ALCYONE has time to push a bit north of the park, in a landscape dominated by  SIERRA LA TARABILLAS with 5 very attractive anchorages mostly classical between the mainland and both islands SAN FRANCISCO and SAN JOSE;

- ARROYO VERDE, on a mainland, a mineral paradise.

- THE HOOK, the famous caldera on SAN FRANSISCO,

- PUNTA OSTIONES : The largest mangrove in all BAJA, south of ISLA CARMEN,

- SAN EVARISTO, back to mainland, a very isolated village, but always visited by cruisers.

- LAS SALINAS, a ghost place with saltpounds.

North wind push ALCYONE south to LA PARTIDA anchorage before BAHIA FALSA,

a very convenient bay at 11 km from LA PAZ, with internet connection, UBER relative access, and, watching for the tide table, an easy landing +dinghy storage with Salvador,  friendly owner of playa Tesoros

Very closed to the shore, El Cerro EL MECHUDO dominate all the area where scarce unpaved roads challenge 4WD

Arrival in ARROYO VERDE, with green and pink rocks...but not only...

A local "mule deer"is on the place n is very excited by ALCYONE...

...but as soon as we use the dinghy to land on the beach !

...Low tide encourage Helena to investigate the north shore...

...she find this gracious tiny moray eel

The cactus garden behind the beach impress Jean Louis...

...as much as these spinny devils impress our soals...

In a green natural mortar...

or found on the beach...plenty of multicolor stones !

If you follow the trial and turn north side (half an hour) ,  ENE view: behind MECHUDO COVE: PUNTA SALINAS

A pretty calm evening in the cove...

...leaving ideas of further walks...

...but a strong northern arrived: This southward motoring panga save a lot of gas  !

Let's move to SAN FRANSISCO, 6 miles away to get more protection...

...The "venturi" boost the wind near35k

...providing under 3rd reef a short time of excitment n splashes to Marie Ange and Jean Louis...

...before anchoring in "the Hook", the famous bay where ALCYONE join 8 other cruisers...

...n this local fishing boat, dragging with his so tiny anchor...

The Hook is a sandy caldera, offering not only good Northern protection...

... but also a popular short n easy walk giving a bit of height to shot the magical natural curve of the bay

...and an almost 360 degres view, including the mainland,

...n the island SAN FRANSISCO itself...

NW wild pink side...

...south side of the bay ...prettty shallow...

...as its north side, where the yachts are anchored... How to resist to take - like all cruisers - this shot ?

The Northern vanish n let ALCYONE  sail a bit more north to the AMORTAJADA lagoon...

...early visit with the luck of the high tide..,

In this lagoon: the largest mangrove in BAJA; one of the best place to watch birds with the dinghy in slow motion...

...classical birds in unclassical positions...

... Ospreys are very common, but this solitary guy is crazy proud ...n tall....

...and at the north opening of the lagoon: the largest concentration of Pelican ever seen up to now...

We can stay hours watching these bombers fighting in perfect formations...

A light south wind push us in the afternoon toward SAN EVARISTO fishing village in the mainland...

...passing isla COYOTE, the other local inhabited place on a tiny island...

SAN EVARISTO: The best anchorage around...Many cruisers stop here...

...but 4WD vehicules challenge the difficult road to buy fresh yellow tails to local active pangeros..

Collateral damage: This diodon n it is not the only one drying on the beach...

BAJA's NORTH or SOUTH bound  cruisers don't miss this isolated place, sometimes  backpackers too...as today...

.

..giving a bit of work to MAGGY in his small local restaurant...

...but the friendly feeling is really shared... at least this 29th january !

LAS SALINAS: only a few miles away from SAN EVARISTO...

T

he past activity in the salt ponds doesn't show only wrecks...

...but nice drawings on the earth, still preserved...n the Nikon enjoy...

Let's use this strong NORTHERN to return south !

A general rule: Mahi Mahis always bite when the cat is rocketing: this time between 10 n 12 knots (JLD picture)

Yes guys...this is not bad too in France now ! (a thought when cleaning the fish)

Last island anchorage of PARTIDA cove , another safe caldera !

...where, after 2 weeks of training, Jean Louis experiment with charism  the privileges of a good skipper !

Thanks to park regulation, these PARTIDA cove fishers huts are n will remain the only constructions on the island...

Tomorrow we sail to BAHIA FALSA, 11km away from LA PAZ...last anchorage for our happy friends !