Bahia de los Angeles: A Bay Less Paddled

December 1997 - January 1998

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Florin Botezatu

Located on the eastern coast of the Baja California peninsula, midway between the US border and La Paz on the the Sea of Cortez, is a tiny fishing village called Bahia De Los Angeles (the Bay of Angels).

I have been frequenting Bahia De Los Angeles for the last six years and from a sea kayaking point of view this place is a true paradise. Just by looking at a map of the Baja peninsula you can see over a dozen islands clustered in this bay. Offering unexposed crossings, you can easily spend a week kayaking between these islands and never be more than four miles from land.

 

What makes Bahia De Los Angeles even more special is that it's off the beaten tourist path. Although it has a paved landing strip, there are no commercial airlines here so the place is left for fishermen, kayakers and sailors.

This area is one of the most nutrient rich marine environments on the coast. Nearby islands block the tidal flow, causing upwelling and mixing of the nutrient-rich sea floor. The result is a perfect ecological chain of sea life. The seascape is alive with over fifty species of sea birds and saturated with thousands of crustaceans, fish, dolphins and a dozen species of whales.

The beauty of the sea is only surpassed by the rich desert. Over sixty species of cactus are endemic, including Giant Cardon and Barrel cactus, Elephant and Boojum trees. Hiking in the nearby mountains reward you with breathtaking views of the bay and islands.

The village of Bahia De Los Angeles offers plenty of basic food supplies, water, fuel, and lodging. Besides camping you also have a few hotel choices including the brand new Costa Del Sol with clean rooms and even air conditioning.

Baja travel conditions have improved in the recent years. The road has been repaired and is in good driving condition. Fuel is available and even government sponsored mechanics patrol the road to offer assistance to travelers.

Getting to Bahia De Los Angeles is easy and straightforward. You can rent a car from San Diego or you can drive your own. (Or adventure outfitters like me offer round-trip van transportation from San Diego). This allows you to travel through the magnificent desert and experience Baja first hand.

The weather in the area is largely cloudless, with little or no rain (2"-12"/year). February to May is the best time for kayaking, when whales, dolphins, birds and other marine life are frequently seen. Daytime temperatures are 70° F to 80° F. Night can reach the low 50's. Water temperatures are around 65° F in March, in the 70's F in April.

In short, Bahia De Los Angeles offers an ideal warm weather expedition for those wishing to sample a complete sea kayaking adventure in a prime location, and avoid the crowds.

Florin Botezatu, lead guide for Miramar Adventures, has over seventeen years of outdoor adventure experience in sea kayaking, rock climbing, and trekking and has lead expeditions throughout Europe, Baja-Mexico and the U.S. He has extensive sea kayaking experience in the Sea of Cortez, Pacific Northwest, Mediterranean and the Black Sea. E-mail: florin@wolfenet.com.