Marina Costa Baja

Well, we are here at Costa Baja Marina in La Paz, B.C.S. We arrived on Monday after a short motor down from Caleta-Partida. There are certainly a lot more boats here each year and many are big power boats. Caleta-Partida is starting to feel and sound more like the anchorage at Avalon than the quiet Mexican anchorages we used to have! We had been worrying about our steering chain/cable and upon inspection, we found that replacement would be a very good idea. While the assembly seems quite simple, searching around La Paz for the parts and pieces proved not to be simple. Fortunately, for the right price, a new assembly can be shipped in via FedEx, and so it is now on the way. Steering out on the Pacific seems to be something we would like to maintain!

Costa Baja is a very nice resort, and it is enjoyable here. There are many restaurants, shops, pools, and beautiful landscaping. Unfortunately, there is no jacuzzi, which would feel great. We do get internet on the boat and that is something that allows us to make phone calls and follow along with e-mails and news.


We are beginning to move toward our final checkout from Mexico. One of the procedures is to get your "Zarpe". It is a document that proves that we left Mexico legally, and the officials in French Polynesia will require it. We have learned that in the La Paz district, a health inspection of the boat is also required but that has to be completed within 6 days of our departure. After getting the health inspection, we will have the immigration office stamp our passports, and the Port Captain will approve and sign our Zarpe. We are hoping that the Zarpe will allow us to make short stops in Bahia los Frailes and Cabo San Lucas on our way out without the need for any more paperwork. Los Frailes makes a nice anchorage half way to Cabo San Lucas, and we would like to get last-minute fruits, veggies, and fuel in Cabo San Lucas. We won't stay in Cabo very long though, as the anchorage is terribly rolly and the marina is $125/night or more!

The weather here is great with highs in the low 80's and nights in the low 50's.