Tūja Anchorage

About This Anchorage

Tūja is a wild and beautiful coastal anchorage in the heart of the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve — a UNESCO-designated protected area of coastal meadows, ancient forests, and untouched Baltic shoreline between Salacgrīva and Saulkrasti. The small settlement of Tūja sits amid pine forests behind a long sandy beach, its handful of traditional Latvian farmhouses and a historic fishing complex the only human presence on this stretch of coast. For self-sufficient sailors seeking a taste of the undeveloped Baltic, Tūja delivers completely: pristine sandy beach, clean Baltic water, pine forest directly behind the dunes, and the near-total silence of a coastline without industry or mass tourism. The anchorage is purely a wild stop — no facilities, no harbour, no provisions. The Biosphere Reserve protects the sea floor ecosystem here, with particularly clear water and healthy seagrass beds. Walking north along the beach from Tūja leads through the reserve toward Salacgrīva, passing ancient fossil dunes and through the mixed pine and deciduous forests that define the Vidzeme coastal landscape.

Hazards

• !No shelter from N or NE — fully exposed; suitable only in settled W or SW conditions
• !No facilities — must be fully self-sufficient
• !Shallow approach — stay in 3m+ water on approach; shelves gently from beach

Skipper's Tips

• →One of the most beautiful wild anchorages on the Latvian coast — worth the planning
• →Biosphere Reserve rules: no open fires on the beach; carry a camping stove
• →Swimming off the beach is excellent in July–August — clean Baltic water
• →North Vidzeme coastal walking trail passes Tūja — beautiful forest walking
• →Check forecast carefully before committing — nearest shelter is Salacgrīva 8nm north

Nearby Anchorages