There’s a Town…
There’s a Resort…
and There’s a Lagoon!

Barra de Navidad (the Christmas Sandbar) is a clean little resort town and fishing village founded in 1564 that’s neither too big nor too small — it’s just right.  Barra is the other half of the Tenacatita-Barra area that attracts so many cruisers.  Tenacatita is where cruisers go chill out with friends, play bocci ball on the beach, swim and relive their summer camp days.  Barra is where they go provision, do laundry, relax by the pool and party.

Cruisers looking for shore power and other amenities will find tem at the Grand Isla Navidad Marina. 

For more budget conscious cruisers, anchoring in the lagoon is free of charge. 

Whether you’re in the marina or the lagoon, an excellent water taxi service is available 24 hours to take you to town and back.  Just get on VHF channel 23 and call “Taxi Aquatico!” or “Water Taxi”.  They’ll come get you.

The Town

The town of Barra de Navidad has a lot.  There are of course the normal tourist trap trinket shops.  But there are some really unique shops as well.  How about a store that is a combination fishing tackle and pharmacy?

The eateries are excellent and range from street carts to sitdowns on the water. 

Brett and Marne are enjoying an excellent Cubano from Olga’s lunch cart.  Olga’s will also make you a large cup (1 liter) of fresh veggie juice for 40 pesos ($2 US).  Near the water taxi are Somonas and El Manglito.  Somonas has excellent seafood, pasta and usually has live music on the weekends.  El Manglitos is known for Molcajetes (pronounced mole-ka-het-tay).  A molcajete is a Mexican soup/stew that is cooked and served in a lava bowl.  They can be ordered with beef, chicken, seafood, vegetarian of any combination.

Near in the center of town is the Catholic church.  It’s right in the middle of a shopping/restaurant district.  Near the church is L’Angolo Ristorante and Bar with excellent pizza and italian pasta.  On the ocean side is Nachos with 50 peso ($2.50) margaritas and a spectacular view of the evening sunset.

And I wouldn’t give Barra justice if I didn’t mention the French Baker.  The French Bakery is in town but I’ve never been there.  I mention it because Emerich, the owner, delivers fresh baked pastries and quiches directly to your boat in the marina or the lagoon every morning on his small panga.  He announces his whereabouts on VHF channel 22 and the cruisers answer with their location and orders.

The Resort

Across the breakwater entrance from the town of Barra de Navidad lies the Grand Isla Navidad luxury resort.  The resort has the marina, 18 hole golf course, a business center, good internet, restaurants and a 3 level pool with a swim-up bar.  Marina residents may use all of the amenities and rumor has it, the resort doesn’t mind if cruisers from the lagoon want to take the water taxi in to enjoy the pool and restaurants as long as they spend a few pesos for food and drink. 

During our first time in the marina in 2017 we met Peter and Eileen who had spent the previous 11 years cruising the Western Caribbeanon a boat named Appleseeds. They said being at the Isla Navidad Marina was the first time in years they felt they were on vacation.  We know of at least one boat there who call the marina their home. 

As a cruiser, the Isla Navidad Grand Resort is like the Sirens calling to Ulysses.   I think the Sirens may be calling to John here…or maybe it’s just the margarita. You have to be careful or it will become your own personal Hotel California.

…And the Lagoon

The lagoon is shallow, calm and free.  And what’s not to like about free?

Near the anchorage and island on the west side of the lagoon is the small village of Colimilla. Colimilla has a good restaurant, a good laundry and a Yamaha outboard shop.  Yamaha outboards are a near monopoly in Mexico.  All the fishermen in the area bring their outboards here for maintenance and repair.  The Barra fuel dock (an extension of a Pemex station is also in the lagoon.

The View restaurant has — you guessed it, A View.  It overlooks the lagoon from Colimilla and has excellent pizza.  They deliver to the marina.

The fuel dock sits at the west end of the lagoon just around the corner from the marina.  Here, our friends Brett and Marne on Liahona are fueling up before their trip north.  Fuel docks in Mexico can be a financial adventure.  They typically charge a 15% uplift or more from the regular land prices, but can also charge 5% or more for using a credit card.  A word to the wise, stock up on Pesos and pay cash at the fuel dock.

Questions or comments about Barra-de-Navidad?  Have you been there?

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