Click images to see more on each area. Mexico Maps shows the geographical layout.

Late March, 2011 - We left the wildness of Chamela Bay's island anchorage and rounded Cabo

Corrientes to the north, landing in La Cruz, a sailing oriented gringo community on the outskirts of the

big city of Puerto Vallarta. We discovered indigenous Huichol bead and yarn art and spent a rollicking

afternoon with a group of Mexicans over a meal and beers in their dusty, scrubby back yard.

Early April, 2011 - Continuing north from La Cruz, we saw a phenomenal whale display before

stopping at San Blas. Church and fort ruins on a hill and more church ruins in town lent some

imagery to Longfellow's poem The Bells of San Blas. The theft of a friend's outboard motor right off

his boat in our anchorage put a quick end to San Blas for us and we ventured further north to Isla

Isabel where throngs of frigate birds, boobies and their chicks awaited our arrival.

Early April, 2011 - An overnight passage to Mazatlan found us dodging long-line fishing nets in the

morning, starting our visit to Mazatlan on the wrong foot. A pretty anchorage with an easy beach

landing improved our outlook, but this troubled city is not a great place to visit. Quickly crossing the

Sea of Cortez to the pretty waters of Los Muertos Bay at the bottom of the Baja peninsula restored

our spirits immediately.

Early December, 2011 - After mingling with the rich and famous in the La Paz area for a special

birthday bash, we crossed the Sea of Cortez to La Cruz and finally settled in Paradise Village Resort

Marina for a few days. Luxurious, beautiful and relaxing, this was a perfect early Christmas present

to ourselves.