Magdalena Bay

Bahia Magdalena (also called Magdalena Bay, or Mag Bay for short) is an important refuge for long-range boaters who are cruising up or down the rugged Pacific Coast of Baja California.Mag Bay lies about three-quarters of the way down the Baja California peninsula. The seaward entrance lies 245 miles south of Bahia Tortugas and 160 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, making Mag Bay the primary stopover on this long stretch of coast. It’s a place to spend the night in case of bad weather or an onboard emergency — and it’s a spot where you can obtain diesel fuel, at Puerto San Carlos, a small commercial port in the north end of the bay. Enclosed by two mountainous barrier islands and one sandbar, Mag Bay and its southern lobe, Bahia Almejas (Clam Bay), measure about 25 miles long and 13 miles wide, with an average depth of only 60 feet. Five anchorages inside the bay and one outside are good options for cruising boaters. Fishing, diving on shipwrecks and beachcombing are popular activities. When you cruise in this area, be sure to have DMA Chart 21121 aboard.