Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Islas Secas

Time for more exploring, so we looked at the charts and decided to take the 4-hour trip to the group of islands called Islas Secas on June the 12th. We anchored at 14:00 (N07°59.190' W082°01.768') in beautiful clear blue water in front of a private island called Isla Cavada. There are 5 to 6 yurts here which we were told rent out for $600 per night. (Basically, a yurt is an elaborate tent-like portable home which can be set up easily anywhere.)

1 of several white yurts on Isla Cavada on top of hill 

The next morning, we moved to the uninhabited Isla Pargo, about 45 to 60 minutes away. There was no one else anywhere in sight and we had the island and anchorage all to ourselves! Isla Pargo is not a privately owned island so we were able to go ashore. With a high tide, Jordan timed the waves for a dry dinghy landing on the white sand beach.

White sand beach of Isla Pargo - part of Islas Secas group of islands

We then hiked a trail (Jordan a little farther than me) through the dense jungle where the beach at the other end of the island was black and pebbly. Back at the beach where we landed the dinghy, Jordan picked up some fresh coconuts from the ground.

Hearing the start of thunder, we headed back to Sea Turtle and jumped in the ocean for a glorious cooling-off swim with time for a quick shower to rinse off the salt water before the brief rain started. Jordan then cracked open one of the coconuts and we drank the delicious "water". He also cut out all the coconut meat which we gorged on and finally put the rest in the fridge for later.

Did you know the water from a coconut is one of the healthiest drinks available from nature, being full of electrolytes and antioxidants? It has been said that it has even been used as an intravenous hydration fluid in war times and some developing countries where medical saline was unavailable.

All alone, white sand beach, a hike through the jungle, fresh coconuts, a swim in the warm clear blue ocean. Did I mention where we are? Hmmm. Oh yeah, still in paradise!

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