Anchorage· Isla Espíritu Santo· Mexico
Bahía Bonanza
24° 26.5′ N · 110° 18.5′ W
Nearly two miles of perfect white sand on the south-east side of Espíritu Santo, usually with nobody else in sight - the place to hide from westerlies and Coromuels.
Practical
Position: Online Cruising Guide map pin (safe-distance approach waypoint 24°26.250'N 110°17.250'W; Cruisers Academy pin farther north at 24°27'05.1"N 110°18'22.2"W). Anchor anywhere along the beach in 12-25 ft, solid sand holding. Good protection from W and N winds, but the west wind still rips through the valleys and around the south point, and strong northers send rollers in - tuck into the NW corner, BUT the far north part of the bay (the reef area) is a protected zone where anchoring is not allowed. From the SW via Canal de San Lorenzo, avoid the shoals both north and south of the pinch point (green buoy on the south side, red less often on the north), then make a wide arc in. Landmark: a hill shaped like a surfacing whale's back. No facilities. Trails cross the island to Bahía San Gabriel; a small peak at the south end of the beach sometimes gives cell signal. Inside Archipiélago Espíritu Santo National Park: every person aboard needs the daily CONANP bracelet (225 MXN/person/day on the CONANP page) or an annual Conservation Passport.
Best for
Coromuel and westerly shelter with a huge empty beach
Nearby
- Bonanza to San Gabriel Trail0.9 NM away
- Playa Los Morritos (Espíritu Santo South-East)1.6 NM away
- Espíritu Santo Endemic Wildlife2.2 NM away
- Punta Lobos Drift Dive and Mobula Rays (Espíritu Santo)2.5 NM away
- Punta Lupona (Espíritu Santo South Tip)2.5 NM away
- Playa Ayala (Espíritu Santo South Shore)2.6 NM away
- Bahía La Salinita (Isla Espíritu Santo)2.8 NM away
- Ensenada de la Dispensa (Espíritu Santo South End)2.8 NM away