Sea of Cortez Flotilla 4/13/24
Flexible Itinerary

The Planned Itinerary

Once we depart the marina, the itinerary in the posts below is flexible and subject to change – because it has to be. We’ll alter our destinations and timing as needed as wind, weather, and good seamanship dictate. See details below with descriptions and pictures for each day.

Skippers – as the flotilla progresses you may find you want to explore other possible anchorages or destinations. Please check with me before you do as I have local knowledge you may benefit from.

If there is a strong norther forecast during our week, that is the event that will cause me to alter our plan – I prefer to be at Isla San Francisco if possible when it’s blowing more than 25, and aim to position the boats so we can ride a strong blow downwind rather than beating into it.

With that said, here’s an itinerary that works – until we have to change it:

Day 1 Saturday: arrival and loading, chart briefing and boat orientation.
Day 2 Sunday: 10 AM Departure for Espiritu Santo, first night at Ensenada del Candelero.
Day 3 Monday: Explore Caleta Partida and Ensenada Grande on Isla Partida.
Day 4 Tuesday: Passage to Isla San Francisco.
Day 5 Wednesday: Morning hike up to the ridge, explore Isla Coyote, decide whether to visit the mangrove lagoon at Bahia Amortajada, or visit Punta Salinas or San Evaristo.
Day 6 Thursday: Passsage downwind to Partida or Espiritu Santo to a new anchorage; or if it’s blowing hard, anchor at Ensenada de la Raza.
Day 7 Friday: Head for home stopping at Balandra or Caleta Lobos for snorkeling and lunch, with the goal of reaching the fuel dock in the harbor by 4 PM or sooner. Celebratory dinner in the harbor that evening.
Day 8 Saturday: Clean up and off-load by 10 AM latest.

See below for the day by day details.

North Bound From Puerta Cortes/Costa Baja
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South Bound From Isla San Francisco
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North Bound Detail

Itinerary Day 1 Saturday – Arrival

This is going to be a busy day. Recommended arrival time at the marina is no later than 1 PM. From there, DYC will help arrange for taxis to take your crew to the Walmart or Chedraui for provisioning.

Provisioning is the subject of another post coming up soon, and I’ll have some specific recommendations – stand by for that.

Important Notes

I will work with Dream Yacht Charter (DYC) to get the earliest possible loading time, hopefully by 3 PM (official boarding time is 5 PM).
The provisioning trip usually takes 2-3 hours, and Taxi costs around $700 pesos depending on how much time you take. You’ll need cash for the Taxi.
DYC and I will conduct the chart briefing for skippers and interested crew that afternoon, and we may also be able to get the boat orientations completed.
Welcome dinner at approx 6:30 PM at the Taberna Espanola in the marina – details in a subsequent post.
There is an ATM in the marina near the Docequarenta coffee house.
The Marina Mercado has ice, a limited selection of groceries, and alcohol (the price there is almost double what you pay in town on your provisioning trip).
Check the snorkeling gear that has been loaded on board, and if fins are not the right size or you don’t like your mask, make sure you get replacements from DYC.

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Itinerary Day 2 Sunday

Planned departure from the charter base is 10:00 AM, so make sure your boat is ready!

Boat orientation is complete
Gear is stowed and you know where all your safety gear is
Water tanks full
Kayaks and SUPs are strapped down
We usually make our first stop at Candelero. Getting there early afternoon rewards us with better choices for anchorage, and time for snorkeling and exploring ashore.

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Itinerary Day 3 Monday

Visiting Caleta Partida and Ensenada Grande is the usual plan, but there are many interesting anchorages in the area. Partida has a fish camp and exploring ashore. Grande also has interesting shore exploration with shell middens left by the early indigenous peoples, and a moderately strenuous rock-hop back up the canyon with signs identifying different kinds of cactus.

Most often, the preferred anchorage for the night is in the southern-most of the 3 lobes at Ensenada Grande.

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Itinerary Day 4 Tuesday

We depart Isla Partida for the passage to Isla San Francisco, stopping by Los Islotes for a look. It’s best to get to ISF early afternoon to take advantage of snorkeling and exploration ashore.

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Itinerary Day 5 Wednesday

Second day at the Hook anchorage at Isla San Francisco usually begins with an early hike up to the ridge for the incredible views, and then short sails to Isla Coyote to see if we can buy some fish, Bahia Amortajada to explore in the mangrove lagoon, or even up to Punta Salinas, or across to San Evaristo. Take off & explore!

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South Bound Detail

Itinerary Day 6 Thursday

Depart Isla San Francisco for a downwind ride to Ensenada de la Raza on Espiritu Santo. Or, another anchorage depending on conditions. At de la Raza, there is always the late afternoon show put on by the Pelican and Terns diving for fish, good snorkeling, and interesting exploring near the mangroves at the shallow end of the cove. These pics by Bruce Stavron.

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Itinerary Day 7 Friday

Make our way down from Espiritu Santo to the DYC base, stopping at Balandra or Caleta Lobos, or Playa Pichilingue for lunch & snorkeling and exploring. Be at the fuel dock by 4:00 PM or earlier to give yourself time to refuel your boat.

Congratulations on your first week of cruising the Sea of Cortez!!! Post cruise celebration and recognition party at the Beach Club across from DYC, and dinner ashore in the marina.

Itinerary Day 8 Saturday

DYC asks that you leave the boat broom clean, and depart by 10:00 AM. Offload your trash, and leave unopened food on the boat for those who clean & take care of the boats.

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