Right now, hundreds of West Coast boaters are beginning to explore Mexico’s Baja and Pacific coastal waters, all part of the first wave of the Mexico cruising season. Kudos to the New Mexico Cruising Class of 2025-2026!
About 130 sailboats in the annual Baja Ha Ha cruise left San Diego on November 3, reached Cabo San Lucas on November 14. Another 200 or so Southbounders are traveling independently, mostly West Coasters but also some adventurers from Canadian and European homeports. The southbound weather window stays open until June or July, so as we go to press, more are still preparing for departure after the new year.
WHERE DID THEY GO?
Many of this year’s power boats (sportfishers and motor sailors) and faster sailing vessels quickly turned around the corner and laid their routes north up into the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California).
From what I hear on the Sonrisa and Chubasco ham radio nets, some in this new fleet have already met up with a couple dozen veteran cruising boats that spent the summer of 2025 at various hurricane hideouts in the mid and upper reaches of the Sea of Cortez. Those folks are now moving south to venture elsewhere. Mazatlan and Puerto Escondido are the crossroads where these northbound and southbound routes intersect.
Only a few Ha Ha boats jumped off to make passage toward Puerto Vallarta on the mainland. That itinerary often calls for skipping down to Barra Navidad, where the Panama Posse assembles its 150 or so cruising boats. www.PanamaPosse.com Those who opt to stay along Mexico’s Gold Coast this year may scoot south only as far as Zihuatanejo before they make a U-turn. The city of Acapulco has recovered from two bad hurricanes, but the harbor’s four marinas are not quite back in full operations.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO NEWS:
Over the summer, former cruising boaters, Rob and Deanna Lyn Piwowarczyk, were hired by the owners of Marina Puerto Escondido to take over management of the marine services business. They launched Sendero Marine Services and Yacht Brokerage, then added new yacht services. They raised the quality bar so high, that on November 1 Deanna Lyn was hired as Chief Operating Officer for the whole marina property.
That includes two restaurants (La Brisa on the upper patio and the new La Bocana Beach Club), Cordel Market, Sendero Marine Services, the yacht brokerage, and the unique real-estate development projects. On stunning waterfront lots, owners are building custom homes with private docks to 90 feet.
“What excites me most,” Deanna Lyn said, “is how all these pieces come together to create something truly special. We’re building not just a marina, but a destination where people come for the beauty and stay for the community.”
That’s exactly how Rob and Deanna got here. In 2019, they cruised their Selene 55 “Bella Luna” to La Paz with the CUBAR fleet. Someone raved “If you’re going this far, you have to go up into the Sea of Cortez and visit Marina Puerto Escondido.” They arrived here January 1, 2020, and they are still here! So smitten, Rob and Deanna moved to Loreto full time, bought a home, sold their motoryacht and got a smaller fishing boat they keep at the marina so they can continue exploring the islands.
“Loreto has become home in every sense of the word. The people, the natural beauty, and the sense of community at the marina drew us in and kept us here,” she said.
WHAT’S NEW DOWN HERE?
La Bocana Beach Club opened last weekend. Perched right on the sandy point at the marina’s entrance, this high-end restaurant with a barefoot luxury vibe is serving craft cocktails and fresh local fare under sweeping views of Isla Danzante and the Sierra La Giganta skyline.
“Our first luxury condominium building is already under construction,” Deanna Lyn said, and several units are already sold. It will contain some retail shops and additional eateries, even a tequila and mezcal tasting room that will open soon.
“This winter cruising season is shaping up to be our best yet. We’re already welcoming new boaters from around the world, and we’re adding new local experiences for our guests,” she said. My favorites are walking the easy trails in the hills adjacent to the marina and the hike up to the Tabor Canyon waterfalls and pools with views out to Isla Carmen.
For newbies who don’t yet know, Marina Puerto Escondido is the hub of recreational boating, fishing and diving in the lower half of the Sea of Cortez. It lies fully within the Loreto National Marine Park.
Within the sheltering bay, the marina offers 100 mooring balls, 236 docks to accommodate boats from 30’ to to 400’ LOA, a 100’ long diesel dock, 24/7 security, fenced boat yard with 50-T Travelift and concrete floor. Amid palm-tree shade, the 2-story office complex (formerly Fonatur) has groceries, deli, laundry, showers, cruisers’ lounge, lap pool and yacht-charter office.
Details about Marina Puerto Escondido are found on pages 149 – 154 in my guidebook “Mexico Boating Guide.” For slip or fuel reservations, visit [email protected] To call the marina, the Whatsapp number is +52-613-131-8097.
