This is probably a loaded question: How is living and sailing in Mexico? I sail a Hunter 26 so I have the option of trailering the boat to my destination. Because the boat is only 26' I don't plan to live on it for longer than a few days. So I need a spot where I can rent or buy a condo that is near a marina with a loading ramp. I am currently considering San Carlos. I haven't found any info on spots on the Gulf of Mexico side. Would like to hear opinions from sailors in Mexico, either live-a-boards or land locked. Thanks!
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David R. King
Sailing in Puerto Vallarta
William, I can't tell you about anyplace but Puerto Vallarta. I've lived in PV for three years and sailed my h26 on the Bay of Banderas. Pluses-Warm constant winds, very little traffic. A big, big bay with some anchorages to the west for weekending. Minuses-Not many facilities for launching (I keep my boat in a marina, cost $260 U.S./month with water and power). Too far for convenient trailering to many other areas. Tough to store a trailer. I have a friend with a farm who stores mine for a nominal fee. Let me know if you have any specific questions. David King
William, I can't tell you about anyplace but Puerto Vallarta. I've lived in PV for three years and sailed my h26 on the Bay of Banderas. Pluses-Warm constant winds, very little traffic. A big, big bay with some anchorages to the west for weekending. Minuses-Not many facilities for launching (I keep my boat in a marina, cost $260 U.S./month with water and power). Too far for convenient trailering to many other areas. Tough to store a trailer. I have a friend with a farm who stores mine for a nominal fee. Let me know if you have any specific questions. David King
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Tim Schaaf
Some thoughts on Mexico
First of all, I would drive to all the possible spots. On the mainland side, they would include Puerto Penasco (also known as Rocky Point), Kino Bay, San Carlos, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. My guess would be that San Carlos or PV would have the others beat. San Carlos, because it has lots of places to visit, you could easily make the crossing to the Baja side, the facilities - including dry storage - are very good, and it is easy to get to and from the US. Puerto Vallarta is a big city and has great sailing. On the Baja side,from North to South, your options would be San Felipe, Bahia de Los Angeles, Santa Rosalia, Mulege, Loreto/Puerto Escondido, La Paz, or Cabo San Lucas (where I am Marina Manager). Each has its pluses and minuses, and they are all very different. San Felipe is relatively near the border, but has poor sailing. Bahia de Los Angeles has better sailing, but is a really remote little town. It is near some great islands, and its afficianados love it. One day, it will grow. Santa Rosalia is probably a non-starter. Mulege has a faithful gringo ex-pat community.The cruising is iffy, but there is a wonderful huge bay, Concepcion, not far south. Loreto/Puerto Escondido has it all, nice cruising, fair sailing, places to live, a nice community, and it is reasonably priced. Las Paz is a city, with places to live and excellent cruising, good boat storage, some good marinas. Cabo San Lucas has the best sailing, but the worst cruising (few destinations) and is enormously expensive. I did cruise the Sea of Cortez for about five years, off and on, and I would vote for Loreto/Puerto Escondido or La Paz. They are also only about four hours drive apart, so you could base yourself in the one you preferred, but still trailer to the other. Loreto is more or less between San Carlos, on the mainland, and La Paz, so it might be appropriately central. Getting back to my original point, I would drive down the mainland, at least to San Carlos, but preferrably all the way to Puerto Vallarta, stopping at Mazatlan, and maybe even San Blas. Then, I would ferry over to Baja, either from Guaymas (right next to San Carlos) or Mazatlan. You would disembark at either La Paz or Santa Rosalia, and then I would drive the whole Baja Peninsula. You would get a real feel for the places and the harbors. This would also be a really enjoyable trip, in and of itself. You could do this either with, or without your boat. Have a great time. Lots of people retire to Mexico. It is not as cheap as it once was, but it is becoming pretty convenient. Lots of people circumnavigate and then say that Mexico was their favorite place.
First of all, I would drive to all the possible spots. On the mainland side, they would include Puerto Penasco (also known as Rocky Point), Kino Bay, San Carlos, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. My guess would be that San Carlos or PV would have the others beat. San Carlos, because it has lots of places to visit, you could easily make the crossing to the Baja side, the facilities - including dry storage - are very good, and it is easy to get to and from the US. Puerto Vallarta is a big city and has great sailing. On the Baja side,from North to South, your options would be San Felipe, Bahia de Los Angeles, Santa Rosalia, Mulege, Loreto/Puerto Escondido, La Paz, or Cabo San Lucas (where I am Marina Manager). Each has its pluses and minuses, and they are all very different. San Felipe is relatively near the border, but has poor sailing. Bahia de Los Angeles has better sailing, but is a really remote little town. It is near some great islands, and its afficianados love it. One day, it will grow. Santa Rosalia is probably a non-starter. Mulege has a faithful gringo ex-pat community.The cruising is iffy, but there is a wonderful huge bay, Concepcion, not far south. Loreto/Puerto Escondido has it all, nice cruising, fair sailing, places to live, a nice community, and it is reasonably priced. Las Paz is a city, with places to live and excellent cruising, good boat storage, some good marinas. Cabo San Lucas has the best sailing, but the worst cruising (few destinations) and is enormously expensive. I did cruise the Sea of Cortez for about five years, off and on, and I would vote for Loreto/Puerto Escondido or La Paz. They are also only about four hours drive apart, so you could base yourself in the one you preferred, but still trailer to the other. Loreto is more or less between San Carlos, on the mainland, and La Paz, so it might be appropriately central. Getting back to my original point, I would drive down the mainland, at least to San Carlos, but preferrably all the way to Puerto Vallarta, stopping at Mazatlan, and maybe even San Blas. Then, I would ferry over to Baja, either from Guaymas (right next to San Carlos) or Mazatlan. You would disembark at either La Paz or Santa Rosalia, and then I would drive the whole Baja Peninsula. You would get a real feel for the places and the harbors. This would also be a really enjoyable trip, in and of itself. You could do this either with, or without your boat. Have a great time. Lots of people retire to Mexico. It is not as cheap as it once was, but it is becoming pretty convenient. Lots of people circumnavigate and then say that Mexico was their favorite place.
