Books
Almost an Island - Almost an Island by Bruce Berger, takes readers beyond the Baja of guidebooks and offers a wildly entertaining look at the real Baja California. Bruce Berger recounts tales from his three decades in this extraordinary place, enriching his account with the peninsula's history, its politics, and its probable future—rendering a striking panorama of this land so close to the United States, so famous, and so little known.
Baja Catch - Baja Catch by Neil Kelly and Gene Kira is a detailed “instruction manual” for anglers who want to take a small boat to Baja California, Mexico, and camp and launch over the beach for some of the world’s best inshore sport fishing. The book includes tips, techniques, maps and fish identification.
A Cruising Cook's Guide to Mexico - A Cruising Cook's Guide to Mexico by Heather Stockard, provides invaluable information about food procurement and preparation, Spanish translations for ingredients and cooking terms, and tips on preparing for your cruise. If you're planning to cruise the Mexican coast by boat, this book will unlock all the culinary treasures you'll encounter during your trip.
Exploring Central America Part 1 & 2 - Enjoy many previously unpublished anchorages and hidden spots on the Pacific side of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador. GPS waypoints, charts, weather information including, Tehuantepecers, Papagayos, and typical southern Mexican weather, entry and exit procedures for all countries, surf spots and much more.
King of the Moon and The Unforgetable Sea of Cortez - Baja California’s Golden Age 1947-1977
The Life And Writings Of Ray Cannon - King of the Moon and The Unforgetable Sea of Cortez are written by Gene Kira. King of the Moon, is a fictional story following the lives of the Rodriguez family and their community. Set in a remote Baja fish camp, the book describes the vivid desert and sea, its vibrant fishing scenes, and its truly unforgettable characters. The Unforgetable Sea of Cortez, is the true, colorful story of Ray Cannon, the pied piper of Baja California’s Golden Age. From his personal archives of thousands of pages and photos, preserved since his death by his lifetime companion, Carla Laemmle, are Ray Cannon’s greatest and wildest fish stories. And here is the story of the land he loved, its people, its natural beauty, and its happiest time.
Log from the Sea of Cortez - Log from the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck, is based on the author’s 1940 adventure with friend and biologist Edward Ricketts, as they ventured aboard the Wester Flyer, a sardine boat out of Monterey, California, on a 4,000-mile voyage around the Baja Peninsula into the Sea of Cortez. Their expedition wonderfully combines science, philosophy and a high-spirited adventure.
Moon Handbooks: Baja - For whatever your ideal trip entails, seasoned writer and Mexico enthusiast Nikki Goth Itoi offers a variety of suggested travel strategies. Packed with information on the best beaches, dining, transportation, and accommodations, Moon Baja caters to a range of travel budgets. Moon Baja gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.
Reef Fish Identification - Baja to Panama - A full color guide identifying reef fish from the Gulf of California to the Pacific coast of Panama, including offshore islands. More than 500 photographs of 400 species taken in their natural habitat.
Reef Fish of the Sea of Cortez - First published in 1979, this guide has become the standard resource for scientists, divers, and spearfishers interested in the fishes of the tropical Pacific Coast. The authors have revised and updated this edition to include the most current taxonomic information, additional species descriptions, and new illustrations.
Sea of Cortez Marine Animals - Sea of Cortez Marine Animals by Daniel Gotshall is a full-color guide to the nearshore marine fishes and invertebrates that occur from Cedros Island, Baja California to Cabo San Lucas, up into the Sea of Cortez, and the Revillagigedos Islands. Includes identification, size, habitat and range.
Sea of Cortez Marine Invertebrates - Sea of Cortez Marine Invertebrates by Alex Kerstitch and Hans Bertsch, describes with text and photos, 303 species of invertebrates that are found in the Sea of Cortez and as far south as Peru. Includes size, habitat and distribution.
