Anchorage· Chacala· Mexico
Chacala Anchorage
21° 9.7′ N · 105° 13.7′ W · approximate
A small, seashell-shaped bay backed by jungle, a crescent of sand and a village of palapa restaurants. It's a favorite stop between San Blas and Banderas Bay, with humpbacks often sighted on the way in during winter.
Practical
The bay is fully open to the west and southwest Pacific, so it's rolly. Nearly all boats set a bow and stern anchor to hold the bow into the swell, and one crew found a calmer spot tucked well inside the bay. Anchor a few hundred feet off the beach. Charts in this area have been reported up to 2 miles off GPS (the chart in use dated from a 1910 survey), and rocks have been reported nearby with no definite position, so approach in daylight and keep a lookout. Land the dinghy on the beach and expect surf. The beachfront Playa Bar was reported to offer food, Wi-Fi and showers to cruisers (undated report; verify locally). Coordinate is derived from the OpenStreetMap coastline, about 300 m off the north part of the beach, and is not surveyed.
Best for
Overnight stop with a beach village, between San Blas and Banderas Bay
Season
Nov–May; rolly in W–SW swell