Guides, Sailing

Sailing from Cali to Cabo : Discovering Baja Sur’s Top Three Hidden Beaches

June 15, 2018 | by captaingino1

Sailing from Cali to Cabo : Discovering Baja Sur’s Top Three Hidden Beaches

The Pacific Coast of Mexico, boasts beautiful beaches, lively nightlife, and awe-inspiring scenery.

Needless to say, some of the most prime beach territory can be found along the Baja Peninsula coastline. So, it is no wonder why it is on the top of my list for avid sailors looking to explore miles and miles of undeveloped stretches of crystal blue coastline.

Planning on cruising south from California? Want to anchor in Cabo San Lucas as your final desitination? Then heads-up, while Cabo is enchanting, it is also a major tourist hot-spot. Nevertheless, Cabo is still pretty awesome. Plus, it can be a great starting point to discovering some of the top hidden beaches along the penninsula coastline.

Interested more in finding the beaches that the locals want to keep secret?If you are brave enough to explore and escape the tourist traps, this article is for you.

Below you will find a list of 3 off the beaten path beaches near or around Cabo San Lucas. And trust me, they are worthy only of the most intrepid explorer.

Is that you?

First things first: Sailing down from California to Baja

First Leg: San Francisco to San Diego

If you are starting your journey from San Francisco you will have to identify a few NoCal and SoCal anchorage points along the way. Keep in my mind you will be cruising in downwind. So, the journey will be much quicker than sailing the contrary (sailing from San Diego up to San Francisco).

Assuming you start at Alcatraz and cruise at a steady pace, (6 knots) you are most likely to arrive in the port of entry of San Diego bay in about 3 days. If you plan your trip accordingly you can leave San Francisco early in the morning. You can also anchor up at the following marinas.

Morro Bay (Your First Stop)
Ventura Marinas (Halfway there)
San Diego Bay (Final Stop before cruising down to Mexico)

Second Leg: San Diego to Cabo San Lucas

From San Diego expect a short trip, around 60 miles or so (you can sail over-night if you like). You will cross the border and arrive in the port of Ensenada by the next day.

If you are a seasoned sailor you can choose to make this 750 mile trip down from San Diego with a small crew. Or, if you prefer, you can tag along with other sailors trekking the same route for the infamous, Baja Ha-Ha Cruisers Rally. This is a safe option for novice sailors, as well as anyone who is looking to rally with other like-minded sailors. You can check their info here: Baja Ha-Ha

Either way plot your trip. In addition make sure you anticipate anchoring up at the following bays and marinas.

Bahía Tortuga (Halfway there)
Bahia Santa Marina (165 out from Cabo San Lucas)
Cabo San Lucas (Final Stop)

Some say anchoring at Cabo San Lucas is a zoo, quite literally. Expect the marina fees to be high. Even more, expect a lot of chit-chatter. Yep that’s right, lots of noise from your neighbors. Many sailor forums suggest heading to La Paz. But if you want to stay around Cabo, consider anchoring at San Jose Del Cabo. San Jose Del Cabo offers a cheaper and more tranquil option. Plus it is just a short 45 minute drive north of Cabo San Lucas.

Lets get to the beaches….

If you choose to stay in San Jose Del Cabo, this is a fantastic launching pad to discover the best hidden beaches around. Skip the crowds and relish in peace and privacy at one of the following top remote beaches along the Baja coastline.

Playas Las Viudas

Playas Las Viudas, also known as Widow’s Beach, is my top pick for off-the-beaten track. It really is a gorgeous hideaway beach. Moreover it has endless inlets and coves to explore, striking volcanic rock formations, and seems to be almost exclusively private. Meaning, whatever time of day or year you choose to go, it is almost guaranteed to be completely empty.

That’s right, all yours to traverse to explore! And don’t forget to soak up the rays that reflect off of its magnificent turquoise-tinted sea. You can access the beach at km 11.5, along the Tourist Corridor. Just follow the dirt road until it meets the maginficent coastline of a sultry saphire sea.

Beach Blue Beautiful Beauty Background Beaches

Cabo Pulmo

This picturesque secret gem of a beach, which also holds a prestige national park status, is your invitation to unscathed wildlife and nature. Cabo Pulmo beach can be reached in about 40 minutes. To get there, drive north from San Jose Del Cabo. This beach offers a paradise for snorkelers looking for front-row tickets to nature’s most pristine offerings. On the same token, this hidden beach is practically undisturbed. As a result, Cabo Pulmo provides an incredible sanctuary for any sailor looking to venture far off the grid of cookie-cutter tourist traps.

Playa Los Cerritos

Although this beach has gained some momentum in the past few years, Playa Los Cerritos maintains its quiet atmosphere. It is a relatively good option for those looking for awesome surf break and mixing with the local culture. When driving from Cabo, it takes just under an hour to reach Cerritos and it’s surrounding beach break.

Additionally, the beach has a superb hotel and restaurant on site, called the Cerritos Beach Club. The beach club serves up mouth-watering seafood and plays soulful jazz every Sunday. While this beach is a bit more-on-the-path, it is an excellent option for vacationers looking for a laid-back enviroment.

At the end of the day, anywhere you choose to travel along the Baja Sur Peninsula will be heart-stirring and stunning. These are only a few options among the plethora of unspoiled beaches peppered along the coast. Did I miss one? What beaches did you discover near Cabo San Lucas?