The gorgeous Mulege forrest

Mulege Cruising Area Map Mulege - Baja Life Online Mulege - Oasis by the Sea Closest weather station: Santa Rosalia.

Mulege, a small town on the Baja side of the Sea of Cortez, is one of our favorite places to visit. The town itself is approximately 1½ miles up the Rio Santa Rosalia, but the river is not navigable for sailboats. Smaller powerboats, dinghies and pongas (small wooden boats powered by outboard motors - generally used by local fishermen) are much more practical here. The med style dock located at the mouth of the river, holds about 6 boats, and there are generally 2 to 3 moored there full time. If you draft 5 feet or less, you should be able to tie-up there. Be careful to watch out for the shoal area at the middle of the entrance to the river, particularly at low tides. The Capitania de Puerto is a good-humored "abuelo" who lives at the lighthouse atop Punta El Sombrerito with his family. The water here is potable, and considered by many to be the sweetest on the Baja. The Capitania can sell you both diesel and gas. He speaks some English, but be prepared to speak some Spanish. There is also good anchorage on northern side of the entrance to Rio Santa Rosalia, but the seas tend to be choppy, and there is no protection from the winds.

Moored on the sea wall at the river mouth

If you are going to dinghy into town, it is not possible to go all the way upriver. It becomes more and more shallow as you get closer to the bridge, which doubles as a dam. If you do choose to dinghy in, stay to the far left, or south side of the river, as it appears to be dredged for the homes and trailer parks lining that side of the river. The depth of the river varies greatly in the center. There are rocks and sticks either barely jutting out of the water, or just below the surface, which is quite muddy. You will have to find a safe place to leave the dinghy unattended on either the north or south side of the river, and much of the south side is privately owned. It is safe, however to leave a dinghy at the beach by the lighthouse and walk the mile or so into town. It is very easy to get a taxi ride back to the lighthouse, which is on the North side of the river, but there is no way to call a cab from there in order to get into town. Mulege has several hotels, motels, grocery stores, shops, places to buy bottled water, snorkel and dive equipment, and anything else you might need. There is also an abundance of restaurants, where we found portions large and prices small. Despite all of these conveniences, there are no banks or ATM's. The closest can be found in Santa Rosalia, about 38 miles (via roads) north. Mulege is also the primary source of supplies if you are visiting Bahia Concepcion, which is about 12 miles (also by roads) south.

Looking out of the mouth of the river

While most towns on the Baja side of the Sea have a desert environment, Mulege is a mix of desert and semi tropical jungle. The lush green here is the product of the Santa Rosalia river, one of the few fresh water rivers on the Baja. On the western side of the river, divided by a roadbridge, is the Mulege Lagoon, which closely resembles a jungle lagoon.. Mulege is also famous for having had the most humane prison in Mexico. Inmates were permitted to leave during the day to work and visit their families. The prison was closed in the 1960's, but is still standing and open to the public today. The Mission Santa Rosalia de Mulege was founded in 1705 by Father Juan Basulda, a Jesuit priest. It, too, is still standing, and open to visitors. Due to its unique environment, its warm, friendly atmosphere, as well as its rich culture, many consider Mulege to be a paradise in the Baja desert.

GPS Waypoints
Mulege/Rio Santa Rosalia entrance	N 26°53.845'	W 111°58.063'

Beach just north of the river mouth

Mulege Lagoon