Loreto Sailing
One World Sailing Academy offers seven-day and ten-day fully immersive advanced offshore sailing expeditions and Loreto sailing courses departing from Puerto Escondido Marina, located approximately fifteen minutes south of the Loreto International Airport.
Puerto Escondido is one of the most protected natural harbors in the Sea of Cortez and serves as an outstanding departure point for offshore cruising and sailing expeditions throughout the central and southern Sea of Cortez.
Offshore from Puerto Escondido and Loreto are islands such as Isla Danzante, Isla Carmen, and Isla Coronados with numerous anchorages offering incredible scenery, excellent sailing conditions, clear water, snorkeling, hiking, protected cruising areas, ruins, and many other areas to explore.
There are numerous anchorages throughout these islands, each completely unique and offering different scenery, protection, and cruising experiences.
Bahía Salinas, located on Isla Carmen, is especially fascinating. It was once an active salt mining operation and now exists largely as a historic ghost town. Today, there is a hunting lodge with caretakers located onsite, and the area is known for bighorn sheep hunting expeditions. There is also a shipwreck in the bay that provides excellent snorkeling opportunities.
There are also incredible destinations farther south, such as Puerto Los Gatos, Bahía San Marte, and Bahía Agua Verde, all offering beautiful anchorages, dramatic desert scenery, incredible hiking, snorkeling, and ideal cruising opportunities.
North of Isla Coronado is the San Juanico area, another beautiful cruising destination with excellent anchorages, beautiful beaches, clear water, and great snorkeling.
The cruising throughout the Loreto region is absolutely incredible and offers some of the most beautiful and rewarding sailing anywhere in the Sea of Cortez.
Provisioning in Loreto is also very good, with multiple stores available for gathering supplies before departure.
The town of Loreto itself is absolutely beautiful, with a historic mission, town square, waterfront malecón, restaurants, and many interesting cultural and historic areas to explore.
Just inland from Loreto is the famous San Javier Mission, which can be visited by car and offers a fascinating look into the region’s history and early Spanish mission system.
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The area also offers incredible hiking opportunities. One particularly well-known hike near Puerto Escondido is often affectionately referred to by cruisers as the “Steinbeck Canyon” hike. It is an outstanding desert canyon hike located within walking distance of Puerto Escondido Marina.
Overall, the entire Loreto region offers an exceptional combination of offshore sailing, beautiful anchorages, desert scenery, marine life, hiking, history, and exploration.
We place a very heavy emphasis on seamanship, offshore cruising skills, and onboard systems training throughout the expedition.
Students actively participate in virtually every aspect of operating a serious blue water cruising vessel, including navigation, weather routing, passage planning, anchoring, anchoring techniques, onboard systems management, power consumption, energy management, watermaker operation, routine vessel inspections, maintenance procedures, safety systems, emergency procedures, and watch standing.
There is an enormous amount of information and hands-on experience that we cover during these fully immersive offshore sailing expeditions.
There is also plenty of opportunity for hiking, snorkeling, island exploration, dinghy operation, and beach landings throughout the expedition. These are all important parts of real offshore cruising life and are essential practical skills for anyone interested in long-distance cruising or world sailing.
This is a fully immersive cruising experience designed to expose students to the realities of offshore cruising and life aboard a serious blue water sailboat.
Our goal is for students to leave the expedition with a very high level of practical knowledge, seamanship, and confidence, along with the skills necessary to eventually conduct serious offshore cruising and passage making on their own.
We look forward to meeting you in the Loreto area and heading out together on an incredible journey of learning and discovery in one of the most beautiful cruising areas in the world.