorage with the most spectacular view over the Escondido area.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO
This is a very nice anchorage. Very muddy bottom, so let the anchor sink first before setting it. We stayed in the waiting room, which is the anchorage just before the entrance. Very deep water. Check-in is rather a hassle here, since you have to take the taxi in to Loreto to the Port Captain, then back to the Airport and Port Captain again. We went in on a Friday afternoon and left early Monday with no checking in. Port Captain will check Escondido every day, but weekends for new arrivals.
Great shopping can be done in Loretto.
MARQUER/ISLA CARMEN
rolly anchorage when wind out of north.
BALLANDRA/ISLA CARMEN
Nice anchorage, good snorkeling and some no-seeums.
CALETA DE SAN JUANICO
One of our most favorite. Very beautiful. We anchored on the north side, which is by far the most beautiful anchorage. Do to weather out of the south we had to abandon and go around to Caleta Ramada. Don’t forget to leave a momento at the cruiser shrine and snorkeling her is great.
CALETA RAMADA
Very protected anchorage when southerly. Good hiking.
BAHIA CONCEPTION
Very nice place to visit, although in summer can get very hot, not much of a breeze. Towards October, when northerlies start to blow, could be very rough to get out of here. Well protected during hurricane season. Lots of clams and scallops here. Don’t for get to eat at Rick’s in Santispac.
Shopping: For a shopping trip just head up to the road, stick your finger out and pretty much the very first car will pick you up and drive you into Mulege. There are several gringos living here and they offer rides via VHF. Mulege has several stores. The one furthest back in the village, has kielbasa, ricotta cheese, romaine lettuce, asparagus, in other words, lots of gringo stuff. Mulege also has a dive store to fill your tanks, an email place and of course wonderful restaurants.
There are some great tours you can take to cave paintings!
ISLA SAN MARCOS
Not very protected to southerly or northerly, but very good anchorage and only 1 mile from peninsula, so no big wind chop. Great snorkeling on north end of island (caves!).
There is a great little grocery store in the village where frozen chicken and meats can be bought. Veggies are harder to find unless you know on which day it comes in.
PUERTO SANTA ROSALIA
A funky little marina. Great stop, although very dusty. Angel the marina manager will get fuel for you. Here are the last laundry machines before heading further north. Don’t forget to have dinner at the Exquisito Hot Dog Stand. Good provisioning here. Have a walk up to the cemetery, beautiful view.
Shopping: There are at least 8 little Tiendas, which all more or less have the same stuff. What I did, I walked to by all the stores and checked what they had and on my way back I shopped what was best in each store. Twice a month on payday, they load the stores up with goodies. In St. Rosalia you really have to go by the rule, when you see it buy it, because it really will not be there five minutes later. For Liquor purchases, go to ISSTE, which is the Government store. Ask to see the Liquor room, they’ll take you there. I bought excellent Chilean wines for three to four dollars. Also Ron Palmas Rum, which is made by Bacardi and tastes wonderful for 2.20 a bottle. Shopping could be better here. The thing they ran out of most was Yogurt, I walked from store to store to eventually find some. Check the date, some yogurt are outdated by month.
Email: I used my acoustic coupler here. The San Francis Hotel used to let us do email up there, until the kiakers came by and abused it. They may let us use the phone line again, check with them.
Restaurants: As you walk into town, there is a little park with a cart in front which sells the best tacos anywhere in Mexico. I’ve had lobster tacos there, with a whole lobster tail for 1.80. Across from there is a Hotel/Restaurant which wonderful chicken and soups. A must are the Exquisitos, the best hot dogs ever on home made buns, they are sold every night after 6 PM in front of the church. San Francis Hotel is excellent as well and has a wonderful view (best chicken cordon-bleu).
BAHIA SAN FRANCISQUITO
Can be very rolly in outer anchorage. Inner anchorage is very shallow, but a great hurricane hole. Crystal clear water for snorkeling. This is a point you really have to watch the tide, strong, strong current.
ISLA SALSISPUEDE/ISLA ANIMAS
Don’t take passage between Isla San Lorenzo and Animas, there is a reef. Between Isla Animas and Salsispuede is a Danger Pinacle: N 28º43’25/W 112º57’34. Keep closer to Isla Animas. Beautiful anchorage on other side. Great snorkeling around the whole island. While here, one of our buddy boats was anchored in Isla Partida, 12 miles north from here and had 30 to 40 knots of wind. We didn’t get any, but got the wind waves and of course right on the beam. Also this place is full of no-seeums.
COLETA ANIMAS
Good anchorage, but watch out for the Bees in the morning!
QUEMADO
Big bay and good anchorage, great holding. Keep a wide berth as you enter and watch your depth meter, as the reef extends northward into the bay
BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES
Anchor to the right side of the bay as your entering, closer to the round building then the light house. Shallow water, so keep and I on depth. Wind chop here is less then if you anchor right in front of town. Beautiful area. Don’t miss visiting the Turtle Research Center. Great provisioning. No laundry facilities, they may have regular phones now and power.
