Anchorage· Isla Espíritu Santo· Mexico
Ensenada La Gallina (Isla Espíritu Santo)
24° 27.4′ N · 110° 21.9′ W · approximate
The southernmost of the three lobes of 'Puerto Ballena' on Espíritu Santo's west coast, a narrow east-running inlet tucked behind tiny La Gallina islet - quieter than its busier neighbours El Gallo and La Ballena.
Practical
Coordinate is approximate: read off the georeferenced zoning map (page 9) of the CONANP Espíritu Santo park rules compendium hosted by Club Cruceros; the same method reproduces the verified positions of Los Islotes and Isla Gallo to within about 100-200 m. Water point mid-inlet; the detailed artificial-reef map (page 23) of the same compendium agrees within about 150 m. Baja by Sea groups Ensenada de la Raza (north), Ensenada el Gallo (centre) and Ensenada La Gallina with Isla Gallo and Isla Gallina (south) as the three-lobed Puerto Ballena. No published depths or anchor fix were found - enter slowly and anchor only on clear sand (park rules ban anchoring on rock or coral). Like the other west-side bays it gives shelter from N and E and is a Coromuel (south-wind) shelter per The Log, but it is open to the west. La Gallina and El Empachado offshore are traditional hook-and-line fishing polygons where small-boat anchorage is allowed but large-boat anchorage is not; the Fang Ming and C-59 artificial-reef wrecks lie just south off El Empachado - watch for dive boats. 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
Quiet west-side lunch stop or settled-weather night
Season
Nov-May; open to W
Nearby
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).