Bahia de los Suenios, Baja, Mexico

We were lucky to have visitors for the holidays as Mark's parents, Lucie and Rolf, flew over from Guadalajara to meet us for the Easter weekend in Los Barrilles. On Saturday, we ventured north along the coast to Bahia de los Suenios or the Bay of Dreams. Apparently, we weren't the only ones! The beach was packed with Mexicans on vacation for Semana Santa. Personal space is such a cultural construct. Everyone was very well behaved, but we did have to move about ten beer cans and a few empty bags of chips which were strewn on the small plot of sand we hoped to claim for a few hours. We abandoned plans to snorkel and put our new open kayak in the water to let everyone get out for a paddle.

When the fishing pangas rolled in around 1pm and unloaded their catch, everyone gathered around to see what they had reeled in. There were a few very happy fishermen who had landed marlins and tuna which inspired Mark and Rolf to make a date with a local fisherman to go out the next morning and try their luck. We had a lovely late lunch at the restaurant overlooking the hoards and then made the 60 minute drive back home to Verdugo's Campground.

Cabo Pulmo, Baja, Mexico

The East Cape is reached by a rough, dirt road which leads to white sand beaches and spectacular turquoise waters. The Cabo Pulmo Marine Park protects the coral reefs which lie offshore. These natural structures create the perfect habitat for viewing a wide variety of sea life. Unfortunately, after making the long drive to the beach, we discovered that the wind had kicked up. Snorkelling was miserable, the water was murky, and the currents made swimming less than desirable. This is a huge tourist hot spot, so I think we will likely avoid it during the coming holiday. We will definitely return on a calm day to witness the beauty and wonder that were so elusive on the day we made the trip.

Santiago waterfalls, Baja, Mexico

On a day that forecasted wild winds, we left the beach behind and headed to the tiny town of Santiago in the mountains about 50km from Los Barrilles. The sand road was bumpy, but well worth the drive to see the beautiful canyon and waterfall in Canion de la Zorra. The girls got friendly with some local burros (donkeys) and then hiked down the steep stone steps to the sparkling pools of green. We had the whole place to ourselves and it was blissful on this sunny, spring day. The girls leapt from the rocks performing spins and twirls, while Mark decided to climb to the top of the waterfall by scaling the rocks. He landed with a painful slap against his bottom and suffered the harassment of his daughters who critiqued his form all the way home. This is a place of spectacular beauty and we were so lucky to experience it in the way we did. Absolutely unforgettable!

Punta Pescadero, Baja, Mexico

Just a five mile boat ride along the coast, yields some amazing aquatic life in the crystal clear waters off of Punta Pescadero. We could see 30 feet down and watch all the fish, rays, and other sea life swarming around the rocky reefs offshore. Some days the area can be plagued by wicked currents, but closer to shore the waters are fairly calm and the experience is akin to swimming in an aquarium full of tropical fish.

The girls are becoming expert divers and love swimming after tropical fish in the hopes of catching one. Nicole's new favourite activity is to dive to the bottom and bring up rocks or sand to prove she made it. Heidi is right behind her collecting "proof rocks" which attest to the fact that she made it down 10 feet! They will soon surpass me and join Mark on his spear-fishing adventures.

Flying rays in action