The Crew's Marina Reviews

This page includes our highly unscientific and totally subjective ratings for the Mexican marinas we have visited. 

 

These ratings were last updated in August of 2013, and some of our marina visits were as long ago as November, 2011.  Since our initial posting of some of these reviews we have gained a better sense of the Mexican marina marketplace, and some of these ratings have been adjusted accordingly. 

 

In general, we have found the marinas and marine services in Mexico to be better than we had anticipated.  We hope the following is helpful to anyone planning to cruise in the Gulfo de California or along the Pacific coast of Mexico.

 

 

Mainland Mexico Marinas – south to north:

 

Marina Ixtapa – Overall “B-”

Located:  Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico.  For perspective: on the Pacific coast of Mexico, approximately 150 “crow miles” north-west of Acapulco and  275 south-east of Puerto Vallarta.

• Marina Facilities (B-):  Most everything worked, but nothing all that well.  Okay (serviceable) docks; operable security gates (though the locks wouldn’t qualify as child-proof); electricity and non-potable water on the dock; good-sized garbage bins at the end of each dock; wifi only in the marina office or for an additional cost from the fuel provider; a fuel dock operated by a company other than the marina owner; mobile pump-out; clean showers with hot water housed in a cavernous and dowdy facility with poor lighting.  A small tienda was nearby as were various restaurants and bars.  The marina provided drop-off and pick-up laundry service.  There are no significant marine services available and -– the capper -- to get your boat’s bottom cleaned, zincs installed, etc., you have to take the boat out of the marina to an anchorage such as Isla Grande/Ixtapa or Zijuatanejo Bay (which is really dirty).  Why? Crocodilos!  Son Grandes!

We Wouldn't Clean The Boat Bottom Here Either . . .

 

• Staff Services (B+):  The staff is friendly but we did not spend enough time onsite to learn about their level of service or attention. The office is closed on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.  The security guards are present.
• Location (A-):  The marina area has several restaurants, a small tienda and one or two very small chandleries.  All are expensive.  Never accuse Ixtapa of being a town.  It is a business.  However, the marina businesses are even more expensive than those closer to Ixtapa.  Bus and taxi service exist only a few meters from the docks but it is only a 20 minute walk to “downtown” Ixtapa along a beautiful bicycle path/sidewalk. (Note: this paved pathway extends about 10 km all the way north to Playa Linda and passes through a lovely nature preserve).  The local bus actually travels through Ixtapa and on to downtown Zihuatanejo making the region very accessible to a marina resident.  The reason this rating is not an “A” is the marina’s distance to the nicer of the locations – Zihuatanejo.
• Cost (B):  A voyager pays top dollar here - roughly $1 US per foot per day even with an extended stay.  
• Ambience (B-):  The marina feels a little tired and looks like it is running at basic maintenance level.  Perhaps this could be said of Ixtapa in general. We’ve been visiting Ixtapa for 26 years – it booms and it busts.  The downtown shopping complex always seems on the verge of bankruptcy since so many of the hotels are All-Inclusive.  The marina has that same feeling.    

Marina Puerto de La Navidad – Overall “A-”.

Located:  Next to the town of Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico (though the marina is in Colima State).  For perspective: on the Pacific coast of Mexico, approximately 130 nautical miles south-east of Puerto Vallarta.

 

Lovely Puerto de la Navidad 

 

