BajaNomad

Puerto Escondido ?

SlyOnce - 3-19-2014 at 10:29 AM

This seems like an ideal place to retire and keep my sailboat. What gives? The inner bay looks fine for me to construct my own mooring. My boat draws 6 feet. Its 30 feet long and powered with a 6 HP outboard, already have solar panels.

I see lots of boats on moorings in Google Maps. Lots of homes around Juncalito.

Puerto Escondido itself seems to be subdivided for lots, some even waterfront, but no homes there?

The other place that looks promising is Bahia del Coyote up in Bahia Conception south of Mulege.

Pompano - 3-19-2014 at 11:53 AM

Slyonce, Puerto Escondido has for years been a great hurricane hole for sailors and motorboats alike. However, the development that has begun there has changed things quite a bit from the 'good ol days'. Indeed, everything has changed and gotten more expensive throughout Baja. Welcome to the New Baja.

Here's some older info from a 2011 Latitude 38 that might explain a little about current feelings & 'bad vibes' that got started over there. Some of the 'bad vibe' feeling has gone away by now.

https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date...

Lots of good anchorages in Bahia de Concepcion, including Coyote Bay where many sailboats are already anchored....but you are completely on your own there. No marinas, security, etc. There have been a few break-ins here. Nearest port authority is in Mulege.

Aerial I took of Coyote Bay (1988)





[Edited on 3-19-2014 by Pompano]

SlyOnce - 3-19-2014 at 01:38 PM

my sweet MX novia does not want to live in the middle of nowhere, we are looking for just the right place. I retire in 3 years so there is plenty of time. This will be my first trip to BA CA del Sur (by land).

Pompano - 3-19-2014 at 02:04 PM

If you are coming by land (Hwy 1) and want to research retiring in Baja Sur with anchorages/docking for a sailboat, then you can start looking at Santa Rosalia on the Cortez side first and then just hit all the waterfront towns all the way to Los Cabos.


Some but not all possible places to keep a small boat in Baja Sur on the Sea of Cortez side:
Sta. Rosalia, San Lucas, San Bruno, Mulege, Bay of Conception, San Sabastian, San Nicolas, Loreto, Puerto Escondido, Agua Verde, La Paz, San Jose del Cabo, Cabo..

You will have plenty of other places to check out from references on this forum. Don't be afraid to visit some small towns that are off-the-main-highways. You know what you love....You'll find it when you find it.

[Edited on 3-19-2014 by Pompano]

SlyOnce - 3-19-2014 at 03:11 PM

Thanks Pompano, we will enjoy the search.

ZoeyR - 3-19-2014 at 05:21 PM

SlyOnce,

We have taken a close look at Puerto Escondido and felt it was an excellent anchorage. There is a little Marina store that stocks almost everything and huge docks and slips. Lots of boats are anchored or on mooring buoys. If we had a boat in MX, we would keep it there. Our only concern is wear and tear during hurricane season.

We have a sailboat in Vancouver and have been sailing around here for many years. There seems to be a whole community of salty sea dogs in Puert Escondido, with many a tale to tell! We've spent a few hours there listening. There is also a 'yacht' club.

There is a Loreto yahoo group that often posts info from Puerto Escondido. Let me know if you would like info.

Enjoy the amazing sailing in the Sea of Cortez, we haven't done it yet!

Zoey

Puerto Escondido Anchorage

Pompano - 3-19-2014 at 06:08 PM

A picture is worth a thousand words. So here's Escondido. We took a nice day trip to places we haven't been in some time.


.
Turnoff to Tripui & Puerto Escondido




Puerto Escondido






Puerto Escondido has changed immenseley since our last visit. Back then there was just the highway, that striped pier, and nothing else. Back in the day, we used to catch yellowtail, cabrilla, even some dorado in season right from that pier. Lots of folks pier-fishingt then.

A real yacht basin now with full amenities, including lots of dry storage.

rhintransit - 3-19-2014 at 06:25 PM

no houses yet in Pto Escondido. talk of development has gone on for years and years...at least 30. every so often another group will buy in, re-do the roads/lots, make a few improvements, but so far nothing has stuck. there is talk once again of condos and another marina in the Ellipse...the middle half moon artificial area you see when you Google the area.

just re-read your post. the inner bay as you call it in under the jurisdiction of Fonatur (for now, as the marina is for sale). you can no longer build a mooring there, but must pay fairly substantial mooring fees with no services. the outer two areas...the Ellipse (middle) and the Waiting Room (outer) are under Api. the cost is much more reasonable, but mooring systems are discouraged, as boats are only supposed to anchor there. this is largely circumvented but that's the law.

local land/housing would be at Tripui, a good mix of homes and palapa with trailers and everything else. nicely done. buy in or rent the land. El Juncalito is more basic, off the grid, palapas/traiers/etc. all leased land. over the Mirador hill about five/six miles you come to Loreto Bay and Nopolo. an entirely different experience. and then of course you could live in Loreto itself, and leave the boat in Pto Escondido.

