Anchorage· San Blas· Mexico
Bahía Matanchén Anchorage
21° 30.9′ N · 105° 14.3′ W · approximate
A vast, gently shoaling bay just southeast of San Blas, used by cruisers who don't want to cross the San Blas bar. It's lined with palapa restaurants and is the jumping-off point for the La Tovara jungle-river tour.
Practical
Depth shoals gradually for miles. In 2022 one crew anchored about 0.7 nm offshore in 25 ft. Tuck into the northwest corner behind the point for the best protection from northwest wind. Southwest swell rolls straight in, so it's rolly even when gentle. Guidebooks recommend anchoring about a mile out to stay clear of the jejenes and mosquitoes, which are infamous here. Expect a surf landing on the beach: palapa restaurants will watch your dinghy if you eat there (see 'Matanchén Bay Beach Landing'). San Blas is about 3.5 miles northwest, and taxis run along the road. Coordinate is derived from the OpenStreetMap coastline, about 0.7 nm off the northwest beach, and is not surveyed.
Best for
Bar-free alternative to the San Blas estuary
Season
Nov–May; rolly in SW swell
Nearby
- Las Islitas Surf (Matanchén)0.7 NM away
- Matanchén Bay Beach Landing (Las Islitas Palapas)0.7 NM away
- Mysis III (Playa Las Islitas)0.7 NM away
- Muelle de Matanchén1 NM away
- La Tovara Jungle River Tour (San Blas)1.2 NM away
- Restaurante Playa Bonita (Playa El Borrego)2.6 NM away
- Playa El Borrego (San Blas)2.7 NM away
- Coco Loco Beach Bar (San Blas)2.8 NM away