• Marina Facilities (A-):  Sturdy docks; operable security gates; electricity and non-potable water on the dock; garbage bins within walking distance from the docks; standard iffy wifi; fuel dock nearby (accessible via a very shallow passage); pump-out station at the fuel dock; multiple nice and clean showers and restrooms.  A small tienda, a lavanderia, various restaurants and bars and two lovely pools located in the adjacent hotel.  The hotel work-out room and tennis courts were available for a fee.  The hotel provided yoga two times a day on the beach.  These facilities miss a higher rating due to lack of fuel dock and pump-out at the marina.  Warning:  During Semana Santa the hotel is rented out to a special interest group and the marina gets fenced off from the hotel and its pools for a week or 10 days! 
• Staff Services (A-):   The marina staff members are different from those of the related hotel, so we often found that we were not talking to the right person.  The marina staff members are relatively polite and helpful about marina things, and the hotel staff members are very polite and helpful about hotel-related things. 
• Location (A-):  The adjacent hotel is beautiful; a series of cascading pools and a beautiful lagoon area make for a great vacation atmosphere.  Barra’s very own French Baker delivers his treats to the lagoon and the marina each day around 8:30 AM.  There is a radio dispatched 24 hour water taxi service ready to take you across the lagoon to the town of Barra de Navidad on short notice for a few pesos.  Beyond the marina entrance is the entrance to the Barra lagoon, often filled with 15 to 25 sailboats opting to anchor out in the mud.  All of this makes for a very active yachting community.  While nothing happens quickly here – first you have to water taxi over to Barra, then walk or bus to Malaque, Santiago Bay, or Manzanillo (and thus the A- rating) – you can access the broad spectrum of goods and services from local fruit stands and coffee shops to Costco and Home Depot.  Manzanillo is serviced by a regional airport hosting several airlines in season. 
• Cost (A):  In 2013 the marina management started offering competitive rates for stays over 3 nights.  While not a per foot bargain you do get full access to the Westin Grand Bay Resort, its fine pools and facilities. 
• Ambience (A):  The marina is showing its age a bit but, given one’s complimentary access to a 4-star resort we think it is among the most pleasant marinas in Mexico.  Where else can you get fresh almond croissants delivered to your boat daily by a French baker, take a yoga class and then go swimming in a fine resort? 

Paradise Village / Nuevo Vallarta -- Overall "B+".

 
Located:  Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico.  For perspective: in Bahia Banderas approximately 15 minutes by car north of the Puerto Vallarta airport.
 

• Marina Facilities (A-):  Sturdy docks; security gates; electricity, purified water and trash receptacles on the dock; standard iffy wifi; fuel dock nearby; mobile pump-out weekly; multiple excellent shower facilities (some glitzy, all clean).  A small tienda is located in the adjacent hotel.  A full-sized (and expensive) grocery store and lavanderia are located at a nearby shopping plaza.  The marina is within a fancy hotel complex and marina patrons have access to the hotel’s swimming pools, restaurants and bars.  The only reason these facilities don’t rate higher is the layout of the docks -- they are just a long string of slips and that doesn't create a congenial atmosphere. 
• Staff Services (A):  Office staff was knowledgeable, polite and helpful.  Security staff unobtrusive and pleasant – and we assume efficient.
• Location (B-):  There is a nearby shopping plaza with the aforementioned grocery store and lavanderia as well as several small restaurants and a Starbucks that cater to the condominium vacationers.  There are some chandleries within walking distance.  But all of this is in Nuevo Vallarta, which is a resort community.  See posting re: "Gringolandia".  As another boater put it, "The only Mexicans you will meet in Nuevo Vallarta are wearing name tags." 
• Cost (A):  Standard rates for the area, and a good price considering the hotel-related facilities. 
• Ambiance (B-):  It feels like Southern California, which is fine - but not what we are looking for. 

Marina Riviera Nayarit / La Cruz -- Overall "A-":

Located:  La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico.  For perspective: in Bahia Banderas, approximately 20 miles north-west of Puerto Vallarta.