[Edited on 3-20-2014 by rhintransit]

Islandbuilder - 3-19-2014 at 08:00 PM

I would add San Carlos, near Guaymas, on the mainland side to your list.

I drove out to look at Puerto Escondido a year ago, and it was a ghost town.
I am stunned to read that there is a small store there?! Still?

A perfect anchorage, but only if you're going to be aboard. Lots of folks stay in the Waiting Room, the outer cove.

LaTijereta - 3-20-2014 at 09:02 AM

Here is the new site, with future development options.. :rolleyes:

http://www.marinapuertoescondido.com/

SlyOnce - 3-21-2014 at 11:00 AM

Wow $18/foot for a month, that's a whole lot more than I pay here in San Diego. I guess its the only marina for 300 miles.

weebray - 3-21-2014 at 12:38 PM

Most liveaboards end up in La Paz eventually. Many of the "oldtimers" from Escondido have migrated. La Paz just has too much going for it. Just not enough support services and activities in Escondido. Anchoring off the Mogote is as close to being free as it can get. You are supposed to pay API. Many don't.

ZoeyR - 3-21-2014 at 02:15 PM

We shopped at the store at Puerto Escondido Dec 2012 :)

Pompano - 3-22-2014 at 07:37 AM

A little advice on mooring at Puerto Escondido...and anywhere. Keep your dingy secured...there's been some thefts reported.

JZ - 3-22-2014 at 07:48 AM

Check out San Carlos on the mainland. Better than any place in Baja iyam.

Whale-ista - 3-22-2014 at 08:07 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by weebray
Most liveaboards end up in La Paz eventually. Many of the "oldtimers" from Escondido have migrated. La Paz just has too much going for it. Just not enough support services and activities in Escondido. Anchoring off the Mogote is as close to being free as it can get. You are supposed to pay API. Many don't.


What's " API"?

And how are the marinas in la Paz? Good to live in? Expensive? Locations?

Thank you !

rhintransit - 3-22-2014 at 09:47 AM

API governs waterways and anchoring areas.
marinas in La Paz are very good, and expensive. more than USA. google the individual marinas for cost/foot. extra $ for electricity and other services for live-aboards.
Marina de La Paz, intown
Marina Palmira, far northern end of malecon
Marina Costa Brava way far out of town
one or two other small ones associated with dry dock facilities

Islandbuilder - 3-22-2014 at 11:51 PM

In La Paz Fonutar has a small marina at the far north end, near the airport.
I priced three marinas when I was there in January, and the fonutar marina is cheapest, marina de la Paz is in the middle, and Costa Brava is the most expensive. To give you an idea, Costa Brava was about 3x the cost of Fonutar, and Marina de La Paz about 1.5x Fonutar.

For location and vibe, it's hard to beat Marina de La Paz. If you're looking for the country club feel, then Costa Brava is it. The Fonutar marina is bare bones, and has that industrial feel that seems to be designed in to their marinas.

All of them have shore heads and showers and laundry facilities.

Mula - 3-23-2014 at 06:20 AM

You might want to contact the Club Cruseros in La Paz for a ton of information.

http://www.clubcruceros.net/

Alan - 3-23-2014 at 06:51 AM

For a sailor that is looking for maritime support with a novia that doesn't want to live in the middle of nowhere, you just can't beat La Paz. La Paz can answer just about every need you may have and well as having plenty to do when the sun goes down. It is also the gateway to the SOC with so many islands with secure anchorages all within a day's sail.

There are many full service marinas as well as the option of mooring bouys or hanging on the hook in the bay. As Mula stated. Clun Cruceros can easily answer and questions you may have.

Pompano - 3-23-2014 at 09:00 AM

Yup, from your preferences Marina de La Paz seems to be the place for you. If you want a large happening city, you have it at your front door. A real plus is that if Mary is still at the desk, you will find her very helpful in your wants.

We have tied up there a few times and always enjoyed the friendly café atmosphere at The Dock, a great place to meet old and new sailing friends.

Alm - 3-24-2014 at 04:35 PM

If you want marina with services AND a waterfront home next to it...

Going from North to South, on the Baja side I don't think there is anything until St. Rosalia. You will likely have to drive some miles from your home to anchorage there, or if closer to marina, then you won't be on waterfront.

After St. Rosalia there is nothing again until Loreto. San Lucas has no marina of any kind, and a 6ft protected anchorage is nonexistent.

There is - used to be - deep anchorage in the Mulege river mouth, but it's not much protected and this is not a marina, and again, your home will be some miles away, waterfront or not.