Shopping: Believe it or not, but shopping here is much better then St. Rosalia. Just find out when produce comes in, each store has a different day. The yellow store usually has the best.
Email: they may have phone lines by now. They didn’t have them in summer 98, they were just working on electricity for the village.
Restaurant: all of them are very good.
DON JUAN
Great hurricane whole, very, very protected and beautiful. Lots of steamer clams here.
ISLA SMITH
Great anchorage on the foot of the volcano, good snorkeling.
ALCATRAZ
We spent almost one months here. While others just around the corner in Isla Smith had no breeze, we had a breeze blowing every day. Great anchorage and wonderful snorkeling.
ISLA DE LA GUARDA/PUERTO REFUGIO
We came here for only one night. Unbearable hot and no-seeums are a pest here, water was murky and too warm as well.
MAINLAND
MAZATLAN
Be careful anchoring in the Mazatlan Harbor, lots of theft has been reported. The Mazatlan Marina is really cruiser friendly. Laundry service same day, beer delivery, barber comes to the dock, veggies and seafood truck comes by, excursions organized by the office, etc. A place you could get hung up. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the Mazatlan Marina is in the Mazatlan Harbor, it is north near the islands.
Marina Mazatlan: PH: (69) 16-36-14
Shopping: here is actually almost better then in La Paz and a lot cheaper. You’ll find every thing here. Ask for the Guide at the Mazatlan Marina, it has anything you need to know in it.
Email: I used my acoustic coupler, but you can do email at the Marina Office.
Restaurants: Pancho’s is a must, it’s the best for sea food. If you take the bus which takes you back to the marina all the way to the end, there is a lovely beach with wonderful seafood restaurant and Mexican music.
Taxis here are very cheap, I used to pay 3 dollars no matter where I used to from and to. I mainly used it for my shopping.
ISLA ISABELA
East anchorage: 21º50.84/105º52.72, when weather allows. Neat place, bring your camera when going a shore.
SAN BLAS/MANTACHEN BAY
watch dingy! Lots of no-seeums! Norm Goldi runs the San Blas net on 4051 SSB at 5:30. He’ll tell you that there are no no-seeums, he even has cruisers telling you on the radio. Don’t believe that, there are plenty. We bypassed it, although went there later in the summer by car. It’s a nice place, but for us not worth the bug problem.
There is no big grocery store here, but all the necessary things can be bought here.
CHACALA
A must place. Stern anchor is needed though. The first tropical anchorage you’ll encounter. Great restaurants on the beach. The third one (from north) in serve “Sarandeado” (pit smoked sierra), a must! The last restaurant will have a TV going for Super Bowl Sunday. The anchorage is a bit rolly, but it sure is a beautiful place. You can hike the volcano and overlook this gorgeous place. Grate hiking every where.
JALTEMBA
Neat little place, although a tourist place. We anchored of the village, made some phone calls and had lunch and then moved to the anchorage over by the Island, no rolly there. 21º02’210/105º96’215
PUNTA DE MITA
When you come around the corner from Jaltemba to Punta Mita, keep an eye out for submerged rocks, they are definitely there. We preferred Punta de Mita to La Cruz. Very nice and well protected from the north. Great restaurants and Margaritas on the beach. Local Puerto Vallarta net at 8AM on VHF CH 22.
LA CRUZ
A cruisers hangout, we didn’t care much for it. Water is very filthy and the sewage is bad. Cruise Quaters and Dos Felipes are great places to eat and hang out. Monday night there usually is a jam-session at Dos Felipes. Neat little town. Visit the Octopus Garden, great arts and crafts. We had incredible boat T-shirts made there.
Lots of convenience stores and great butcher.
TRES MARIETAS ISLANDS
Paradise if water is clear and weather is calm, although during the day all the tourist boats hang out here. Anchorage we were told is not the best holding. 20º41’794/105º34’945.
NUEVO VALLARTA
Paradise Village Marina: marina@paradisevillage.com PH: 011-52-66728
Great place to spend hurricane season. Safe and a lot of fun. Puerto Vallarta is one of my favorite places in Mexico. I would spend another summer here.
Shopping Puerto Vallarta: I can find pretty much everything here. The prices are much higher then any of the places we’ve been to, except for Cabo. It is a tourist town, so shopping here is a little different.
Email: there is several email places here and the Marinas, usually have their own.
Restaurants: all the restaurants are excellent here, you have to discover them yourself. Actually I will mention a few:
Tangaroa is located on Peru 1308 ESQ. Nicaragua PH: 2-68-98, if in season they serve the absolut best crab, a whole bucket full for an incredible prize. The drinks are pretty strong as well and they spoil you with a delicious after dinner drink.