Spanish for Cruisers - Boat Repairs and Maintenance Phrase Book - Spanish for Cruisers by Kathy Parsons, is a unique yachtsman’s phrase book, nautical dictionary, and conversation guide all in one. Spanish for Cruisers is divided into 25 topics specifically geared to boaters’ needs including emergency communications, marine hardware, engine repairs, electrical, boatyards, canvas, sail repair and shopping.
The People’s Guide to Mexico: Wherever you You Go...There You Are!! - The People’s Guide to Mexico by Carl Franz and Lorena Havens, offers the ideal combination of basic travel information, entertaining stories, and friendly guidance about everything from driving in Mexico City to hanging a hammock to bartering at the local mercado.
Whales and Other Marine Mammals of California and Baja - Whales and Other Marine Mammals of California and Baja by Tamara Eder, features photos, illustrations and range maps, as well as notes on conservation status, quick ID, similar species and more. Whale accounts feature graphics of dive sequences to assist with identification.
Book Stores
Baja California Sur, Mexico
Allende Books - La Paz, Baja California Sur
Caballo Blanco Books - Loreto, Baja California Sur
El Tecolote - Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
Ross Marine Services - La Paz, Baja California Sur
Sinaloa, Mexico
Marina El Cid - Mazatlan, Sinaloa
Nautica Costa Bonita - Mazatlan, Sinaloa
Total Yacht Works, Mazatlan, Sinaloa
Washington, USA
Armchair Sailor - Seattle, Washington
Bellingham Chart Printers - Friday Harbor, Washington
Captains Nautical Supplies - Seattle, Washington
Fisheries Supply - Seattle, Washington
Pacific Marine Exchange - Bellingham, Washington
Village Books - Bellingham, Washington
Oregon, USA
The Bookloft - Enterprise, Oregon
California, USA
Beacon Marine - Ventura, California
Downwind Marine - San Diego, California
Minneys Yacht Surplus - Newport, California
Safe Navigation, Inc. - Long Beach, California
Seabreeze Books and Charts - San Diego, California
Vagabundos del Mar - Rio Vista, California
Waypoint - Alameda, California
Connecticut, USA
Landfall Navigation - Stamford, Connecticut
New York, USA
Longitude Books - New York City, New York
Florida, USA
Bluewater Books and Charts - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
British Columbia, Canada
Bluewater Cruising Association - Vancouver, British Columbia
Charter Companies and Cruise Ships
American Safari Cruises - The 120 foot, m/v Safari Quest, takes guests on a remote cruise through the islands of the Sea of Cortez. Wildlife encounters, kayaking, hiking, and horseback riding are a few of the many of the adventures experienced on the Safari Quest.
Lindblad Expeditions - For over 20 years, Lindblad Expeditions has been exploring Baja’s Pacific coast and Sea of Cortez. The 152 foot m/v Sea Bird and sistership, m/v Sea Lion, along with the 174 foot m/v Sea Voyager, take passengers on a unique wildlife adventure along Baja’s coast.
Moorings - Moorings offers bare boat and captained charter boats, both sail and power. Their Moorings base is located in Costa Baja Resort and Marina in La Paz.
Waypoint Yacht Charter Services - Waypoint Yacht Charter Services is an independent, worldwide yacht charter broker including both luxury yachts and sailboats.
Club Cruceros Founded in 1988, Club Cruceros is a non-profit organization that provides a wonderful service to both the boating community as well as the local community of La Paz. The club hosts a number of charity events throughout the year as well as a daily (except Sundays) coffee hour. Club Cruceros is located at Marina de La Paz.
Hidden Port Yacht Club Established in 1993, the Hidden Port Yacht Club, located in Puerto Escondido, was formed to assist the local community of Loreto and Puerto Escondido. Through charity events, the club as been able to provide support to a number of schools, hospitals, and various other organizations. The HPYC also hosts the annual Loreto Fest which takes place in late April/early May each year.
