Ensenada Candeleros (Isla Espíritu Santo) - BCS, Mexico

One of the most popular anchorages on Isla Espíritu Santo, this wide bay with white sandy beaches, and a rock pillar is a beautiful location to spend some quality time at anchor. It is very well protected from the northerly weather, you can snug right up to the wall in the north, and there is also some protection behind the islet itself too.

From the south you can get protection from the south wall, and the swell in the north side of the bay is usually not too roly either.

It is wide open from westerly weather, and evening coromuels can be quite uncomfortable here if the wind does pick up.

Ashore there is a short hike up an arroyo to some caves which used to be home to the aboriginal population. There is also a rock called the sofa, which as the name suggests looks like a big sofa, which over looks the bay.

Snorkeling around the islet is excellent, there are a couple of mooring balls you can attach your dinghy to, or you can of course just swim over from the big boat.

It can get busy here at weekends and peak times, but its a huge anchorage and you can move further south if you want a bit of respite from the music and noise.

If it looks a bit overrun when you arrive, there are numerous good options for a more quite locaiton all within easy dinghy ride of this bay, including Isla Ballena, Ensenada Ballena, and El Mezteno

We normally anchor in about 15-20ft in the north bay, just inward of the rock islet. In bad northerly weather we'll snug a bit closer to the wall in the north, but be advised the wind tends to funnel down the arroyo, so you are usually better going deeper in to the bay given the choice.

In calmer weather or when we just want to avoid a big crowd, anchor in the southerly part in 15-25ft over sand.