Barra de Navidad 2026 Cruise-In Week and Fiesta de Veleros Soon!

The 2026 Barra de Navidad Cruise-In Week starts on Friday, February 6, and continues until Sunday, February 15. (It’s closer than you think!) Pat McIntosh sent us the following information.

If you want to berth in the marina and get the discount, you need to start early and complete two things by Friday, January 6:

1/ Register with us at [email protected].

2/ Register online with the harbormaster’s office at the marina.

If you don’t snag a slip or would rather save the money for other fun things, the lagoon at Barra is a great place to kick back and relax. Last year there were close to 100 boats anchored and enjoying the “neighborhood” and each other. The water taxi is your Uber, or just dinghy in and tie up at the Sands dinghy wall for free. You can get your provisions and enjoy Barra for the day, and as you head back to your boat you can have a swim in the pool, get a beer or whatever at the Sands Hotel bar, and relax after a tough day in BARRADISE!

Here’s part of the (extended) week’s activities:

• Friday, February 6 — Informal reunions with fellow sailors you’ve met in Mexico, on the Baja Ha Ha, buddy-boating either up in the Sea of Cortez or along the coast of Mexico, or swimming in Tenacatita.
• Saturday, Feb. 7 — Grand Reception: Meet & Greet, details, Q&A, swag bags etc., and a fun night. Most sailing on Sunday the 8th is being interrupted for land activities around the Super Bowl. Several bars and restaurants in Barra are setting up special viewing and “tailgating” for the day. But it could be a good day to try out the afternoon winds if you’re planning on racing in Friday’s Flamingo Regatta.
• The rest of the week will include fundraising sailboat rides and Volunteer Work Days at a turtle nesting reserve and at schools. This year we are sponsoring a special Nautical History Event highlighting Barra de Navidad’s involvement in opening trade routes on the Pacific Ocean in the early 1500s.
• The annual Flamingo Regatta takes place on Friday, February 13. There are great viewing sites along the shore, with all the loot from the betting going to the schools and children-related learning/educational activities around Barra.
• Saturday, February 14, is Valentine’s Day, with special dinners, music and dancing venues that have planned a memorable evening in Barra for our visiting captains and the admirals.
• Sunday, February 15, brings the 10th Annual Barra de Navidad Mexican Fiesta in the town square. This Fiesta includes everything from dancing horses to traditional folkloric dancing, great food, Mexican silent auction, and the best-tasting churros or margaritas you will find in all of Mexico. Money raised goes to the kids’ education.
• The Santana tribute band is back again.
• We are working with Bart Goodell of the Vallarta Yacht Club to offer courtesy cruises to some students and teachers in the days following Cruise-In Week. If you are interested in participating in this activity, with your boat or as a bilingual assistant, or in any other way, please contact us either online or at the daily net check-in.

This annual cruise-in festivities raise funds for the region’s local schools. The 2025 Cruise-In week raised 80,800 pesos [approximately $4,500 US] gifted to seven recipients, with the funds being used for everything from facilities to equipment, software, student lunches and more.

For more information or updates on details contact: [email protected].