San Juan (Laguna Gri Gri)
ENTRANCE TO “LAGUNA GRI GRI”
RIO SAN JUAN
19°39.00N 70°05.29W
51.0 nm from Puerto del Valle
It should be emphasized that conditions must be favorable for you to anchor at either of the two anchorages at San Juan.
The first anchorage is at the northeastern tip of the continuous reef which runs southwest to northeast in 15 feet of water over hard sand and rock. Keep in mind that neither anchorage is any good if there is a NE SEA running. Lat. 1939.3/ Lon. 7004.7
If there is a NE wind blowing, DO NOT EVEN THINK OF ANCHORING HERE!
The second anchorage is inside the southwestern end with the fishing fleet. Beware of the many sandbars. This is a mangrove area where fishermen take locals and tourists through the canals by boat. Lat. 1938.5/ Lon. 7005.3. This anchorage is entered by passing through a break in the reef. You will see the fishing fleet anchored in the general area.
If you choose to anchor here, you can leave someone on your boat, and take your dinghy and go through the Boatanical Park into Laguna Gri Gri. It will leave you at the dock in the quaint town, where you can purchase basics.
It is a delightful gunkholing experience and the canals filtering light through the foilage at midday is the basis for good poetry.
Do NOT try to go east around Cabo Frances Viejo, once the trades winds are up and blowing, unless you are the type that simply likes beating into the wind and averaging 2kts. Better to wait until the night lee to set in, at which point, the passage becomes tenable.
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