 

• Marina Facilities (B+):  Sturdy docks; generally operational security gates; electricity and water (of questionable potability) on the dock; sufficient garbage bins easily accessible; standard iffy wifi; fuel dock in the marina; pump-out station at the fuel dock; okay shower facilities (originally glitzy but now showing signs of age, and mostly clean).  A small tienda and a very nice restaurant/bar are located at the marina.  There’s something identified as a pool – but it’s more like a soaking tub.  Pick-up and drop-off laundry service is available.  The reasons these facilities don't rate higher are: (a) the facilities are spread out, and it's a really long walk to the shower/toilet facilities from some docks - a second shower/toilet area would be great; (b) the card key access issue could use a little work; (c) the dock water isn't represented as potable; and (d) the shower facilities maintenance could be improved.
• Staff Services (A-):  Our experience was that office staff was knowledgeable, polite and helpful, though other yatistas have not had the same experience.  The security guards are pleasant and present. 
• Marina Location (A):  The marina has direct access to the still charming village of La Cruz, which has a wide variety of music and dining venues, a good butcher and several well-stocked mid-sized abarrotes.  All types of goods and services (big chain stores such as Mega, Soriana, Home Depot etc.) are within a bus or taxi ride -- though the ride is long.  There's a full marine service center and several marine specialty businesses within walking distance.  So, provisioning and finding that one little boat bit is very easy for Mexico.
• Cost (A-):  We have gotten used to the idea of paying about $1 a foot a day – and we like La Cruz . . .
• Ambiance (A-):  The marina has a very nice vibe - lots of boats coming and going on their way north, south and west.  A volunteer yoga group made it a good stop for us.  It's just funky enough to avoid the feel that one is staying in an active seniors' RV park.    

Marina El Cid -- Overall "B+":

Located:  Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico.  For perspective:  on the Pacific coast of Mexico, across from the southern tip of the Baja peninsula.

Hotel on the Horizon

• Marina Facilities (B-):  Okay docks (a bit wobbly); generally operable security gates; electricity, cable television and potable water on the dock; small-ish trash bins on the dock; standard iffy wifi; fuel dock; no pump-out facilities (!); showers are old and somewhat grungy looking (though probably technically clean); and there are multiple shore toilet facilities (due to adjacent hotel).  The entire marina is subject to a larger-than-usual swell, which puts strain on dock lines.  A small tienda, a coffee bar and doc-in-a-box are located adjacent to the marina office.  The marina offers access to hotel facilities such as pools and pool-side restaurants.  There is a beach venue nearby available via a little shuttle boat.  Pick-up and drop-off laundry service is available.  These facilities would rate higher if (a) the pump-out machine ever worked (ick – this was heavily weighted in our overall rating!); (b) the showers were newer and cleaner; (c) the security gates actually worked all of the time; and (d) garbage collection was better managed.   
• Staff Services (A):  Marina staff is knowledgeable, polite and helpful and available seven days per week.  The hotel and marina staff even appear to enjoy their jobs.  The head of the hotel-affiliated sport fishing fleet very sweetly takes care of an adopted one-winged pelican.  The hotel security staff provides security for the marina gates. 
• Location (A):  The marina is located within a very nice hotel that, for much of the year, caters to national tourists (see above re: Gringolandia – this isn’t).  The hotel provides all the usual amenities (taxi stand; okay restaurant; bar; travel desk; weekly outdoor movies with popcorn!; etc.) and is on the northern outskirts of Mazatlán.  All types of goods and services (big chain stores such as Soriana, Home Depot etc.) and several marine services stores are within a short bus, taxi or dinghy ride.  Lots of good restaurants are nearby too (which is good because the hotel's main restaurant is seriously so-so).  And there is a nearby yoga class during the winter (the high Canadian season).
• Cost (A):  One gets what one pays for as the old saying goes -- and this marina averages about 75 cents a foot per day (with discounts for longer stays). 
• Ambiance (B):  Being in the heart of a nicely run and maintained hotel on the outskirts of a vibrant city like Mazatlán is a great combination.  The “ambiance” minuses are the loud music at the nearby events venue and most importantly, that pump-out thing (really – that’s how important it is!).  Some think the iguanas by the pool are a negative -- but we thought they were fun to watch.      

Marina Mazatlán -- Overall "A-":

 
Located:  Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico.  For perspective:  on the Pacific coast of Mexico, across from the southern tip of the Baja peninsula.

