Every Boat Comes Here

There are few secret spots in the Sea of Cortez.  No matter – some popular bays are large enough to accomodate lots of boats comfortably.  Two such places are Caleta San Juanico at 26deg.22’N, 111deg.25’W; and Coyote Bay in Bahia de Concepcion, at 27deg.03.920N, 111deg.57.678W.  Both are on the Baja peninsula side of things.

San Juanico is not only a good destination on a slow trip north or south up or down the Sea like we’ve been taking; it is also a nice overnight destination across the Sea to and from San Carlos on the Mexican mainland.  The entrance is unobstructed until you tuck in around some reefs into one of 3 favored anchorages –   which anchorage you pick for shelter depends on which way the wind is blowing.  Holding is uniformly good sand.  Snorkeling and reef-fishing opportunities abound.  We saw king angelfish and some rays while snorkeling around that there reefy outcropping in the first photo over there on the left; and GB spent a few mornings fishing in the dinghy off the north entrance to San Juanico and nabbed some spotted sea bass,  a goldspotted bass,  a couple of burrito grunts, a yellow  snapper, an orangesided triggerfish, and…ermm…some other rosy/bronze snapper type fish.  Fed us for days.

This pic on the left below is one of San Juanico’s beaches – which compares very favorably to the beach at Santispac in Bahia de Concepcion, shown on the right below.  Santispac is but one of a whole bunch of anchorages in commodious Bahia de Concepcion, so if you enjoy white sandy/shell beaches, you simply must cruise Baja.

Concepcion does not seem to have the snorkeling or fishing opportunities of San Juanico, and most of Concepcion’s shoreline is more developed, but Concepcion has more anchorages to choose from; and Santispac is one that is nicely sheltered from north winds, has a restaurant onshore (usually open – good food), places to offload your garbage, an excellent local volunteer weather report most mornings at 0800 on VHF 18, and best of all – at least one green sea turtle that rummages around the anchorage in the early mornings.

Visit both places — and compare!

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