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Closest weather station: Loreto
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Puerto Escondido is without a doubt the most well protected anchorage
on the Baja, and perhaps the entire Sea of Cortez. It is actually two
anchorages; the outermost, known as the "Waiting Room", is not as well
protected as the innermost harbor, but is well suited to boats that are
just passing through. The Waiting Room is separated from the main
harbor by a narrow, shallow channel. You cannot see just how large the
harbor is until you have passed through this channel, hence the name
Puerto Escondido, which means "Hidden Harbor".
The entrance to Escondido is easily visible from a southern approach.
After passing Los Candeleros (a series of three rocks between Isla
Danzante and Punta Candeleros), you can see miles of sandy beaches to
port, until an old abandoned pier comes into view. The Waiting Room is
opposite the pier. Approaching from the north, you will pass the sandy
beach of Bahia Chenque, and go around the outer side of Isla Chenque.
The water between Chenque and the mainland is so shallow that it can be
walked across at low tide. From here you can see the masts of the
sailboats in Escondido. As you follow the coastline around Punta
Coyote, there will be a navigation light on shore. Once you 'round that
curve you will be in the Waiting Room. The Channel separating the two
harbors should be taken directly in the center, and it is marked by
lights on either side of it.
Escondido is bordered by a large, rugged mountain range called Sierra
de la Giganta, and if you are at all familiar with Arizona geography,
you will note a striking resemblance to the Superstition Mountains.
Escondido was the site of a planned resort/condiminium hotel in the
late 1980's. Construction was started, but never completed. At one
point the Moorings charter company had an office there, but it has
since been abandoned. There is a caretaker in the building which once
housed the office, and people pay him to watch their boats and cars
that are left in the parking/storage area. There is a boat ramp, but it
is not very well maintained. There is also a dinghy dock with an old
wooden staircase connecting it to the concrete wharf which was also
built as part of the development. Fresh water is available, but you
will have to fill jugs and walk it around to the dinghy dock. We chose
to hold onto the bottom of a ladder which led from the top of the
concrete wall next to the spigot to the water below. We had to take
care not to let our inflatable dinghy scrape the wall, as it was
covered with barnacles. One of us stayed at the top and tossed the hose
down, while the other stayed in the dinghy and filled the jugs. There
is no fuel available here (for that you have to go into Loreto). The
Tripui Trailer park is about a ½ mile walk down the road. If you leave
your propane tanks, they send them to Constitution to be filled about
once every three days or so. There is a small store there, as well as a
restaurant. If you need to have your laundry done, it is13 pesos, to
have them washed, and another 10 to have them dried. There are
generally taxi's at the trailer park, and sometimes at the docks as
well. Loreto is only about 13 miles away, if
you want to do some shopping for things not readily available at the
Tripui store. As Puerto Escondido is under the authority of the Port Captain in Loreto,
a ride into town will be necessary.
The beach area to the south of Escondido is ideal for camping. There
are no organized campsites, but there are dirt roads leading to areas
delineated by rocks. The campers are also quite hepful when it comes to
rides and information in the area. Escondido is definitely worth an
extended stopover.
| GPS Waypoints |
| Puerto Escondido channel entrance |
N 25°47.772' |
W 111°17.930' |
| Escondido inner harbor anchorage |
N 25°49.005' |
W 111°18.873' |
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