Anchorage· Isla Ángel de la Guarda· Mexico
Puerto Refugio (Isla Ángel de la Guarda)
29° 32.7′ N · 113° 32.8′ W
A remote, island-guarded harbor at the northern tip of Ángel de la Guarda with five anchorages, pebble beaches, superb fishing and a sea lion colony — the traditional end of the normal cruising grounds.
Practical
Five anchorages: in the West Bay the popular NW nook and a more open area on the SE side; the main bay has three bights (the western one has more rock). Good holding; one 2024 crew anchored in about 20 ft close to Isla Mejía. Tides commonly run 10-12 ft. Approach: Roca Vela, about 2 nm SW of the channel, is the guano-whitened signpost; a hard-to-see reef lies two-thirds of the way between Roca Vela and the south headland — most round Roca Vela to the north. Natural range: keep Piedra Blanca in the gap between Isla División and the peninsula; after the headlands come to about 040°T. Never cut through the gap south of Isla División. No services. Bugs can be bad. Storm caution: in Hurricane Marty (September 2003) Puerto Refugio 'didn't live up to its name' — two of the five cruising boats anchored there were driven ashore (one lost) and the other three were damaged by 8-ft waves (Carolyn Shearlock's report, reproduced by Club Cruceros). It is the end of the normal cruising grounds, about 40 miles north of the BLA village — run for Puerto Don Juan instead if a tropical system is forecast.
Best for
The wild northern finale of a Bahía de los Ángeles summer
Nearby
- Isla Mejía Lookout and Shrine (Refugio)1.4 NM away
- Isla Granito Sea Lion Colony (Refugio)1.5 NM away
- Canal de Ballenas Fin Whales17.7 NM away
- Ensenada Alcatraz Anchorage (North of La Gringa)23.3 NM away
- Volcán Coronado Hike (Isla Smith)27.4 NM away
- Isla Mitlán Anchorage (Isla Coronado / Isla Smith)28.5 NM away
- Large Tides of the Upper Gulf28.7 NM away
- Isla Mitlán Channel Snorkel28.8 NM away