El Panorama is another one of our favorite, the prizes are a bit higher, but what a view. The restaurants is on the 4 top levels of a hotel and everything gets cooked a the table, including the flambéed banana dessert. It’s a great place for a nice sunset dinner overlooking the whole Banderas Bay and Puerto Vallarta.
Just tell the Taxi driver he knows where these places are.
If you need a doctors appointment, I highly recommend Doctora Guadalupe Narvaez Lewgot, PH: 3-04-44, she speaks English and is just a sweet heart.
Doctor: Dra. Guadelupe Navaez Lewgot, Internal Medicin
Manuel M. Dieguez No. 358 Col. Emiliano Zapata
PH: 3 04 44
Boatpapers: Vilma (322) 1 27 52 e-mail: seatur97@yahoo.com
PUNTA IPALA
Good holding but both times we only staid just the night. You get a back wash from the high swells crushing against the rocks and makes wash machine out of the anchorage. Very uncomfortable.
A very few cruisers had it calm here.
BAHIA CHAMELA
Beautiful and quiet. Good holding can be found in the north anchorage. The village is pretty spread out. Dingy land with care in the northwest corner of the beach as the surf is sometimes large.
Anchorages by the islands are beautiful and the snorkeling is great. Although watch the swell before anchoring between the islands.
Email can be done here if you have an acoustic coupler, LADA Telephones are everywhere.
PARAISO
Not many cruisers come here, it is absolutely beautiful, you could spend some time here. Anchorage is a bit rocky, but it’s not a problem, just set it in the middle of the bay.
BAHIA CARAYES
An absolute must stop. Most cruisers by-pass it, because of the hotels. There are two hotels and lots of condos. But it is very pretty, it gives you the feeling your in Disney Land. Anchor of Playa Rosa with stern hook. Hotel Plaza Carayes welcomes cruisers. It has a little convenience store, a great restaurant, swimming pool and ice.
the beach to the very right, has a nice hotel. They will let you use the pool if you order drinks at the bar, Ice can be bought at the bar as well. Restaurant has great food as well and there is a small convenience store.
BAHIA TENECATITA
A very few boats anchors in the out side anchorage. Everybody goes to the inner one. I think this is the most favorite anchorage of all the cruisers. You’ll spend at least three weeks here. Neat place, good holding. Dingy landing can be tricky. Enter dingy into river entrance. Great river tours. Take the dingy through the mangrove to the other end. Great restaurant will await you. On beach very good food. Across the bay in La Manzanilla, good provisioning.
The palapa restaurant at the entrance from the river, has great food and is a favorite hangout for cruisers. Beer is dirt cheep here. Try an Indio, it’s one of the best beers in Mexico. They have fresh Oysters daily and are just wonderful. The French Restaurant next door, has a little convenience store and you can order pretty much anything from him, and he’ll deliver the next day. If you do the river trip, any of the restaurants there have great food. The specialty here is Rollo del Mar, a fish fillet filled with celery, onions, then bacon wrapped with a delicious brandy cream sauce with almonds. Also try Risilla, the local Moonshine.
For better shopping, across the bay lies La Manzanilla (10 minute dingy ride), a little village, that has pretty much everything, including telephone and email hook up. Great little restaurant for breakfast.
MELAQUE
Good anchorage but can be very rolly and getting dingy a shore can be a challenge. Good provisioning here and great restaurant.
BAHIA DE NAVIDAD
Take caution when entering the Lagoon, lots of shoals and sand bars. Very muddy bottom, so let anchor sink before setting. When we were here, we had for three days 40 plus knots blowing through here, so we went into the Marina. Great Marina and beautiful hotel, although very pricey. Shuttle will take you across to Barra de Navidad, the friendliest and cutest town in Mexico. Great place and also possible to get stuck here for a while.
Shopping Melaque/Barra: I was a little disappointed in the shopping here. There is only one relative good store. All stores pretty much have just the necessities. Veggies and Fruits are readily available.
LAS HADAS/MANZANILLO
Very busy anchorage, lots of water skiers and jet-skies. The Marina is med-more and very surgy.
It’s different, lots of buildings. Great shopping and Super Markets. Take a walk through the condominium building, very neat. They tell you that you have to pay a fee to use the hotel and go ashore. We didn’t pay and nobody said anything. We didn’t use the hotel either.
We heard that Bahia de Santiago is a great place to anchor. Getting fuel in Manzanillo, high tide is recommended and have all your bumpers out. Lots of cruisers also mentioned that around the point of Carrizal is a nice anchorage.
Shopping: Taxi will take you to the very close Super Mercado, which has anything you desire. Down Town Manzanillo has the best Electronics stores, we’ve seen in Mexico.
