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Mexico Cruising Update from South of the Border

There have always been plenty of reasons for heading south to Mexico in the winter. It’s warmer and sunnier, and world cruisers always report that the Mexican cruising community and Mexican people make it the best cruising grounds in the world. Still, the 2020/21 season is causing some people to hesitate. We’ve been staying in touch with folks in Mexico and, at present, can report that cruising to Mexico sounds as reasonable as ever. That’s not to say there aren’t any impacts from COVID-19, but most of them are currently manageable.

We spoke with Pablo Fernandez of Marina Vallarta, also vice president of the Mexico Marina Association. Pablo, association president Neil Shroyer of Marina de La Paz, and Fito Espinosa of Marina Coral in Ensenada have all been working with their local municipalities to mitigate the risks associated with the pandemic. The data from the coast appears they’ve been very successful. Like everywhere, lots of responsibility lies with individual behavior, but they’re doing all they can.

Pablo Fernandez marina Vallarta
Harbormaster Pablo Fernandez of Marina Vallarta is working with harbormasters up and down the coast to create smooth sailing for cruisers in Mexico.
© 2020 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John

Pablo reports the trends are good in Mexico. In the city of Puerto Vallarta the recent count is 2981 cases with 31 deaths and only 28% of the hospitals’ capacities utilized. The border is open to cruisers, boats can cruise between ports, and the beaches are now open.

The details of what is allowed can sometimes be confusing. Recreational boating has been restricted, but that ruling refers to people who live in Mexico and are planning to use their boat for the day. Cruisers living aboard their boats are not included in the category of recreational boaters. Pablo also reports that there are boat guest limits, but that these do not include working crew. So families, or multiple people sailing with you as crew, do not count toward the number of guests that would otherwise be allowed to sail with you for a day.

Paradise Village Marina
Dick Markie and the crew from Paradise Village Marina are looking forward to welcoming cruisers for the upcoming season.
© 2020 Latitude 38 Media LLC / John

We all know that whatever is being reported now could change tomorrow. Cruisers, understandably, say they are cautious. Though some are more anxious than ever to head south, many plan to spend more time cruising Southern California while they wait to see how things unfold.

An online survey that we published a few weeks ago received 27 responses. (You can add your input here.) The survey indicated the largest number of folks, 27%, can’t wait to go and are heading south. Another 20% are going to head to Southern California and see how the news unfolds, and 15% are planning to postpone for a year. Others are returning to boats already in Mexico, and the rest have a variety of contingency plans.

Comments ranged from “Living aboard this summer in San Jose del Cabo. Most everything is open, although I’m avoiding everything except the grocery stores. The locals are eager to have the tourists (they need the work), and I plan on enjoying the Costa Alegre portion of mainland Mexico during the cruising season coming up” to “We won’t leave until February and [will] just do the Sea of Cortez” to “We postponed our Mexico and Ha-Ha plans. Just not as fun to be internationally traveling during a pandemic. Going to go up and down the Cali coast instead.”

At anchor in Yelapa, Mexico
No matter when you go to Mexico, you will be assured of an abundance of beautiful places to visit.
© 2020 Monica Grant

As we have all learned this year, the future can be uncertain, but we’re also quite sure that the areas frequented by Mexico cruisers will be as safe as just about any place in the US. If you’re planning on spending extra time in Southern California while you decide what to do, make sure you read Mike Pyzel’s story in our August issue. If you plan on spending extra time in San Diego, make sure to call in advance for guest slips as marinas report being near full occupancy.

It’s not as easy as it was in the past to simply up-anchor and head south at a moment’s notice, but the reasons to go are as compelling as ever. Right now the cruising grounds are open, the COVID case numbers are low, and you will have plenty of company while heading south. It will be different, but it appears the pandemic is something that can be successfully navigated at home or in Mexico.

1 Comment

  1. Elinore Craig 4 years ago

    Here is a detailed description of life on the ground in the Bahia de Banderas which straddles two states. We are living aboard s/v Nakamal in Marina La Cruz, which is north of Marina Vallarta and Paradise Village. Here we may fly into Puerta Vallarta, Jalisco (where Marina Vallarta is) but our marina is in the state of Nayarit. Beaches are open in Jalisco – but not in Nayarit. So here you can go to a beach restaurant for a wonderful pescado zarandeado, but the large family gatherings, beach volleyball, etc. are still not allowed.

    Another local difference we’ve had to deal with is “ley seca”, dry laws forbidding alcohol sales. The logic is that drinking leads to gatherings, gatherings lead to disease spread. Nayarit’s governor is more inclined to call ley seca around national holidays than Jalisco’s so knowing to stock up before it happens, or arranging a trip to the Costco in Jalisco is part of the pandemic life we’ve learned to deal with.

    Since the restart, we have been going out to many different restaurants. Upscale eateries are following protocols to a “t”. You are likely to be greeted at the door, handed a facemask if you don’t have one, your temperature scanned, and you are asked to hold out your hands for a shot of sanitizer. The same procedure is followed at the large, upscale shopping locales including grocery stores. Very few restaurants here are completely enclosed with a/c. We choose open-air seating, another minor change from our usual summer lifestyle here.

    At the lower end, your favorite local taqueria or street vendor…no temp checks, and there is hand sanitizer available should you want to use it. Ditto local tiendas (neighborhood grocery stores).

    Tracking Covid numbers here is a crapshoot. For example, I am acquainted with an expat couple who were diagnosed based on symptoms and CAT scan but never had a Covid test so aren’t in the official count (they both recovered at home). Hospitals may report operating at 28% full but that is based on total capacity; local Covid wards were reported as full a few weeks ago. So much like in the US, use the numbers to track trends but be aware that the actual spread of the virus is much wider.

    Probably the biggest change in our summer lifestyle has been not taking the local busses. The combis/colectivos are a marvelous public transport system, but physical spacing is impossible on them. We have been walking, using taxis, sometimesUber, and relying on the kindness of our car-owning friends. I think we will soon start using the larger busses for short trips as they are required to run with reduced capacity and open windows.

    Sorry to be a bit long-winded and I hope the major takeaway is that life here is extremely manageable, and the people continue to be friendly, welcoming, and grateful for your support.

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