Further South in Mexico

Leaving Santiago, saying goodbye to our cruising buddies, we head south solo. We had a nice day sail to Cabeza Negra spent the night but didn’t go to shore. After breakfast we head for Caleta de Campos. It’s a nice small beach town of a few thousand people, with a school of Navigation and Fishing located there. We had the best barbacoa tacos there then took a taxi down the road some to Rio Nexpa. Nexpa is a surfing haven, the beach dotted with cabanas that cost about 150 pesos a night ($12 US). There were some folks surfing but the big surf that draws surfers here from near and far happen during the summer. Nice very laid back place, out of the way but definitely a favorite for young surfers. Once back to our dinghy in Caleta de Campos I discover my shoes are missing that I left in the dinghy. This is the very first time I’ve had anything stolen, I spent a little time on the beach checking out feet by I didn’t see my Sebagos on anyone’s tootsies.

Zihuatanejo

We did a 12 hour sail to Zihuatanejo, bypassed Ixtapa for now. There are about 25 boats in front of Playa Madera with a daily net each morning keeping us abreast of what’s happening locally. I think this will be the last local net via VHF radio we’ll come across in Mexico. I here that there are fewer boats here this year and there’s some concern that there won’t be enough boats for Sail Fest. Sail fest is a fun event put on by cruisers, raising funds for the indigenous school in the mountains. The boats sign up to take tourist out for a day sail. The tourists are charged something like 300 pesos, and that money goes to the schools.

I really like Zihuat; it’s a perfect blend of a Mexican seaside town with just enough cruisers and tourists thrown into the mix. We walk way up into town, finding rubber feet for the swim ladder as well as a bead shop. Of course I found a few things that I just had to have, sounds familiar? I got in a lot of jogging and early morning walks. On one particular walk on the hill side between Playa Madera and Playa La Ropa I stopped at an Italian restaurant, it had such a beautiful view I just had to stop. I sat at very corner table, enjoying a cold beer, amazed by the beauty of the bay below. That is where I fell in love with Zihuatanejo