{"id":8582,"date":"2023-03-29T14:59:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-29T14:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/?p=8582"},"modified":"2026-03-01T10:47:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T10:47:08","slug":"baja-california-summary-highlights-lowlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/2023\/03\/29\/baja-california-summary-highlights-lowlights\/","title":{"rendered":"Baja California Summary\/Highlights\/Lowlights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On July 6, 2022, Kosmos set off on a Sea of Cortez adventure! We stopped in Ensenada<\/a> to check into Mexico. From there, we did an 828 nautical mile (nm), 5-day non-stop passage <\/a>to the La Paz area. We spent almost 8-months in the Sea of Cortez. We broke up the trip back to <\/a>Ensenada into three legs<\/a>, each 2 days<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fiesta de Dia de Los Muertos on October 28, 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

People usually ask us the same questions in the same order, so we’ll answer them in order: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What was the scariest thing that happened? A: We were in a hurricane<\/a> (though it was downgraded to a tropical storm as it was literally over us).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Q: What was the roughest passage? A: Bahia Tortuga to Ensenada<\/a>, <\/a>though Magdalena Bay to Bahia Tortuga<\/a> was a close second. In the Sea of Cortez, we usually had mild sea conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q: What was the best thing you did? A: Christi and Eric said it was petting a whale<\/a>. Keith didn’t agree<\/a>. Keith’s favorite activity was being pulled on the hot dog<\/a>, though being pulled on a tube<\/a> was a close second. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, most people lose interest. Here is more information for those who are still interested:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Statistics: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From San Diego to San Diego, we did 3,115 nautical miles, ran the engine 542.5 hours and the generator 693 hours. In October, Kosmos rolled up to 40,000 nautical miles!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our northernmost point in the Sea of Cortez was Puerto Refugio<\/a>, located on the Isla Angel de la Guarda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We visited 30 different anchorages (see list below; we visited several anchorages more than once). We spent a total of 128 nights at anchor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We visited four marinas: Puerto Escondido<\/a>, Santa Rosalia<\/a>, Costa Baja<\/a> in La Paz, and Marina Coral<\/a> in Ensenada. Kosmos spent a total of 90 nights in a marina (though we had flown to San Diego for three of those weeks<\/a>, so we were only onboard 70 of those nights).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spent 14 nights at sea on passages, mostly coming and going to the Sea of Cortez. Once in the sea it was mostly day trips since to the destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Favorite city\/town: Santa Rosalia<\/a>, which we visited twice<\/a>. Keith agreed<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Favorite anchorage: We had three: 1. V Cove<\/a> on Isla Carmen (near Loreto) 2. Ensenada del Candelero<\/a> on Isla Espiritu Santo (near La Paz). We visited Ensenada del Candelero three times. Second<\/a> time, third<\/a> time. 3. Puerto Don Juan<\/a> near Bahia de Los Angeles. We also visited Puerto Don Juan three times. Second<\/a> time, third<\/a> time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Funnest ride: Eric and Christi say the float at La Gringa<\/a> in Bahia de Los Angeles because it was a mellow and super cool natural phenomenon. Keith says the La Gringa float was boring; his favorite was being pulled on the hot dog<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fun Cultural Events: Dia de Los Muerto<\/a>s and Carnival<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rarest sea species seen: A whale shark<\/a>. More video\/photos of the whale shark<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most Awe Inspiring Natural Phenomenon: the moon was closer than normal to the earth, making the full moons spectacular. We got the best photos in October<\/a> and December<\/a>, but they were all incredible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most beautiful rainbow: Santa Rosalia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eric’s favorite hike was in Isla Coronados<\/a>. Christi’s favorit hike was in Agua Verde<\/a>. Keith’s favorite hike was in Ensenada del Candelero<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Favorite new toy: Sea Scooters<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Favorite restaurant: El Rey Sol<\/a> in Ensenada is hands-down our favorite. But honorable mentions go to: El Muelle<\/a> in Santa Rosalia, Tres Virgenes<\/a> in La Paz, Claro Fish, Jr<\/a> in La Paz, and Lupie Sierra & Maggy Mae<\/a> in San Evaristo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best American restaurant: The Melt <\/a>in La Paz<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best cheese: Goat cheese from a farm in Agua Verde<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diving\/Snorkeling: Some nice snorkeling spots were: V Cove<\/a> on Isla Carmen, San Francisquito<\/a>, Agua Verde<\/a> and Caleta San Juanico<\/a>. Eric went diving in Ensenada del Candelero<\/a> and near Ballandra<\/a> Cove on Isla Carmen. Both sites were nice. But nice is relative; they can’t be compared to the amazing diving\/snorkeling in the South Pacific<\/a>, Australia<\/a>, Indonesia<\/a>, or the Middle East<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most interesting history: Santa Rosalia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lowlights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boat problems: Issues with the inverter<\/a>, dive compressor<\/a>, AC water maker<\/a>, fresh water pump<\/a> and refrigerator<\/a>. We found a fresh water leak<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Least favorite anchorage: San Francisquito.<\/a> It was miserably rolly and had bees\/wasps. Keith concurred<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of the 90 nights in marinas, only 25 of them were “full service” with both usable power and water. Puerto Escondido’s<\/a> water pump was broken for two of the three weeks we were there, and we wouldn’t put Santa Rosalia’s <\/a>or Marina Coral’s<\/a> water in our tanks. The salt content was 1000-1500+ppm. And for a few days, Santa Rosalia limited dock water usage<\/a> to only two hours per day! In Costa Baja, we didn’t have shore power<\/a> for 33 of the days since we were berthed at the edge of the fuel dock. Space was really tight in La Paz marinas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anchorages we visited:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

La Paz Area: Bahia Falsa, La Paz, Isla San Francisco, San Evaristo, Ensenada del Candelero, Playa Pichilingue, Playa Bonanza, Ensenada Grande, Caleta Partida, Ensenada El Gallo, Punta Salinas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loreto Area: Bahia Candeleros, V Cove, Isla Coronados, Ballandra Cove, Agua Verde <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bahia Concepcion\/Mulaje area: San Francisquito, Playa Santispac, Playa Coyote, Caleta San Juanico<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bahia de Los Angeles Area: Puerto Don Juan, La Mona, La Gringa, Ensenada El Quemado, Ensenada El Pescador, The Village in Bahia de Los Angeles, Puerto Refugio, Bahia de Las Rocas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pacific: Bahia de Magdalena, Bahia de Tortugas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On July 6, 2022, Kosmos set off on a Sea of Cortez adventure! We stopped in Ensenada to check into Mexico. From there, we did an 828 nautical mile (nm), 5-day non-stop passage to the La Paz area. We spent … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8582"}],"version-history":[{"count":46,"href":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8582\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20447,"href":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8582\/revisions\/20447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kosmos.liveflux.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}