Mexico : Profile

Facts

• The cruising attractions of Mexico are concentrated in two main areas, the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) in Baja California on the west coast, and the Yucatan Peninsula on the east coast.

• For many years the Gulf of California has been the preferred foreign destination of Californian sailors; equally the Yucatan Peninsula and the offlying island of Cozumel for yachts heading south from Florida.

• Less than 400 miles off Mexico's western coast lie the four Islas de Revillagigedo rarely visited from the mainland except by yachts on passage to the Marquesas.

• As the number of yachts visiting Mexico is increasing, so the yachting facilities are improving. All major ports visited by cruising yachts now have a reasonable range of services and most routine repairs can be dealt with locally.

• Fuel is available almost everywhere, although it is wise to filter it, especially where it is pumped from a temporary drum. The port captain in some ports is in charge of fuelling and a permit may be needed from him or customs.

Weather

The climate is often very hot on the coasts, although it is more temperate at higher altitudes and in the north. May to October is the rainy season, and it usually rains in the late afternoon and evening. May is the hottest month. It rarely rains from November to April.

Temperatures on the west coast are generally high most of the year, but north of La Paz it can be cold in December-March.

There tends to be more wind in the Sea of Cortez than along the west coast in October-March due to the effect of high pressures in the USA. There is typically little wind (only land and sea breezes) on along much of the west coast including from Mazatlan to Alcapulco.

On both coasts the hurricane season runs from June to October, while winter brings the occasional norther and, on the east coast, strong trade winds. The best time to cruise is spring and late autumn.

Main Ports

Islas de Revillagigedo *

East coast:  Cancun , Cozumel * , Isla Mujeres * , Progreso , Puerto Aventuras , Puerto Morelos * , Xcalak *

West coast:  Acapulco * , Baha Tortugas (Turtle Bay) , Baja Asuncion , Cabo San Lucas * , Cedros Island * , Ensenada * , Guaymas , Huatulco * , La Paz * , Lazaro Cardenas * , Loreto , Manzanillo * , Mazatlan * , Puerto Angel * , Puerto Escondido * , Puerto Madero * , Puerto Vallarta * , Salina Cruz * , San Blas * , San Carlos , Santa Rosalia * , Zihuatenejo *

*Indicates a port of entry.

Related Reports

Entering Mexico with a Pet (Dog) (11 Feb 2010)

Huatulco: Marina Chahue (30 Jan 2010)

Sea of Cortez - Navigation Warnings (Updated) (16 Dec 2009)

Mexico - Baja California Fuel Contacts - More Information (16 Dec 2009)

Sea of Cortez and western mainland Mexico - Calling all Cruisers (13 Dec 2009)

Porto Morelos, Yucatan (02 Dec 2009)

Mexico to the Line Islands - Expected Weather in December (21 Oct 2009)

Problem Exiting Mexico - Additional Information (28 Jun 2009)

Cruising Mexico (21 May 2009)

Isla Mujeres to Florida Keys and onto Bahamas (21 May 2009)

Spanish for Cruisers - 2nd Edition (30 Nov 2008)

Mexico to Galapagos (11 Jul 2008)

Galapagos to Mexico (24 Jun 2008)

Sea of Cortes - A Cruiser’s Guidebook (05 Jun 2008)

Grenada to Isla Mujeres, Mexico (14 May 2008)

Spanish for Cruisers: Book Review (06 Dec 2007)

Cruising Guide To Belize and Mexico’s Caribbean Coast (23 Nov 2007)

Southbounders Discussion Group (17 Sep 2007)

Question About Gulf of Tehuantepec Winds (02 Mar 2007)

Report on El Cid Marina, Puerto Morelos (05 May 2006)

A Positive Response to Cruising Mexico's Pacific Coast (07 Jan 2003)

New expanded "Cruising Ports: Florida to California via Panama" now published (07 Jan 2003)

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Mexico Embarks On Major Nautical Expansion (11 Dec 2006)

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New US Immigration Requirements (02 Aug 2006)

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