PHOTOS—>>>. https://photos.app.goo.gl/YgowsNkzyKtVdRtR8

Exploring Espiritu de Santo

We left the La Paz anchorage with the intention of spending the time between  Christmas and New Year off exploring the famed Espiritu Santo.

When leaving the anchorage and heading out there is a bit of a process….We needed an out going tide or a slack tide. Even then it takes a good hour to get down the shallow Chanel. Also we had to be mindful that every day the winds pick up by noon and it’s best to be anchored by then. Therefore we, again chose to anchor in Fals Bay for the night.  

Off to Bonanza Bay

Our destination the next morning was Bonanza Bay of Espiritu Santo. This bay is also called Two Mile beach for obvious reasons as it is 2 miles long. This bay is also found on the windward side of Espiritu Santo Island and as the weather was predicted to be calm for a week we took advantage of it. 

All along the shoreline of Espiritu Santo we were both impressed with the scenery little did we know what lay ahead.

Situated off the coast of La Paz and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005 plus a National Park since 2007, Espiritu de Santo, is the Island of the Holy Spirit. The island is reputedly set apart by its astounding beauty. 

“Holy Spirit is a fitting name for a place that leaves visitors feeling exalted and renewed by the island’s magical mix of solitude, sun, sand and saltwater.”

We dropped anchor off the beach and were the only sailboat there. The beach ahead of us was amazing! 

Bonanza Bay aka 2 Mile Bay

It is renowned for its natural beauty, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and white sand, and is a popular stop for tour boats from La Paz so we were lucky to have it to ourselves.

We started exploring the beach by landing in what looked like the middle of the beach and walking a stretch.

Then walking inland where there appeared to be salt flats or drainage from past rains.

I spied what was left of a cockpit of a boat washed up way inland. This was probably from the last hurricane the previous year.

The highlands behind the beach were remarkable with all their rock formations and different colouring. It was really like being where the dessert meets the sea.

Back in the dinghy we headed towards the far end of the beach. After landing the dinghy we again walked the beach and the rocky peninsular.

John scaled the slope behind us

I walked to the end intrigued by the fossils in the rocks plus all the differing shades and types of rocks. The were also plenty of shells to find along with other interesting drift.

Another amazing sight were the schools of fish in the clean turquoise water. The sea was just thick with fish.

We could have spent a week just exploring this beach, but being the inward shore we needed to head out.

So after 2 days we were off again heading towards the top of the island.

The scenery was spectacular! I was captivated and sat on the side looking out snapping too many shots.

Espíritu Santo’s striking geology is a testament to millions of years of volcanic eruptions and tectonic plate movements that shaped the Gulf of California and the Baja Peninsula. 

Bahia El Portico/Partida – Back Door

Our stop that day was Bahia El Portico/Partida/Backdoor.

This bay is lined by steep cliffs on both sides which are remarkable. there are so many formations and differing rocks types. Some say it’s like anchoring in the Grand Canyon. 

At the end of the bay there is a cannel that leads between Espiritu Santo and its neighbor Isle Partida. This cannel becomes very shallow and is only good for dinghies, and that’s at high tide. They call it Sandbar Pass. 

On our first day we set off to dinghy along the shoreline. We both find the landscape incredible. Right along one shore we cruised and then back down looking at the rock formations. 

Next we headed towards the Sandbar Pass. It was quite shallow but fine for a dinghy. Passing a shrine set there in honor of lost fishermen.

Rounding the corner we could see the fishing camp plus the massive sandbars stretch for ages ahead.

We beached the dinghy and enjoyed a walk along the sandbar plus a small section of shoreline.

Again, the scenery, the blue, blue sky and turquoise waters were magnificent.

los Isotes

Off again, we headed to the north of Isla Partida where we had red there were seals to see on the Los Isotes Isles.

los Isotes refers to a couple of isles off the northern end of Isla Partida where a colony of seals and sea lions live. These isles are very protected and can only be approached by approved tour boats and by park pass holders.

We passed at a distance while circling La Partida. However we could see the seals and sea lions on the rocks and in the water. Some appeared to be playing, while others sunning themselves on the rocks.

Ensenada Grande

Our stop that day was Ensenada Grande an absolutely amazing bay. Both sides of the bay have steep cliff faces with boulders and rocks of multiple colours and differing degrees of erosion. 

We soon set off to explore this bay by going in the dinghy along both sides.

Both of us are always amazed by the rock formations.  Again the colours of the rocks, the sky and the sea painted  amazing views for us. 

The bay shallows out quite a ways from the beach so you have to approach carefully then pull the dinghy ashore. 

We set off walking the beach from end to end I enjoyed looking for shells and whatever else was about.

At the head of the bay there were mangroves. Having read there was a pathway along the side of the mangroves we set off to have a look.

There was indeed a pathway which we followed for a while enjoying the scenery and the incredible rock formations.

Back at the beach we set off back to Aeeshah, promising to return and walk the full path another day.

Fals Bay

Christmas was just a few days away, which meant we needed to return to La Paz for supplies and gifts for each other. Fals Bay was our stop after leaving Ensenada Grande. The passage took about 6 hours as it was about 30 miles. And to get into La Paz we need an ingoing tide as when the tide is going down there is a very strong current rushing out of La Paz anchorage.

La Paz 

So the following morning found us heading into La Paz.

Over the next 2 days we ate ashore each day, hit the big grocery stores,

walked the streets looking for gifts and made sure we were ready for Christmas on Aeeshah.

“If you wish to know the divine, feel the wind on your face and the warm sun on your hand.” Budda