Balandra (La Paz) - BCS, Mexico

Balandra is one of the most beautiful anchorages in Baja California. Sadly for the cruiser, it is not the most protected anchorage around, but with great hiking, a wonderful lagoon, mushroom rock tower, mangroves, and on occasion, a taco stand, it's absolutely worth the effort.

The main issue with Balandra is that it is open to both northerly swells, and westerly corumuel, which can make it pretty roly. The best time to visit is generally in the summer months when the weather is more from the south.

Once you are there though, it's an absolute treat, if you have a kayak, enjoy the paddle through the lagoon and mangroves. It's deep enough you can dinghy round there too.

Ashore, on the north side there's a bunch of hiking trails that will take you all over the coast towards tecelote beach, and there are additional trails from the road along the south side right over to Bahia Lobos and Pichelingue.

The water here is super shallow further in the bay which makes for nice swimming and paddling.

At the south end, there's good snorkeling around the reefs, as well as in the bay itself.

We favor the southern side, either in the western lobe - watch out for the reef which extends out to the isolated danger mark. We snug up as close to the cliffs as we can, which gives reasonable protection from corumuels, and excellent protection for southerly winds which can whip up at night.

We also like to anchor to the east of that lobe west of the reef which extends from the southern cliffs, however this is now technically off limits to most boats.

If we're there for a day trip, we tend to anchor off the north wall in 15ft over sand not far from the mushroom rock, this gives better protection from the afternoon thermals, and is handy for trips ashore. There isn't much protection from northerly swell, you can tuck in right in at the northwest of the lobe in the north of the bay, but the swell will wrap around.

If its rolly we either move to Lobos, but if its not severe you can also just set a stern anchor.

You can also anchor anywhere in the middle of the bay in calm conditions, just watch your depth as you get further in it shoals rapidly from about a line between the mushroom rock and the reef.