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
Check out this site
Todd Johnson has spent years trailer sailing in the Sea of Cortez. Check out his site www.cruisecortez.com for details on cruising there. What a great plan - I think I need to retire early! LaDonna
Todd Johnson has spent years trailer sailing in the Sea of Cortez. Check out his site www.cruisecortez.com for details on cruising there. What a great plan - I think I need to retire early! LaDonna
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Tim Schaaf
Just glanced
at that web site for the Sea of Cortez. Looks pretty good and what I checked was basically accurate. Not to nit-pick, but there have been at least THREE hurricanes to hit Guaymas or North in my experience, and plenty more before that. Each caused substantial damage to marine interests, so you do have to watch out. But, there are lots of good hurricane holes. In ten years, I have only known of a couple of boats that had problems, as long as they had people aboard. The ones whose crews were away, well that has been another story. I would say the best weather is May/June, and October/November, although I, too have spent a lot of time up in the Sea in the summer, and have enjoyed it.Winter can be VERY COLD. The Sea of Cortez is a great place, and I think that web.site is a great reference.
at that web site for the Sea of Cortez. Looks pretty good and what I checked was basically accurate. Not to nit-pick, but there have been at least THREE hurricanes to hit Guaymas or North in my experience, and plenty more before that. Each caused substantial damage to marine interests, so you do have to watch out. But, there are lots of good hurricane holes. In ten years, I have only known of a couple of boats that had problems, as long as they had people aboard. The ones whose crews were away, well that has been another story. I would say the best weather is May/June, and October/November, although I, too have spent a lot of time up in the Sea in the summer, and have enjoyed it.Winter can be VERY COLD. The Sea of Cortez is a great place, and I think that web.site is a great reference.
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LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners
I've spent time in Loreto& La Paz
Puerto Escondido (Loreto) is an outstanding hurricane hole, if you can find room anymore. My folks had their boat moored down there for 10 years. They boat one of The Moorings old moorings & it held like a son of gun. La Paz is a great city and TONS of liveaboards there. Luckily I never had to weather a hurricane! LaDonna
Puerto Escondido (Loreto) is an outstanding hurricane hole, if you can find room anymore. My folks had their boat moored down there for 10 years. They boat one of The Moorings old moorings & it held like a son of gun. La Paz is a great city and TONS of liveaboards there. Luckily I never had to weather a hurricane! LaDonna
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William Jowell
Thanks for all the great information.
Although I have been considering a larger boat (33'+), I've now decided to keep my 26, drive and haul until I find "my spot", spend some time there and then move up to a full keel boat. Thanks for guiding me.
Although I have been considering a larger boat (33'+), I've now decided to keep my 26, drive and haul until I find "my spot", spend some time there and then move up to a full keel boat. Thanks for guiding me.
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Gloria
Costa Rica is Great!
Check into the West Coast of Costa Rica, Playa Flamingo Marina, owner is Jim McKee. Probably cheaper than Mexico, cleaner, condos for sale at Marina. Absolutely beautiful! Pura Vida, G&G
Check into the West Coast of Costa Rica, Playa Flamingo Marina, owner is Jim McKee. Probably cheaper than Mexico, cleaner, condos for sale at Marina. Absolutely beautiful! Pura Vida, G&G
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William Jowell
Gloria of Lake Lanier, Georgia
There is no PlayaFlamingoMarina.com.. And PlayaFlamingo.com is "under construction". If I go ahead and purchase a larger boat and sail down the west coast to Playa Flamingo, will you volunteer to drive my truck down? Costa Rica was one of my original considerations. However, the distance is a little overwheming to this inland lake sailor. At least at this time.
There is no PlayaFlamingoMarina.com.. And PlayaFlamingo.com is "under construction". If I go ahead and purchase a larger boat and sail down the west coast to Playa Flamingo, will you volunteer to drive my truck down? Costa Rica was one of my original considerations. However, the distance is a little overwheming to this inland lake sailor. At least at this time.
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