BajaNomad

Mangroves

advrider - 4-28-2026 at 07:14 PM

We kayaked the mangroves at campo Rene last year and really enjoyed it. I see several others on the map. I'm wondering what are some other good spots to camp and Kayak in the mangroves.
I see some out past San Ignacio going to the coast near the whale watching spot. I also see some in San Carlos. Any mangrove fishing, kayaking info would be appreciated.
We travel in some well-built jeeps with clearance and winches. We paddle in a pair of nice blow-up kayaks.

[Edited on 4-29-2026 by advrider]

AKgringo - 4-28-2026 at 08:15 PM

I have not been on the water, but the mangroves at Las Animas looked like they would be fun and fairly sheltered from wind.

The turn off is about 25 miles south of Bahia de Los Angeles, then about 15 miles of wash outs and detours to the water. I made the trip in a Honda Element last year, but I was pushing the limits of that rig.

chippy - 4-29-2026 at 04:57 AM

La Bocana west of Campo Rene and El Datil South of San Ignacio. Miles and miles of mangroves north of Lopez Mateos.

advrider - 4-29-2026 at 07:03 AM

Thanks AK and chippy. We will checkout Las Animas. We rode past El Datil a few weeks ago, but I didn't even notice the groves, I'll have to check it out, as well as the others.

mtgoat666 - 4-29-2026 at 07:05 AM

Accessible mangroves… try mag bay, estero coyote, la bocana. Not sure about places where it is safe to leave car overnight while away kayaking/camping,.. every place is different. San ignacio has mangroves, but is less accessible, though you could put in many places with some exploring. You wont want to camp in the mangroves, but will prefer camping on higher ground adjacent to mangroves.

Fishing is great in any of the mangroves. Typical fish are corvina, mullet, sand bass, pargo, halibut, snook. Light rig (15 or 20 lb) with plastics, or fly (6 or 8 wt) with clousers.

Snorkeling in the mangroves is fun if you get a clear-water day w/o too much seaweed.

bajafreaks - 4-29-2026 at 07:25 AM

Take a look at the whale watching camps in mag bay, they have close access to the mangroves in the bay that are very cool.

JZ - 4-29-2026 at 10:49 AM

Quote: Originally posted by advrider  
We kayaked the mangroves at campo Rene last year and really enjoyed it. I see several others on the map. I'm wondering what are some other good spots to camp and Kayak in the mangroves.
I see some out past San Ignacio going to the coast near the whale watching spot. I also see some in San Carlos. Any mangrove fishing, kayaking info would be appreciated.
We travel in some well-built jeeps with clearance and winches. We paddle in a pair of nice blow-up kayaks.

[Edited on 4-29-2026 by advrider]


Here is the best I've seen.







[Edited on 4-30-2026 by JZ]

JZ - 4-29-2026 at 10:58 AM

Located on Isla San Jose about 8 miles from San Evaristo. There are pangas there that will take you over (including your kayak). It's deep enough for the pangas to go into them. There are smaller fingers off the main channel that you can kayak on.

24.886448° -110.573445°







[Edited on 4-30-2026 by JZ]

Las Animas

AKgringo - 4-29-2026 at 11:07 AM

As I stated earlier, I never left the shore while I was there, but at one point I saw some attractive water. I have no idea how extensive the mangroves are, so you might want to check it out on Google Earth or some other platform before you drive all the way in there.

I just like being in there, but I would hate to see you run out of places to explore in a half hour or so.

JZ - 4-29-2026 at 11:12 AM

There are panga's at Bahia de Los Angeles that will take you to Las Animas. It's about 18 miles by water. So < 45mins to get there.





[Edited on 4-29-2026 by JZ]

mtgoat666 - 4-29-2026 at 11:23 AM

I have only fished the mangroves on the pacific side of BCS. Have not heard much about fishing the SOC mangroves.

AKgringo - 4-29-2026 at 11:42 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
There are panga's at Bahia de Los Angeles that will take you to Las Animas. It's about 18 miles by water. So < 45mins to get there.



For me, that would be like flying to Cabo to avoid driving through Baja! It might be a fun boat ride, but the road trip is what I go to Baja for.

Tioloco - 4-29-2026 at 12:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
There are panga's at Bahia de Los Angeles that will take you to Las Animas. It's about 18 miles by water. So < 45mins to get there.



For me, that would be like flying to Cabo to avoid driving through Baja! It might be a fun boat ride, but the road trip is what I go to Baja for.


I used to feel the same way. One day finally took a panga out and immediately knew I had to buy a boat. Been hooked on Sea of Cortez ever since. Still love the desert exploring by Jeep too.

JZ - 4-29-2026 at 03:02 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
There are panga's at Bahia de Los Angeles that will take you to Las Animas. It's about 18 miles by water. So < 45mins to get there.



For me, that would be like flying to Cabo to avoid driving through Baja! It might be a fun boat ride, but the road trip is what I go to Baja for.


Oh my man, nothing better in this world than being on a boat on the ocean. Even just a mile off shore seems like a different world. You get to see and go to places where there is no one.







[Edited on 4-29-2026 by JZ]