Eighty nautical miles. One overnight passage. And you wake up in another country. The San Diego-to-Ensenada run is one of the most accessible international passages on the Pacific Coast — short, well-charted, and a worthwhile destination with real marinas, cheap diesel, and excellent food. Accessible doesn't mean no preparation, though. This guide covers the passage, entry procedures, provisioning, and getting your boat systems ready.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Distance | ~60–80 nm from San Diego (varies by departure point) |
| Passage time | 10–14 hours under sail; 8–10 hours under power |
| Best departure | Late afternoon from San Diego, arrive Ensenada by morning |
| Entry port | Ensenada — the standard port of entry for southbound Pacific Coast cruisers |
| Best season | November through April for the most settled conditions |
The standard southbound track leaves San Diego in the late afternoon, putting you offshore overnight and rounding Punta Banda into Bahía de Todos Santos at or after sunrise. Arriving in daylight is strongly recommended, especially for first-timers.
Most boats pass inside the Coronado Islands, keeping 5 to 8 miles off the mainland, then follow the Baja coast south.
| Landmark | Notes |
|---|---|
| Coronado Islands | Pass inside (east) of the islands on the way south |
| Isla de Todos Santos | NW light approx. 31°48.75'N, 116°48.7'W — pass to starboard southbound |
| Punta Banda | Southern arm of the bay — stay well off the ledges extending from the point |
| Ensenada Harbor entrance | Approx. 31°50.23'N, 116°37.59'W |
The standard compass course from Point Loma is roughly 215° magnetic. A building northwesterly swell is the most common weather factor to watch.
The primary facility and the most convenient for entry paperwork: 650+ slips for vessels up to 250 feet, with customs, immigration, and Banjercito offices all within walking distance.
Slip rates run roughly USD $1.50–2.50 per foot per day depending on season. Tides affect the gangways, so watch them when hauling gear aboard.
About 2.75 miles northwest of the main port, popular with sailors who want a port agent to handle paperwork. Email your vessel documents before leaving San Diego and you can often get a slip number in advance; staff coordinate your government check-in on arrival.
The main anchorage north of the marina breakwater holds 30–60 boats in 20–45 feet over mud and sand with excellent holding. For a quieter option, the Punta Banda peninsula offers an isolated anchorage in settled conditions, with dinghy access to La Bufadora.
Adjacent to Marina Ensenada, with a 70-ton travel lift offering haul-outs, bottom paint, diesel, fiberglass, and refrigeration work at roughly 40–60% of comparable U.S. costs.
Ensenada is the easiest Mexican Pacific port of entry for private vessels. Work through the agencies in this order:
The process typically takes 2–4 hours. INM may be closed on weekends; Tuesday through Friday is the smoothest window.
At Hotel Coral, a health office next to the marina office issues health clearance as part of the port agent process. Fishing licenses and national park passes (including the islands) are required if applicable — buy both online before you leave.
You can begin check-out up to 48 hours before leaving. Offices keep limited hours (roughly 9 AM–1:30 PM) and close for Mexican holidays. Continuing south? The next official port of entry is Cabo San Lucas, about 750 nm away — your Zarpe must list your true next port.
Top off diesel at the Marina Ensenada fuel dock before heading south. Pemex gasoline comes as Magna (87) and Premium (92) — confirm which your engine needs.
The marina store carries basics, but expect higher prices and limited selection. Food and fuel are easy in Ensenada; specialized parts are not. Source anything significant in San Diego before you cross.
Check belts, hoses, impeller, and raw-water strainer. Fuel filters deserve attention too — Baja fuel quality varies, and a clogged filter is a common southbound headache.
This is where cruisers consistently underestimate the planning. South of Ensenada, reliable dock water gets scarce, Mexican tap water generally isn't potable without treatment, and bottled water is impractical at scale. A working watermaker means your supply is limited only by your power, not by what's at the dock.
If your output has dropped or pressures look unusual, deal with it in San Diego. Watermaker parts and service are essentially unavailable in Ensenada and nonexistent at anchorages farther south. Our watermaker troubleshooting guide covers the common symptoms, and a quick dockside service check is cheap insurance for a system that's a few years old.
For many San Diego sailors, Ensenada is the destination. For others it's the start of something larger: Cabo San Lucas lies about 750 nm south, with Bahía de Tortugas (~365 nm) as the standard mid-passage stop. The boats that have problems south of here are almost always the ones that skipped the pre-departure checklist — see our Mexico cruising prep checklist.
Planning closer to home? Try our Catalina yacht camping guide.
Watermaker parts and service are hard to find south of San Diego. Tell us about your boat and we'll help make sure your system is ready before you cast off.