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ksanders
Moderator Emeritus
We are leaving ensenada on the 14th of November for La Paz
Retired Life in Mexico
- Thread starter ksanders
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone who enjoys boating.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
We are leaving ensenada on the 14th of November for La Paz
Alaskan Sea-Duction
Guru
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2012
- Messages
- 8,062
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Alaskan Sea-Duction
- Vessel Make
- 1988 M/Y Camargue YachtFisher
Hey Crusty Chief did you have any issues with theft when you were there?
rpackard
Senior Member
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2012
- Messages
- 126
- Location
- usa
- Vessel Name
- formerly owned Puffin/Lilliana
- Vessel Make
- Willard 30/40
I spent the past 15 winter seasons, Jan-April in the Sea of Cortez, mostly on the Bahs side.
On the positive side: The people, the scenery and the food are great. Labor prices are very low compared to US.
Negative side: After May 1, the weather is too hot. From June to September expect a lot of days near 100F. If you don't have AC on your boat and can take that kind of heat you are more tolerant than I. The anchorages are mediocre if you are used to the kind of shelter provided in the PNW. You will rock and roll a lot in Mexico. Finally, moorage is very expensive compared to many places. If you are lucky enough to find a slip in LaPaz, you will pay at least $25US/ft/mo. And that is the cheaper monthly rate in the cheapest marina. In Cabo the daily rate is at least $10/ft/day. Yikes!!
Pacific mainland Mexico is mostly marinas because anchorages are few and far between. But you don't need a boat to visit Puerto Vallarta or any of the other Pacific seaside places. Drive there instead or take a bus.
My take is that Sea of Cortez is great for one or two winter seasons. After that you have seen the sights and made the tour. Many cruisers find the Sea of Cortez their favorite area but it is all relative to what other places you have experienced.
Ricard P
On the positive side: The people, the scenery and the food are great. Labor prices are very low compared to US.
Negative side: After May 1, the weather is too hot. From June to September expect a lot of days near 100F. If you don't have AC on your boat and can take that kind of heat you are more tolerant than I. The anchorages are mediocre if you are used to the kind of shelter provided in the PNW. You will rock and roll a lot in Mexico. Finally, moorage is very expensive compared to many places. If you are lucky enough to find a slip in LaPaz, you will pay at least $25US/ft/mo. And that is the cheaper monthly rate in the cheapest marina. In Cabo the daily rate is at least $10/ft/day. Yikes!!
Pacific mainland Mexico is mostly marinas because anchorages are few and far between. But you don't need a boat to visit Puerto Vallarta or any of the other Pacific seaside places. Drive there instead or take a bus.
My take is that Sea of Cortez is great for one or two winter seasons. After that you have seen the sights and made the tour. Many cruisers find the Sea of Cortez their favorite area but it is all relative to what other places you have experienced.
Ricard P
sunchaser
Guru
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2008
- Messages
- 10,197
- Location
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- sunchaser V
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- DeFever 48 (sold)
RP
Thanks for your comments. Your post pretty well summarizes my experiences of many decades ago. Back then we didn't have the cartel activity to deal with such as roiled the Baja in August. That is a new worry for the Baja largely not seen until this summer. Our daughter who lives in Rosarito fled north to the US until the National Guard arrived in force.
Thanks for your comments. Your post pretty well summarizes my experiences of many decades ago. Back then we didn't have the cartel activity to deal with such as roiled the Baja in August. That is a new worry for the Baja largely not seen until this summer. Our daughter who lives in Rosarito fled north to the US until the National Guard arrived in force.
squimmy27
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2017
- Messages
- 67
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- Magic Carpet
- Vessel Make
- 1979 Universal Marine 42
I've visited/traveled Baja since I was a teenager - now I'm scoping out a 2024 retirement on the SofC coast. I'm nostalgic for the Las Barriles area for going down there in my 'youth'; went diving in Cabo Pulmo in 2019 and it still attracted me. Then in La Paz last fall, drove down to Barriles & it a zoo. Started exploring north of La Paz...anyone have more comments on Marina Puerto Escondido? Seems a little 'posh' for a trawler-type?
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ksanders
Moderator Emeritus
Myself I really like La Paz. At 250,000 people the town is big enough to offer a large variety of shopping, and restaurants while still retaining a fairly small town feel to it.
Added to that is the idea that it is relatively undiscovered by expats. i say that because popular places like Cabo and Todo Santos are not in my opinion Mexico any more. They are America with a mexican accent.
