Mexico West Coast

[Flyingriki]

Has anyone here cruised down the west coast of Mexico? Looking at buying in the Sea of Cortez and heading down toward the canal. Not in a rush to get there. Got a couple comments on another thread and looking for more and maybe updated? As I cruise Google satellite view of the coast I see a few bays to stop in, a couple places I thought to visit with no bay, and some scary names like "Sinaloa" that I've seen in less pleasant news articles...
Thoughts on the area along the coast, must do's must avoid's, costs, safety, time frames etc????
Thank you!!

[JeffBurright]

Yes, we did this trip a few years ago from Baja to Panama and back. Plenty of nice places to stop, though on mainland Mexico we mostly found resort towns. We found kind people all the way down the coast, but it helps if you speak Spanish and bring an open heart. The sailing was mostly light winds with the exception of bigger winds in the Tehuantepec and the Papagayos (but even those aren't so bad if you pick your window right), and if you're south of the T-Pec by the end of May you're out of Hurricane Alley. We hit a few pucker-worthy squalls in C. America because we traversed it at the tail end of rainy season (June - November), but it all worked out. Western Pacific Panama is amazing and worth lingering. You can follow the route we took on our blog, linked in my signature. I can also answer more specific questions if you have them.

[Paul L]

Good cruising guide for west coast Mex is
Blue Latitude Press - The most up-to-date and accurate Mexico Cruising Guides!
For Central America the Sarana guides are the best
Cruising Guide Books For Central America | Always Up-to-date
The passages in Mexico are all short until you start heading g South. Then there are less places to stop along the southern Mex coast. A few of the stops take some deciding as to how safe you think they are.
The main cruising grounds, Sea of Cortez, Banderas Bay etc are easy cruising grounds.

[model 10]

I counted 53 different anchorages that we used on the way from Mazatlan to Panama. The Gold Coast of southern Mx is pretty cool cruising.

[Flyingriki]

THANK YOU!

Will check out the links.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by Flyingriki

Has anyone here cruised down the west coast of Mexico? Looking at buying in the Sea of Cortez and heading down toward the canal. Not in a rush to get there. Got a couple comments on another thread and looking for more and maybe updated? As I cruise Google satellite view of the coast I see a few bays to stop in, a couple places I thought to visit with no bay, and some scary names like "Sinaloa" that I've seen in less pleasant news articles...
Thoughts on the area along the coast, must do's must avoid's, costs, safety, time frames etc????
Thank you!!

\get the cruisers guides to mexico--charlies charts is good.
i have yet to find must avoids.
west coast mexico is beautiful
your longest passage without anchorages is from manzanillo to zihuatenejo/ixtapa. that is a 3-4 day passage, or 300 ish miles.
donot pay heed to news articles as that bs does not affect us unless you do business with the cartels.
i have only suffered theft by gringos. the locals are helpful.
as everywhere on planet-donot flaunt wealth, which means donot show off your toys. they all think we are wealthy as we have boats. their daily income is only 200 pesos daily, which, if you figure 17.9 pesos to one usdollar aint much. food service workers only make 85 pesos daily , plus tips.
paper charts and charlies charts in conjunction with your gps/chartplotter will be the way to feel out your trip south.

[Flyingriki]

Thanks again!

[gjordan]

I did San Diego to Cabo and only did 2 overnighters. There are lots of places to anchor if the weather is decent. It is a great trip and I hope our domestic politics dont make it harder for cruisers. ______Grant.

[markpierce]

On the last couple of cruises of many on cruise ships on Mexico's western coast, I've stayed aboard. Already been there, and an air-conditioned boat is much more comfortable than outside. OK, call me jaded. No, I'm not a "one-percenter."

[senormechanico]

Mark,

OK, I give up.
Which bay/anchorage/marina is that?

[poiu]

Originally Posted by markpierce

On the last couple of cruises of many on cruise ships on Mexico's western coast, I've stayed aboard. Already been there, and an air-conditioned boat is much more comfortable than outside. OK, call me jaded. No, I'm not a "one-percenter."

Just for the record, that boat's owner is a hundredth of a one percenter.

[Flyingriki]

Originally Posted by gjordan

...I hope our domestic politics dont make it harder for cruisers. ______Grant.

Can't remember the last time common sense caused a problem......

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by Flyingriki

Can't remember the last time common sense caused a problem......

usa politics and disruption are only making folks laugh down here. there is no issue. business as usual.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Mark,

OK, I give up.
Which bay/anchorage/marina is that?

Puerto Vallarta

[model 10]

[QUOTE=zeehag;2418857]your longest passage without anchorages is from manzanillo to zihuatenejo/ixtapa. that is a 3-4 day passage, or 300 ish miles.


No actually there are several anchorages in that section. Cabeza Negra, Calla de Campos and Lazaro Cardenas