With no urgency for the four hour trip to Puerto Escondido, we had a leisurely breakfast before leaving Agua Verde. We took lots of photographs as we headed out of the bay and past the Solitary Rock. With wonderfully calm and warm conditions, we were again motoring along the coast and as we motored the area became more interesting. Lots of small Islands and coves line the main shore which gives the area the feel of a resort. Heading into the Los Candeleros reef we passed the White Rock, yet another pinnacle covered in Guano but an active area for fishing, especially along the outer edges of the reef that surrounds the rock. We did see a number of Pangas fishing in this area. After navigating the reef (the nautical charts say “No Passage”) we turned northwest to our destination, Puerto Escondido.
Puerto Escondido is a landlocked bay and the only real Hurricane Hole in the Baja. After passing through the narrow passage into the inner harbor we picked out a suitable mooring. This caused us a problem as there was no float line to hook onto, just the ring on the top of the mooring buoy. The mooring line was hanging down under the rather large weed covered ball and the boat hook proved useless in snaring this line. What we really needed was a long fish gaff to get to the mooring line under the ball. We eventually used a dock line which we looped over the ball and then pushed down under the ball with the boat pole to snare the lower chain on the mooring to hold our position. Of course, because of the plentiful growth on the ball, this could lead to chafe. This is Mexico and you do not know how well these moorings and mooring lines are maintained. The one on our mooring, while heavy duty, did not look too healthy. Finally, after getting the mooring line aboard Hilbre, I also used a spare length of anchor rode which I shackled to the ring on the top of the ball just as an extra precaution. You can anchor here in the lagoon but they do not encourage it even though they charge the same daily rate as using a mooring. The area is very pretty with the mountains; it just lacks lush tropical vegetation to make it complete. It does have good showers, a nice restaurant, a small store, a great book exchange and a pool/hot tub. Being 14 miles from the nearest town is something of a hindrance as you are left either using a taxi, which is about $35 each way or hitching a ride from someone with a car. At least it was nice to be hooked up to something that at least feels secure so that you can sleep at night.
We have tried the restaurant and had a very fine meal of shrimp with Margaritas which were well endowed with alcohol so we were quite happy by the time we returned to the boat. We do have intermittent Internet access and plan on staying in this location for about two weeks while we explore Loreto and the area around Escondido. The area is quite charming with all of the islands and anchorages and it would be easy to spend lots of time exploring all of the sea life and anchorages.

We have now covered 1,265 Nautical miles or 1,468 land miles since leaving San Pedro.