Cool Stuff

Monday, June 03, 2019

La Cruz and Mazatlan

Instead of making Barra de Navidad (Mexico) our jump-off for the long route towards Hawaii, we kept going north up the coast to Canada. We made a brief refueling and laundry stop at the fishing village of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle of Banderas Bay...

Palm leaf sculpture

Fishing village boats

...before making an easy trip up to Mazatlan. We actually got some pleasant sailing for a change. At Mazatlan, we found the one place adequate to anchor used by few cruisers with its pros and cons. It was just in behind the breakwater of the busy industrial port where ships and ferries come and go.

We dropped the hook in front of Club Nautico (near the smelly sewage treatment plant) and used their facilities for dinghy landing and showers. A check in with the Port Captain was required, and to our surprise, took only about 15 minutes.

Transportation was available from our anchorage via bus, Uber, the ever-present Volkswagen taxis, and regular taxi cabs. We used all 4 methods but found Uber to be the most convenient and reasonably priced.

Tourist taxi

We enjoyed Old Town Mazatlan with its focal point being the quintessential and popular zocalo (town square) and fabulous giant market place. Tightly packed stalls sold everything from clothing, jewellery, knickknacks, etc. and fresh chicken, beef, fish, etc. Fresh produce was second to none and the little eateries served basic but delicious and cheap typical Mexican foods.

Park area of zocalo

Busy vendor of colourful dolls

Early one morning, we climbed to the top of the popular lighthouse peak (Faro Mazatlan National Park) that towered above our anchorage. This cliff rises to only 157 metres but you hike 745 metres of sloping path before climbing 336 steps to the top where you share a 360° panorama with the lighthouse. There is also a short glass walk over the sight directly below for which you pay a small fee.

Cactii along the path

Vista above our anchorage

We spent some enjoyable time with Sylvia and Dirk, friends on another boat, Lison Life. The 4 of us stopped at a small restaurant one Sunday and asked for pescado (fish). At first we were told no, they did not have pescado. But 2 seconds later, they changed their mind, and said, Oh wait, come in, we can serve you pescado. After taking a table, we noticed that a staff member quickly left and soon returned - she had run out to buy some fish to serve us. When Jordan ordered a banana smoothie, she again ran out to purchase bananas. How accommodating!

The next evening, we left Mazatlan and the smell of the stinky sewer treatment plant behind for the crossing to San Jose del Cabo, on the lower end of the Baja, sailing on a broad reach most of the way.

Anchorages:
Cruising to La Cruz May 25 to May 26
N20°45.215' W105°22.093' May 26 La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
Cruising to Mazatlan May 27 to May May 29
N23°10.931' W106°25.335' May 29 Mazatlan

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