Bahia de Los Angeles - human settlement in Mexico

Bahía de los Ángeles ("Bay of Angels") is a coastal bay on the Sea of Cortez along the eastern shore of the Baja California peninsula in the state of Baja California, Mexico. The town of the same name is at the east end of Federal Highway 12 about 68 km (42 miles) from the Parador Punta Prieta junction on Federal Highway 1.

This small town is headquarters for access to the many islands of this part of the northern Gulf of California, and noteworthy for the World Heritage Site designation by the United Nations.

Get in

By boat

During high season most people get here via private yacht or fishing boat. If you are yachting up and down the Sea of Cortez, Bahia de LA is an obvious place to stop and get off. You can get a cold beer, hot food and the mooring is good.

By car

The road from Highway 1 is good and is the other way to get in. It is a long trek in from Highway 1 though and there's really no trail there so not so many people do. The road is mostly used by trucks that bring in supplies to the yachters and fishermen.

By plane

• Bahía de los Ángeles Airport (IATA: BHL), 28.977222°, -113.560556°. A paved airstrip that handles general aviation services. There are several other primitive airstrips in the area. Like most primitive airstrips in remote areas of Mexico—extreme discretion is advised. Even local planes that are not carrying contraband may be armed and suspicious as protection against those who are (and the equally dangerous Federales).

Get around

Most restaurants, hotels and food stores are on the unnamed, 1-mile long main street that runs north-south along the Bay. Walking is one way for getting around Bahia, as there are no taxis or public buses.

There are two gas stations (Pemex) at the entrance of town. The next nearest gas station (to the north) is in the town of El Rosario, some 292 km north along Federal Highway 1.

See

Misión San Francisco Borja: The construction of buildings was begun in 1759. A stone church was completed during the Dominican period, in 1801.

There are two colonies of the California sea lion population, one on Isla Calavera near Isla Coronado known locally as "Smith Island", and Isla El Racito, within Ensenada El Alacran. The bay is also famous for its whale sharks with 20 to 30 visiting the area each summer.

25-30 km west of town are the prehistoric rock paintings of Montevideo, part of the Great Mural region considered to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Baja California. Known as Pinturas Rupestres de Valle Montevideo, they are estimated by some to be 10,000 years old.

Do

Bahia de Los Angeles is popular for activities such as kayaking, wind surfing, and tourism in addition to being a sports fisherman's paradise. Bahia is famous for its sport fishing. Sport fish from this region include Yellowtail (Jurel), Seabass (Cabrilla), Snapper (Pargo), Grouper, Sierra, Bonito and the occasional Dorado. Non-sport fish like Trigger, Barracuda and various others exist in abundance.

Hike 4.5 km in the mountains and see an old mine that is awesome

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

• Villa Vita
• Guillermos
• Casa Diaz

Camping: Sleep somewhere with walls and preferably with air conditioning. During various times of the year Westies (hot dry westerly winds) come boiling off the desert plateau and sweep across the town. 46°C (115°F) temperature with 130 km/h (80 mph) winds and 1% humidity at 03:00 is something everyone should experience... once.

• Villa Bahia Hotel, La Gringa Road (Go north on La Gringa road). 11 rooms, on beach most rooms have kitchens, all have Wi-Fi, AC, 24-hour electric, pet friendly, barbecues, free use of kayaks with room rental. US$60-95

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