La Cruz through Santiago

On 2/25 we arrived in Barra de Navidad.

After being in the PV area since 12/20/11 we finally headed south on February 2^nd.  We love the Banderas Bay area and especially La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, but we were ready for more remote, less populated areas, no schedule, and warmer water.

It was great to be back out and moving again.  Lots of dolphins, turtles, and whales along the way.  We tried fishing, but the only thing we were catching were skip jacks and jack crevalles (toros) which are not good eating so we quit putting the line out.

This year the weather has been much cloudier than last year (we’ve even had several days of rain), but the water has been about three degrees warmer (76 in Tenacatita – last year it was 72). There have also been fewer cruising boats in the anchorages, which is nice.

It’s been great going places we’ve been before – it reduces the anxiety level when you know what to expect. We’re more relaxed and doing it all at a slower pace. After getting to Chemala most of the anchorages are less than 30 miles from each other (some not more than 6).

We stopped in Bahia Chemala for a few days  and anchored off of the little town of Perula:

Chemela is one of our favorite walking beaches - it goes for miles.

Great sailing from Chemela to Tenacatita

Then a week in Tenacatita:

Another great beach, good snorkeling, no town, but a palapa restaurant
on the beach where the cruisers gather in the afternoon while
 recovering from volley ball and bocce ball games on the beach.

First time we blew up our new kayaks.

Cruiser gathering at the palapa restaurant in Tenacatita.

A cruise up the estuary in Tenacatita.

Then to Las Hadas in Bahia Manzanillo for several days (our furthest point south):

Anchored off of Las Hadas - an amazing place out of the past.

While in Las Hadas we hired a van with some other cruisers and did an inland trip to Colima, to the coffee farms up by the Volcano, the Aztec ruins (uncovered only 18 years ago), and the town of Colima.

Volcan Colima

The coffee farmers selling their beans.

Drying the coffee beans

Downtown Colima - a nice colonial town
 with lots of history.

Governer's Palace. Colima is the capitol of the state of Colima.

Colima Central Plaza.

Aztec ruins uncovered just 18 years ago.

From Las Hadas we started heading north – 1^st stop was just around the corner in Santiago Bay (arrival 2/20):

The Santiago Saturday Market. 

Most towns have one day that is market day. 

They all have similar stuff. 

Santiago's is one of the biggest markets in the 

smaller towns.

Stopping for a shrimp taco before heading back to the boats.

Fish Market in Santiago. Notice the posters in the background.