Blu Serial Pichilingue — La Paz

The sailors of the Guaycura people navigated these waters long before modern maps existed, identifying the bay of Pichilingue as a natural sanctuary. They were not alone in recognizing the strategic value of this coastline; centuries later, during the Mexican–American War, the U.S. Navy transformed this same anchorage into a base of operations to control the coastal routes of the Baja Peninsula. When you stand on the shoreline at Playa Pichilingue today, you are looking out at the same protected bay that dictated naval movements during a 19th-century conflict. The sea here holds a different intensity compared to the open Pacific, and for the Blu Serial Pichilingue 2026, it serves as the stage for distances ranging from 500 meters to the full 6,000-meter endurance test.

The geography of the swim

Swimming in this region requires an awareness of the coastal topography that shapes the currents. The water near Pichilingue maintains a steady temperament, buffered by the surrounding geography, which contrasts with the expansive, fine white sands of Tecolote Beach located just to the north. While you glide through the course, the underwater profile shifts from sandy shallows to deeper, darker channels that have supported maritime traffic for generations. Participants in this event often find themselves comparing the conditions to those encountered during the Aqua Race La Paz, which takes place just weeks prior, or the upcoming El Tecolote event that explores the neighboring coastal stretches. As you navigate the buoy line, you might catch a glimpse of the rugged horizon that includes the protected ecosystems of the Gulf of California, such as the mangroves of Balandra, and the ancient, uninhabited shores of Isla Espíritu Santo, where human traces have been documented for nearly nine millennia.