• Marina Facilities (B+):  Okay docks; security gates are big and sturdy; electricity, and potable water on the dock; trash bins just outside the security gates; standard iffy wifi; fuel dock; mobile pump-out at your boat scheduled in advance; showers are old and were formally a source of complaint but management has recently made their cleanliness a priority and there is only one shore toilet facility.  There is no swell or tidal surge as the marina is several hundred yards inland past the El Cid Marina.  A small tienda, a lavanderia and several restaurants occupy perhaps 60% of the retail space built around the water frontage. The marina is bordered by condominium developments which extend to the boulevard connecting Mazatlan with the beaches and condo developments to the north. Many boaters rent by the day or week in the condo developments as they move onto or off of their boats each year.  A nicely stocked small supermercado is within an easy walk of the docks.  Many other businesses including mini chandleries and Mazatlan’s Starbuck competitor Ricos’s are within a 5 or 10 minute walk.  But alas . . . poor landscaping, and no pool or nearby yoga.
• Staff Services (A-):  Staff are very competent and on duty six days a week.  Security staff are visible 24/7.  We have not had a lot of experience asking for help from the office staff but we think they are a capable bunch.
• Location (A):  The marina is located a very short dinghy ride, a relatively short hike or a very short bus ride from Marina El Cid.  The boating community of Mazatlán is roughly split between the two locations. All that we wrote about El Cid applies to Marina Mazatlán as well – all of Mazatlán’s shops and services are only a 20 minute municipal bus ride away.  And Marina Mazatlán is even closer than El Cid to several of the major marine services providers.  The north end of Mazatlán is experiencing strong growth.  For example, a very large new shopping mall anchored by the Liverpool department store is building out within sight of the marina complex (okay hip world travelers, sneer if you wish – but we invite you to try buying hiking sandals, clothes or make-up at a traditional Mexican mercado!).
• Cost (A):  There is a sliding scale rate structure further split into Winter/Summer rates.  The winter high season rates start around $1 US per foot per day and drop to under $ 0.40 US per foot for stays over 3 months.  This year’s (2013) low season summer rate was a flat $ 0.24 per foot per day with a 5 month contract. 
• Ambiance (A-):  Marina Mazatlan appears slightly dowdy by day but is also at least as vibrant or perhaps more so by night than its neighbor Marina El Cid. Many of the local restaurants sponsor live music on particular evenings; marine swap meets, horseshoe events and other social get-togethers occur throughout the busy winter season.   We figure the two marinas rate similar rankings: El Cid with its resort-like setting and pools and Marina Mazatlán with its village-like layout complement each other.  We have given Marina Mazatlán a slight edge for management’s efforts to improve the common areas, their great off-season rate, and their functioning pump-out service.  

Baja Peninsula Marinas – north to south:

 

            Marina Puerto Escondido – Overall “B-”: 

Located:  Puerto Escondido, Baja California Sur, Mexico.  For perspective:  approximately 330 “crow miles” north east of Cabo San Lucas.

