After a week or so in Bahia Chachacual, we went 3 nautical miles East to one of the adjacent bays, Bahia Maguey. It only took us 30 minutes. At the head of the bay in Maguey there are 6 or 7 beachside restaurants and a small mini-mart. Anchorage was easy in 20 feet of water and plenty of room free of the pangaas that lined the shore during the busy tourist hours. Both sides of the bay are roped off to protect the large coral growth and to provide boat-free snorkel safe areas. The water is crystal clear.
The water temperature is a pleasant 83-84 degrees and the air temperature 80-90 degrees it is VERY perfect.
The snorkeling has been outstanding. We've covered a different area of the coral reef each time. We've discovered different fish (and eels) which is fun to see, research every time we go. In Maguey, there has been a school of herring that have been hiding out in the bay which has been cool to swim with and observe. The locals here say it will leave soon, when the whales start to head back north and won't be waiting outside the bay to eat them.
The national park of Hutaulco has done a really good job of keeping things clean, protected and for the enjoyment of tourists both international and national.
So after now almost two weeks in the park, you might wonder if we are bored crazy. Well not even a little bit. There is of course the "normal" stuff that we have to do. We get up with the sun, take care of our taxes, pay our bills, make phone calls to family and friends, do our laundry and cook our meals (all from scratch), fix broken things and of course watch the Superbowl.
One day this week I went into town and got some more fresh food (it had been 12 days since we'd been to a store). Yesterday Dan helped our friends go to the gas station to get more diesel to top off their fuel tanks.
And there there is the beach stuff. Every few days we treat ourselves to a beach excursion for fish tacos, guacamole or shrimp at a local restaurant. Other days we have 'sit' on the beach and play cards days. Regardless, EVERY day we've been here, we've snorkelled or and swam for several hours in the afternoon to cool off and get some exercise.
In the evenings we've been playing card games, listening to the live music coming from the beach, watching the stars or the full moon and planning our passage to the next destination. We go to bed exhausted from the time in the sun and the salt in our air.
We are coming to the end of our time here in Huatulco Bay National park. We've loved our time here. But now, we are currently looking for optimal weather windows to cross the the Gulf of Tehuantepec. We need a 48 hour window to pass during a lull in frequent gales that blow in from the Caribbean.
Happy Valentines Day! Onward.
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