Anchorage· La Paz (city and bay)· Mexico
Bahía Balandra (La Paz)
24° 19.2′ N · 110° 19.8′ W
The postcard bay of Baja Sur: three lobes of impossibly turquoise shallows, sand bars, dunes and mangroves, just 5 miles from the La Paz channel - now a protected area with strict boating rules.
Practical
Position: Cruisers Academy pin (24°19'14.4"N 110°19'50.7"W); OCG safe-distance waypoint 24°19.500'N 110°20.250'W. Area de Protección de Flora y Fauna Balandra since 2015. Rules reported by OCG (fall 2022, after a charter-yacht fire and fuel spill): no overnight stays for any vessel; boats over 12 m may not enter restricted subzones Balandra A and B (inside the two prominent inner points); boats under 12 m may only tour to the mushroom rock - no landing on the mushroom or main beaches; dinghies may land on the north beach. Club Cruceros: no anchoring deep inside the bay, no fishing. First Sunday of each month is locals' day. Daytime anchoring outside the restricted zone in 15-25 ft sand, good holding; depths come up fast onto sand bars in the middle lobe. Coming from or leaving to the south, avoid the rocky shoal off the point forming Balandra's south side; avoid aquaculture pens. Land access fee 120 MXN with two shifts, 8:00 am-12:00 pm and 1:00 pm-5:00 pm (March 2025). Snorkel the small reef in the middle lobe.
Best for
Daytime swim and snorkel stop
Season
Day use only; calm weather
Nearby
- El Hongo (Mushroom Rock, Balandra)0.2 NM away
- Balandra Mangroves by Kayak0.7 NM away
- Balandra Lookout Trails1.1 NM away
- Caleta Lobos Anchorage1.2 NM away
- Playa El Tecolote1.2 NM away
- Playa Tecolote Palapa Restaurants1.2 NM away
- San Rafaelito and Roca Lobos (Dive and Snorkel)1.2 NM away
- Playa Pichilingue2.2 NM away