Ensenada Ballena (Isla Espíritu Santo) - BCS, Mexico
Ensenada Ballena (Isla Espíritu Santo) (24°29′N 110°23′W), BCS, Mexico, is an anchorage with cell coverage onshore only and working Starlink, surveyed first-hand from SV Ursa across 1 visit (4 nights at anchor). Ursa anchored in 5–5.3 m of water.
Location
Cell onshore onlyStarlink
Cell: You can catch a few bars if you go up onto the peaks around the bay, you don't need to go that high, but its spotty at best. There is also a patch of sea just north of Isla Ballena which gets 4g - I'm guessing from some antenna on the highway.
About this Anchorage
Ensenada Ballena has a white sandy beach, a nice set of hiking possibilities, easy access to snorkeling at nearby Isla Ballena, but can be a little rolly and has little to no southerly protection.
This is one of my favorite anchorages in Espiritu Santo because its so picturesque and relatively quiet, but it's really a fair weather anchorage only, the southerly land breeze at night can make it a big choppy as swell rolls right in from the south, and in northerly the point isn't sharp enough to deflect the waves out of the bay.
That said, in good weather its a great spot, you can hike up the arroyo, or take a hike along an unmarked almost-trail oonto the nearby peaks for some great views of ensenada candeleros, and the rest of the island.
Anchoring Notes
Drop the hook over white sand in 15-20 ft, it shoals towards the beach, so you'll be further out than you probably would like to be.
Quick Answers
- Where is Ensenada Ballena (Isla Espíritu Santo)?
- Ensenada Ballena (Isla Espíritu Santo) is at 24°29′N 110°23′W in BCS, Mexico.
- Is there cell service at Ensenada Ballena (Isla Espíritu Santo)?
- Ensenada Ballena (Isla Espíritu Santo) has cell coverage onshore only, but Starlink works here.
- Does Starlink work at Ensenada Ballena (Isla Espíritu Santo)?
- Yes — SV Ursa used Starlink at Ensenada Ballena (Isla Espíritu Santo).
- How deep is the anchorage at Ensenada Ballena (Isla Espíritu Santo)?
- SV Ursa anchored in 5–5.3 m at Ensenada Ballena (Isla Espíritu Santo).
Ursa Measured Here
200 reports at anchor · 4 nights across 1 visit — all values measured aboard SV Ursa
- Wind at anchor
- 7 kn max
- Pressure seen
- 1007 mbar – 1007 mbar
- Water temperature
- 30.5 °C – 30.6 °C
- Depth under keel sensor
- 5 – 5.3 m
Visits
- 7 Jul 2022 · 4 nights
Weather
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Tide
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