• Marina Facilities (B-):  Caveat: we only stayed at the marina docks one night to top up our batteries.  We stayed on a mooring ball for the rest of our time at Puerto Escondido.  This is a “hybrid review” of the marina and the mooring field.  The docks are fine but offer very few (10) slips.  The mooring balls are well spaced and well attached.  There were a couple of good dinghy docks for those in the mooring field or at anchor.  There are no security gates for the docks.  There is electricity and water (non-potable) on the dock; sufficient garbage bins within walking distance; wifi available from a local tienda.  When we were there fuel was available on a spotty basis, as was water.  We visited right after Hurricane Paul, so hopefully this problem will be remedied in the future.  There is a pump-out station and the shower facilities are okay but without hot water and the toilet facilities lack paper – no kidding.  One well stocked tienda is on the marina grounds and another is within walking distance (and they will provide a ride back to the marina if you buy a lot).  There is also one nice restaurant on the marina grounds.  There is a self-service laundromat which is adequate as long as you don’t need hot water.  The best “facility” is not provided by the marina, but by the boating community – a huge book swap and video lending library!  There was a small, unattractive pool. 
• Staff Services (B-):  Staff was pleasant but weren’t very informative (or possibly informed) about when fuel or water would arrive (again, hopefully this has been remedied - ?).  There were security guards in evidence.
• Location (B-):  The marina is located more than 20 miles from the town of Loreto.  There are a few restaurants and bars within a hike, but no real “there” there.  The marina’s reason for being is to provide security to those cruising the Baja in stormy weather – so as a hurricane hole it gets a high rating and we appreciated the opportunity to tie up to a mooring ball for a few days to do laundry and to provision and to top up batteries.  That said, the marina and its location are too austere to qualify as a vacation destination.  For camping out, we prefer the beautiful bays a coves of the Sea of Cortez. 
• Cost (A-):  Moorings are inexpensive (approx. 40 cents a foot for a short stay) but a slip at a dock (when available) was about 80 cents a foot – which seems a lot for such marginal facilities. 
• Ambiance (B-):  Many of the cruisers we talked to seemed to make a hobby of complaining about the marina – a bit of a downer.  A minority were very nice and happy to give rides into town in exchange for a beer or a meal.  Because the marina is so far from Loreto (which is a charming town) that, unless one has a car there’s not much “ambiance” to be had.  That said, the mornings and evenings on our boat on the mooring ball were quite pleasant – and a mooring beats a stay at a dock hands down. 

            Marina Palmira – Overall “A-”: 

Located:  La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.  For perspective:  approximately a 140 mile drive north-east from Cabo San Lucas.   

• Marina Facilities (A-):  Older but sturdy docks; good security gates; electricity and potable water on the dock; small-ish trash bins on the dock; standard iffy wifi; fuel dock; pump-out; showers are old but seemed clean.  The marina offers access to the pool of a small hotel nearby and there are a couple of okay marina-side restaurant/bars.  There is a small tienda on site.  There is a big self-serve laundromat on site – which is pleasant after months of having someone mangle the laundry!   The marina offers a shuttle bus into La Paz though we found it was easier to walk most of the time.
• Staff Services (B):  Maybe it was due to staff changes over our various visits – but we seemed to be often cross-wise with marina staff.  The security staff was present.
• Location (A):  The marina is within a 20 minute walk from La Paz – one of our favorite cities.  There are lots of activities, restaurants and shops in town.  There are also a number of marine-related businesses, and several “big box” stores for provisioning.  All-in-all a great location!
• Cost (A-):  Comparable to other marinas of this quality.
• Ambiance (A):  There is a pleasant boating community at Palmira, though not as social as at other marinas.  We enjoyed the fact that the sailboats in the marina were mostly well maintained (not our observation about the boats at the marina in downtown La Paz). 

Marina Costa Baja – Overall “B”:

Located:  Outside of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.  For perspective:  approximately a 140 mile drive north-east from Cabo San Lucas.   

• Marina Facilities (B):  Sturdy docks; good security gates; electricity and potable water on the dock; small-ish trash bins on the dock; standard iffy wifi; fuel dock; pump-out; and good showers which seemed far from some of the docks.  The marina offers access to the pool of a very fancy hotel – but it’s a hike away.  There are several marina-side restaurant and bars, but all quite expensive.  There is a small tienda on the property – but it was poorly stocked and very far from many of the docks.  The laundry service was very difficult to figure out – though we were eventually satisfied.  This marina also offers a shuttle bus into La Paz – which is necessary.  It’s several miles further away from town than Marina Palmira.  The inner harbor does appear to be a terrific hurricane hole but in general this marina is very large and sprawling and there aren’t many provisioning services there. 
• Staff Services (A-):  The office staff was very helpful and the security staff was polite and obvious. One complaint: the office and fuel dock are not a walkable distance from the docks.  You need to flag down a marina service boat for a ride or go for a very long walk.
• Location (B-):  Way too far out of La Paz unless you have a car available.  The adjacent luxury hotel was pleasant – but that’s all there is near the marina (oh, unless you want to buy a million dollar home . . .).
• Cost (A-):  Comparable to Marina Palmira.
• Ambiance (B-):  Many of the boaters were just “not our kind”.  For example, one owner’s pilot was having difficulty adjusting to landing the family’s new helicopter on site (don’t you just hate that?).  See the review for Paradise Village.  We just aren’t luxury marina types. 

