dimanche 19 janvier 2020
2001 ESPIRITU SANTO: The magical garden near La Paz (with Jean Louis n Marie)
We wait for some closed friends to spend 2/3 weeks around LA PAZ; the city is very convenient to get all we need: Clean diesel "top up" jerry-jug from gas stations, good choice of food and smart policy of MARINA DE LA PAZ, welcoming anchored boats with a large dinghy dock, helpfull staff, hot showers, efficient laundry service n a good restaurant. We also warmly recommand UBER to move around ...you can test the taxis waiting in front of the marina to feel n pay for the difference !
Our friends arrive today with a pretty strong Northern... Malecon is empty for a sport event...4 steps before leaving:
1) Easy first (as the shortest n driest dinghy ride ) boarding from touristic pier...

2) After WALLMART shopping, fresh food choice in mercado ABASTOS...
3) Loading the dinghy , n last big showers in MARINA DE LA PAZ...
4) Sharing one of the best steak available in central america in "BANDIDOS"

First contact with local dedicacies in famous playa Ballandra; it's possible to be alone early morning...
.
.n take a "clean" picture of the most photographed mushroom in MEXICO

Pink walls n excellent northern protection in LA DISPENSA: our first anchorage
in ESPRITU SANTO as in many places, our big stars are the pelicans...
They watch you, without fear but with a bit of surprised indignation and move slowly away if you are too closed...

BAHIA SAN GABRIEL: a short dinghy ride just north of LA DISPENSA...
...The place very protected as you may not anchor in...
...and the tide table must be monitored if your dinghy has no wheels...

From SAN GABRIEL, a trail cross the island and lead to Playa BONANZA in a couple of hours of lazzy walk...
...in fact you can walk 2 hours anywhere eastward between the 2 hills, disturbing only local rabbits...
...before arriving in majestic sand hills of playa BONANZA...another world...

..Returning west n on board, impossible to miss on the south shore fregatbirds home, protected by floating markers..
...these proud laddies have no fear n let anyone catch their best profile...
All Colors of BAJA in south of ESPIRITU SANTO...

Second anchorage in LA RAZA, another west opened bay of ESPIRITU SANTO...another pictures paradise
Third anchorage in EL METZENO: an attractive canyoning wait for us; better to start very early to avoid the heat
impossible to mis the main pass but there are many ways to follow among he rocks n the scrub...

Except this guy, we met 2 snakes, (no rattle) more afraid than us...
both closed to water pools...difficult to understand how water still exist here
...as soon a you feel it...you must climb 30m of the north side to exit the canyon ...

...and get your reward: a fantastic view of LA PARTIDA and the anchorage
No need to follow the canyon further east; a short climb , followed by a 100m walk lead you here, a tablet is usefull...
...Now its time to return to our anchorage; one mile flight for a pelican but 2 hours in the heat of the canyon for us...

El EMBUDO, our last anchorage in the park
A dinghy ride to THE ISLOTES before arrival of the Pangas from LA PAZ
Sea lions are here n wait to interact with tourists...

...under high supervision...
...but today, the chilly morning dissuade us to touch the water...
LOS ISLOTES are our last step in the park, tomorrow we sail more north !




































