Anchorage· Isla Espíritu Santo· Mexico
Bahía San Gabriel (Isla Espíritu Santo)
24° 25.7′ N · 110° 21.7′ W
A wide, shallow, mile-across bay at the south-west end of Espíritu Santo with a long white beach, a mangrove lagoon, frigatebirds and the ruins of the world's first commercial pearl-oyster farm.
Practical
Position: anchor fix logged by s/v Geoff Schultz in May 2011 (24°25.728'N 110°21.708'W), 20 ft over sand. IMPORTANT: Club Cruceros (park rules page) says the entire bay is now closed to anchoring, and a 2022 cruiser was told sailboats may not anchor because it is reserved for pangas - visit by dinghy from Bonanza or a day stop, or view it from the trail from Bonanza. Much of the bay is shoal, so boats are only partly sheltered by the points; the 2011 boat saw 1-2 ft chop inside in a 20-30 kn norther. Dark patches are live coral - do not anchor on them; good coral and fish on the NW point. Not a Coromuel refuge (The Log lists every west-side bay except San Gabriel as south-wind shelter). 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
Dinghy visit to the pearl-farm ruins and lagoon
Nearby
- San Gabriel Pearl Farm Ruins0.4 NM away
- Bahía San Gabriel Lagoon and Frigatebird Rookery0.8 NM away
- Ensenada de la Dispensa (Espíritu Santo South End)1.1 NM away
- Fang Ming Wreck1.4 NM away
- Ensenada La Gallina (Isla Espíritu Santo)1.7 NM away
- Bonanza to San Gabriel Trail2.1 NM away
- Playa Ayala (Espíritu Santo South Shore)2.1 NM away
- Caleta El Gallo2.4 NM away