Baha Mexico

[USCGRET1990]

Has anybody out there sailed to and spent some time in Baha Mexico? If so, any problems and how did you like it? Looks like a nice, inexpensive place to drop off the face of the earth ;-)

[sharkbait]

Been down there twice 3 months the first time and 5 months the second(God,I love unemployment).The last time was two years ago and it was great.Learn some Spanish,bring some cash and leave your watch back in El Norte.Generally speaking,once you get north of La Paz prices start to drop and anchoring is free.The best advice I can give is to stop in Cabo to pick up a chick and then head north into the Sea of Cortez for some great diving and mediocre sailing.

[USCGRET1990]

Thanks. Mulege looks like a nice place to start. I was stationed in San Juan for a couple years, so have a start on that Spanish. I am retired US Coast Guard, so looking for a place I can live well on my retirement check! From what I've found on the web, the weather there is quite nice.

[camaraderie]

USCG...if you are talking about retiring there on a boat...you might want to look at hurricane tracks. It is NOT safe during hurricane season. See the month of JUNE tracks I just posted on the "preparing for a voyage" thread. It gets worse once you get deeper into the "season".
Obviously the land gets hit as well...but lots of people live in Florida too!

[capttb]

Might also want to look at the cruisers guide from Latitude 38, got most of the basic info on Mexico.
Latitude 38's First Timer's Guide To Mexico

[sailingdog]

Capttb-

Good guide and primer... thanks for the link.

[Cruisingdad]

Some very good friends of mine bought a Defever 49 and headed down the west coast (from Vancouver), planning to go to the islands, but stopped in the baha. 5 years later, they never left.

Like was said earlier, pretty much everything north of La paz is cheap and free. Poverty is pretty rampat, but the Mexicans don't really know it. Once you get used to the water, you will be fine (but don't eat the meat!!!). The people are great!!! Larry & Beth would tell us about going ashore. The Mexicans would greet them and ask them to their homes for dinner. It was considered an insult to bring anything or any gifts or anything as they Mexicans wined and dined them. Considering you probably make more in a day than these entire families make in a month, you get the feeling for the level of hospitality.

It is very dry and arid. That is the only negative. You better get used to very hot days and not much cooler nights. But once your body gets accustomed to it, yolu will be great.

The water is crystal clear and you should be able to live off the seafood (even if your fishing ability sucks as bad as mine). As I recall, you are not supposed to take lobster (the Mexican govt wants you to buy that from the fisherman), but I think most of the cruisers do - right or wrong.

Kris and I (and the kids) have considered that one of our future destinations. However, it is less about the cost of living and more about the people and the destination. Is it cheap? Yes, but there are cheaper places in the world if that is your only goal. But the people are great and it has its own natural beauty which you will come to love and appreciate.

- CD

[USCGRET1990]

To clarify, I meant a nice warm, safe and friendly place that is inexpensive, hence Baha sounds like the ticket ;-)

[Cruisingdad]

Warm won't be a problem. Inexpensive? Yes. Safe?? THere is nothing safe, but it is better than many of the places. However, they did have one instance of a boat in their anchorage being boarded at night and the owner was murdered.

I am afraid that outside of the US (and maybe inside), Piracy is real and you take your chances. It is the price paid for paradise.

- CD

[USCGRET1990]

Fortunately I sleep light and sleep with my buddies, Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson ;-)