CALETA DE CAMPOS
A few years ago Capricorn Cat got robbed here on their boat. They say it is no longer a problem, use caution anyway. Buddy boat if you can. We did not stop here.
LAZARO CARDENAS
Is a yucky anchorage, but a safe place to stop in bad weather. Only enough room for 4 boats and is very shallow. If there are no boats in there you may tie up to the wharf.
ISLA GRANDE
Beautiful anchorage, spectacular view, but lots of tourists.
IXTAPA
Great Marina, but pricey. You can get slips with or without water or electricity. Not much for provisioning here, mostly tourist stuff.
has not much of stores other then tourist stuff. However, there is a great German Bakery and wonderful restaurants, but the prices here are not Mexico prices anymore.
ZIHUATANEJO
Fun place to be, a lot of cruisers hang out here for the winter. For us it was a bit too busy and too touristy. We anchored of La Ropa with a stern hook. A bit choppy when wind blows and still choppy when not, do to jet-skies, ski-boats and parachute-boats. Twice a week cruise ships come in. The anchorage in front of town, has raw sewage coming into it. Ismael and Hilda will deliver anything you need from propane, fuel, beer, sodas, bread, water… to your boat. Don’t forget to tip them. Rick’s bar is a cruisers hang-out, he’s got the best prices in town. The Zihuatanejo Yacht Club is not worth joining, he wants too much money and doesn’t do anything for the cruisers. The food is very expensive as well. Rick will help you with anything, just ask him. Greatest market here, best fruits and vegetables anywhere in Mexico. Warning: spray your grocery bag before bringing on board, the market is loaded with roaches and they do get into your bag. Lots of boats had roaches on the boat!
PUNTA DE PAPANOA
Interesting anchorage. Watch the fisherman going out and arrive, they all will stop at the military base to check in or out. Walk across to the other beach, have lunch at the restaurant and plunge into the refreshing pool.
MARQUER
When you come into the bay, at first you’ll see this ugly long beach full with restaurants and people. Ignore it. Half way in you turn left to the neatest little cove. You can anchor of the boulders, good holding in sand. This anchorage can be very busy with jet skis and boat on the weekends, during the week it’s yours. Within two hours we were surrounded by 45 or so boats, anchoring very, very close. If you like to shop at Cost-Co, this is the side it is on. Although don’t leave the boat unattended. Brake-ins have been reported.
Shopping: When you come into the bay, at first you’ll see this ugly long beach full with restaurants and people. Ignore it. Half way in you turn left to the neatest little cove. You can anchor of the boulders, good holding in sand. This anchorage can be very busy with jet skis and boat on the weekends, during the week it’s yours. Within two hours we were surrounded by 45 or so boats, anchoring very, very close. If you like to shop at Cost-Co, this is the side it is on. Although don’t leave the boat unattended. Brake-ins have been reported.
ACAPULCO
Great town and a shoppers Paradise, you’ll find anything here, from Walmart, Cost-Co, Sam’s, Home Depot, you name it it’s there. It’s fun to get around too. Busses are easy to use and taxi’s are very cheep. We didn’t like the Club de Yachtes, it looks scary how they med-more boats. We went into the marina instead and really enjoyed it. They are very helpful and will help you with groceries or anything. There is no running water, except for a community hose, which you have to grab early in the morning. For showers we took dock-showers. There is a great swimming pool on the roof overlooking beautiful Acapulco and the bartender will mix you strong drinks for a low prize. You can also get ice here. The view over the high-rise building is spectacular from here, you won’t see this from the Yacht Club.
Shopping: Great town and a shoppers Paradise, you’ll find anything here, from Walmart, Cost-Co, Sam’s, Home Depot, you name it it’s there. It’s fun to get around too. Busses are easy to use and taxi’s are very cheep. We didn’t like the Club de Yachtes, it looks scary how they med-more boats. We went into the marina instead and really enjoyed it. They are very helpful and will help you with groceries or anything. There is no running water, except for a community hose, which you have to grab early in the morning. For showers we took dock-showers. There is a great swimming pool on the roof overlooking beautiful Acapulco and the bartender will mix you strong drinks for a low prize. You can also get ice here. The view over the high-rise building is spectacular from here, you won’t see this from the Yacht Club.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO
Bypass this anchorage, for the good spots are all taken by pangas. Where you have to anchor is no protection from weather and swells and you have to anchor in 60 plus feet.
PUERTO ANGEL
We got in at the last minute of day light and left before the sun came up. We heard that checking-in here is a hassle, they send you to another town to do that.
BAHIA DE HUATULCO
A must place to stop. Huatulco is a really nice place and the anchorages are beautiful. When we were here we had a problem with the Port Captain overcharging and pocketing the money. That problem should be solved now.
Shopping is very nice here, nice ambiance with all the tourist stores and wonderful restaurants. There are several convenience stores and a great butcher.