Marina San Jose del Cabo -- Overall "C+":  

Located:  Near San Juan del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico.  For perspective: 28 car miles north-east of Cabo San Lucas.

 

• Marina Facilities (C+):  Caveat, this is based on a visit in 2011.  Sturdy docks, and more docks are planned, but in 2011 "transients" were stuck at a side-tie dock without electricity or water.  Trash bins are a hike, and when we were there – not even standard iffy wifi.  There was a fuel dock and today's website says there are pump-out facilities (but we weren’t there long enough to search for them).  The shower facilities were in trailers and were quite a hike from the transient dock – but they were clean.  The marina didn’t provide a tienda and the ones within walking distance were very minimal.  There were two restaurants within walking distance.  No pool or laundry facilities existed.  There were no chandleries available near the marina.  That said, the existing facilities are beautifully landscaped - so if you visit in 2014 or thereafter you may find that it has become a very nice marina. 
• Staff Services (B+):  The staff was knowledgeable, though the pretty young receptionist was a bit severe in manner and the manager was hard to understand due to a shy, mumbling manner of speaking.
• Location (B-):  The two nearby restaurants, Tommy's Beach Bar and The Container were good though a bit over priced.  The local markets provided limited provisioning (not much beyond milk and tortillas and canned items). The beautiful new big, clean fishing dock was enticing -- but fish is not sold there!  San Jose del Cabo - a really charming town with lots of art galleries and a pleasant church - is about 2 km from the marina. San Jose is accessible via a dusty walk, an uncertainly scheduled bus or a usurious cab ride.
• Cost (B-):  After the prices in Cabo San Lucas anything would seem better . . . but still more than $1 a foot.
• Ambiance (C+): The construction of a new hotel at the marina made it a bit like, well, camping in a construction site.  In sum: the location near San Jose del Cabo was a plus after being in Cabo San Lucas, and the lovely landscaping bodes well for the marina’s future.  But, due to the construction of the hotel and related dust, and the unfinished nature of the marina, we're giving this marina a "C+".  

Marina Cabo San Lucas -- Overall "C-": 

Located:  Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico.  For perspective: at the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. 

• Marina Facilities (B-):  Sturdy docks; security gates (with insufficient keys after the HaHa crowd shows up – apparently we were a surprise?); electricity and water (potable – purportedly) on the dock; small trash receptacles; no wifi; fuel dock; pump-out; two basic, clean shower facilities; and functioning laundry facilities.  A small and totally grungy pool.  No marina-provided stores, restaurants or other provisioning facilities.  But there's a top notch boat yard next door.
• Staff Services (A-):  Office staff was knowledgeable and friendly (though hadn’t planned for HaHa related gate keys?) and security staff was present.
• Location (C):  Near restaurants and okay provisioning, but too near timeshare hawkers and jewelry sellers. Oddly near a luxury mall (Cartier watch, anyone?). 
• Cost (C):  Wow - and we got a discount as part of the HaHa fleet!
• Ambiance (D-):  Ugh. The marina is in the middle of the gross type of tourist zone, with all the related “hey amigo” activities inflicted on one’s way to and from the marina office.  Very noisy, and neighbors are mostly fishermen or people cleaning fishing boats (read: a fishy odor everywhere and more than one floating fish carcass). Restaurants and maintenance people seemed to think that loud is best when it comes to music. But it was fun to watch the pelicans harass the fishermen, so we won't give it a failing grade.