We embarked on our adventure at approximately 1300 hours on December 4th, setting off from La Paz Harbor while carefully navigating the red and green buoys that outline the nearly four and a half mile channel. The Canal de La Paz, a man-made passage filled with shoal banks and sand bars, features depths ranging from 15 to 30 feet across a sandy bottom.

Although the sky was slightly overcast, the air and sea temperatures were still a pleasant 24 degrees Celsius as we made our way to our first destination, Puerto Balandra. This idyllic anchorage boasts stunning white sand beaches and crystal-clear blue waters, and it is famously home to the Mushroom Rock known as El Hongo. Unfortunately, due to the impacts of storms, erosion, and the frequent climbing of tourists, El Hongo once collapsed under its own weight. Fortunately, dedicated volunteers have since been able to restore and reinforce it. We enjoyed an entire day soaking up the sun while paddling and snorkeling in the serene beauty of this enchanting bay.

After a wonderful visit at Puerto Balandra we set off towards Isla Partida and about 27 nautical miles later we tucked ourselves into Ensenada Grande on Dec 5th and dropped the hook for the night.

Ensenada Grande offers a stunning anchorage, renowned for its vivid turquoise waters, delicate rock cliffs, and pristine white sand beaches. This picturesque three-lobed bay is safeguarded by Punta Tintorera to the north and Punta Tijeretas to the south, creating a serene haven for sailors.

We spent a delightful day exploring the area, hiking along the boulder trail that winds through the rocky arroyo to the east, culminating in breathtaking views from the cliffs that overlook the expansive Sea of Cortez.

We spent two enjoyable days at Playa La Bonanza, and relished the opportunity to snorkel and explore the beach. The underwater experience off the reef at Punta la Bonanza was truly remarkable, teeming with vibrant fish, a curious eel, and stunning coral formations.

Beach combing under the sun added to our adventure as we leisurely walked the shoreline and took turns metal detecting. We unearthed an impressive six aluminum cans and a couple of nails, and while we didn’t strike gold, we felt good knowing we contributed to the beach’s cleanliness.

We had an amazing time with Derek cruising through the stunning Sea of Cortez. When we weren’t off exploring, we filled our days with some friendly competition and played tons of crib—let’s just say one of us pulled off an epic double skunk on the guys. Our nights were a fun blend of chilling out watching the Vendee Globe race and strategizing as we tried out different tactics in Catan. After an awesome week with Derek, where we uncovered new spots and hidden treasures, we made our way back to the lively city of La Paz, holding onto the wonderful memories of our adventures.