Conservación
de Territorio Insular Mexico - ISLA With funding and support
from a group of international donors, ISLA was formed in 1997 to help the newly created Gulf
Islands park system carry out
urgent measures to protect the
marine and island ecosystems in
Loreto and Espíritu Santo.
Ocean Oasis Ocean Oasis began as a passion for the Baja California peninsula and the Sea of Cortés and evolved over twenty years. Summerhays Films, the San Diego Natural History Museum, and PRONATURA, Mexico's oldest and largest conservation organization, joined in partnership to create a giant-screen film highlighting the immense natural richness of the region. They called it Ocean Oasis in celebration of the abundance of life in an ocean surrounded by a desert.
San Diego Natural History Museum
Sea of Cortez Expedition and Education Project
Sea Watch Founded in 1993, Sea Watch is a program directed towards the conservation of Mexican fisheries by helping to stop illegal commercial fishing practices and working with the Mexican government to develop sustainable fishing regulations.
Rowcliffe's Insurance - Rowcliffe's Insurance specializes in watercraft insurance. They offer affordable, no hassle policies over the phone, fax or email. Offering full coverage and liability only policies.
The Cape Area
Cabo Yacht Center
Cape Marine
La Paz
Agencia Arjona
Agencia Seamar
Baja Marine Supply
Dawn Rigging
Lopez Marine Services
San Carlos
Marine Mart
Star Marine Center
Marine Haulout Yards and Storage Facilities
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo Yacht Center Cabo Yacht Center is a fully equipped marine haul out facility with a 70 ton travel lift. Their services include fiberglass, stainless and aluminum repair, as well as custom fabrication, painting, upholstery, engine work, wlectrical troubleshooting and maintencance services if you need to leave your boat in Cabo.
La Paz
Talleres Navales Bercovich - Bercovich Boat Works For over 30 years, Bercovich offers a full line of services for boats. From minor repairs and maintenance to major refitting (they provide written estimates for all jobs). Bercovich also has long and short term storage available. They are able to haul vessels up to 20 tons (45 feet in length) on their hydraulic trailer, and vessels to up 160 tons (120 feet in length) and catamarans to 25' beam on their marine railway.
Marina Fidepaz Singlar - Part of the Mexican government’s tourist project, titled “Escala Nautica” or Nautical Staircase, Marina Fidepaz is one of the newest marinas and haulout yards in La Paz. The marina offers 39 slips ranging from 10 to 140 feet in length. The marina offers water, power, showers, laundry, a lap pool and wireless internet. The Marina Fidepaz also has a fuel dock, boat ramp, 75-ton marine travel lift and a large concrete storage/work yard. The marina provides a guided panga to assist boaters in navigating the channel to the marina.
Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido Marina Singlar - The marina and haulout facility at Puerto Escondido is part of the Mexican tourism agency’s project, “Escala Nautica” or Nautical Staircase. The marina has 10 slips available and also has 117 mooring buoys throughout the bay. Water, power, showers, laundry, a lap pool, fuel dock and boat launch ramp are available. The marina also has a 50-ton marine travel lift and large concrete work/storage yard.
San Carlos
Marina Real - Marina Real has 356 slips, each with power and water, accommodating boats up to 63 feet in length. The marina has a fuel dock, boat launch ramp and showers. Marina Real also has a marine haulout facility with short and long term storage.
Marina Seca San Carlos Marina Seca provides hauling and launching services for boats up to 60 tons, de-mast services, carpentry, covered storage, vehicle storage, trailer storage, lockers, hurricane resistant posts. Marina Seca also provides boat trucking services from San Carlos, Mexico to anywhere in the United States or Canada. They can transport boats up to 50 feet in length, 30 tons or 16 feet wide. Within their marine work yard, they can perform sandblasting jobs, stainless and aluminum repair, painting, fiberglass, upholstery, blister jobs and bottom jobs.
