Southern Nayarit

Day 14 - Playa Los Corchos to Sayulita

It stayed quiet, the most prominent noise was the breaking surf, and we were up with the sun. The only food product we brought was coffee and this was our first chance to try some. It tasted good. After packing up, we drove into Santiago for breakfast but there was not much open when we arrived. We asked a couple of locals and then opted to buy some fruit at a local fruiteria, 2 bananas and an orange each. Our cheapest breakfast yet... 4 ¼ cents!

The weather seems much warmer now that we are at sea level. Actually it is only around 30C but seems much warmer when you are in traffic and moving slowly. We also noticed that the sun is much stronger that at home. The temperature rises quickly when the sun come up.

We stopped in San Blas for lunch at a taco place just off the el centro plaza. Lee has been ordering the tacos and I have been eating the tortas. Both were very good here. Eating in Mexican restaurants is the antithesis of “fast food”. It isn’t prepared or in some cases, even bought until you order it. Eating is a leisurely activity, as perhaps it should be.

We reached Sayulita around 2:30 and rented a cabina at the Sayulita RV park. A very nice place right on the beach. I know that they have wireless internet here but getting the password has been a challenge. Anyway... it’s time for supper.

We went to the famous fish taco restaurant overlooking the plaza. Last time I was here tacos were 50 cents each. Now they are $2. We had a beer and told them their tacos were too expensive and left. We found great tacos and great company at a taco stand down the street, less than half the price. Unfortunately Sayulita is getting too popular.

Linda arrives in PV tomorrow. I'm excited. Really looking forward to her arrival.

Lee is heading off on his own for a while. Linda and I may go south the Barra Navidad before meeting up with Lee back here in Sayulita next Thursday.

Day 13 – Mazatlan to Playa Los Corchos

With freshly cleaned clothes and a day out of the saddle we left Mazatlan heading south on Hwy 15 libre. There is, or partially is, a pay road south out of Mazatlan. It does not appear to be completed yet. If you are not in a hurry (and in Mexico who is?) take the free roads, they are much more interesting.

I had visited one or two of the beaches on this route 2 years ago so we opted for the unknown. This led us to Playa Los Corchos. Much of the coast south of Mazatlan in low lying farm land and marshes. The area is rumoured to be the seat of Mayan culture but some scholars think that the rumour is more folklore that fact.

Playa Los Corchos is at the end of route 72. You must pass though Santiago Ixquintla to get there. There are no hotels, only a few “campos”. These are beach restaurant / bars with large thatched roof shelters called ramadas. We rode into the entrance to one of them and stopped to speak to the owner. We discovered that there was no problem camping on the beach so we ordered some beer and a snack. Supper was a choice of fish or shrimp. It was OK but not the best we have had on this trip.

After we set up the tents, the owners packed up and left. Other campo owners did the same and we were left on our own. The only two people on a beach that stretched to the horizon in either direction. We were told that it was quiet place (muy tranquilo) and we hoped that it stayed that way, at least for one night.

manana Sayulita