Notable Bays and Gulfs of the Pacific Ocean

Major Coastal Features Along the Pacific Rim

The Pacific Ocean's vast coastline is indented with numerous bays, gulfs, sounds, and inlets. Below is a selection of significant ones, organized roughly from north to south.

North America

• Bay of Alaska
• Gulf of Alaska
• Prince William Sound
• Cook Inlet
• Bristol Bay
• Gulf of California

Central America

• Bahía de Banderas (Mexico)
• Gulf of Tehuantepec (Mexico)
• Gulf of Fonseca (El Salvador/Honduras/Nicaragua)
• Gulf of Nicoya (Costa Rica)
• Gulf of Chiriquí (Panama)
• Panama Bay

South America

• Gulf of Guayaquil (Ecuador)
• Sechura Bay (Peru)
• Pisco Bay (Peru)
• Independencia Bay (Peru)
• Samanco Bay (Peru)
• Chimbote Bay (Peru)
• Ferrol Bay (Peru)
• San Jose Bay (Peru)
• Callao Bay (Peru)
• Pucusana Bay (Peru)
• Paracas Bay (Peru)
• San Nicolas Bay (Peru)
• San Juan Bay (Peru)

Note: The Sechura Desert appears in the original list but is a coastal desert, not a bay.