Guaymas
Marina Seca Guaymas Marina Seca Guaymas has a travel lift that can accommodate boats up to 30 tons, including catamarans and trimarans. The facility offers long and short term storage in a secure yard. Ample room is available for RV parking while you work on your boat.
Dockwise Yacht Transport Dockwise offers hassle-free yacht & boat transport to the most desirable cruising grounds of the world. Dockwise has a fleet of four semi-submersible dedicated yacht carriers (float on, float off service), serving ports around the world including stops in North and Central America: Golfito, Costa Rica; La Paz, Mexico; Ensenada, Mexico; and Vancouver, Canada.
Yacht Path International Aboard a fleet of ocean going vessels, Yacht Path is able to efficiently transport yachts up to 250 metric tons with a self designed, time tested cradle system. Yacht Path uses cranes to lift yachts on and off it's decks. Serving ports around the world, including stops in North and Central America: Golfito, Costa Rica; La Paz, Mexico; Ensenada, Mexico; Manzanillo, Mexico; San Diego, USA; Honolulu, USA; and Victoria, Canada.
CONAUGA Comisión Nacional del Agua (National Commission of the Water) - Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (National Weather Service)
CONANP Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (National Commission of Natural Protected Areas) - Information and maps on the nationally protected areas within the Sea of Cortez.
CONAPESCA Comisión Nacional de Acuacultura y Pesca (National Commission of Aquaculture and Fishing) - Fishing rules and regulations, information on fishing licenses - see also www.conapescasandiego.org. This site is in English and has forms to print out for obtaining a Mexican fishing license.
Discover Baja California (Norte) - The state of Baja California (North) hosts a tourist site in both English and Spanish for travelers coming to Baja, Mexico.
FONATUR Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo (National Trust Fund for Tourism Development) -
Instituto Nacional de Imigración - Secretaría de Gobernación (National Institute of Immigration - part of the Ministry of the Interior) - The National Institute of Immigration website has all the information and contacts foreigners need to visit Mexico. The website also has an English version.
SEMAR Secretaría de Marina (Ministry of Navy) - Up to date Notice to Mariners documents, listings of marine charts and publications.
Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) - Information concerning Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including consolates, embassies, services and foreign policy can be found on this site (both English and Spanish versions).
SECTUR Secretaria de Turismo (Ministry of Tourism) - Information concerning Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism.
SINGLAR - The government of Mexico, through FONATUR, the agency responsible for the planning and development of sustainable tourism projects Mexico, has selected the Sea of Cortez Region, for its growth potential, as a long range development project. This project is called Escala Nautica (Nautical Staircase), and the company SINGLAR is in charge of developing and operating strategic transient marinas to promote tourism.
Sonora Tourism - The state of Sonora hosts a tourist site in both English and Spanish for travlers coming to Sonora, Mexico.
Coastal Explorer™ is a sophisticated and full-featured, yet very easy to use navigation software package designed specifically for the pleasure boater. Support for official raster and vector charts from almost every major hydrographic agency in the world, route planning features with multi-level undo capability, integrated gazetteer and Coast Pilot™ books, virtual instrument display, and obstacle alerts.
Cruise RO Water and Power has a simple goal of providing fellow cruisers with affordable solutions to their water and power needs, but without the standard Marine Industry high price mark-up. Their complete line of SeaMaker water products coupled with ElectroMaax power products provides the cruiser with the Power and Water to not just go camping, but go Cruising!
Bahia de los Angeles Weather Station - Live weather and webcam from Bahia de los Angeles town.
Buoy Weather - Virtual weather buoy (computer model weather forecasting) for the Sea of Cortez.
La Paz Weather Station - Live weather from Costa Baja Resort and Marina in La Paz.
Don Anderson - Don Anderson on Summer Passage
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NWS radiofax charts for the North Pacific and Tropical East Pacific
Historical hurricane tracks
National Hurricane Center Marine Forecasts