Matanchén

We left Isla Isabella at first light for the 45-mile sail southeast to the mainland. It was our best sailing so far this season. It wasn’t very fast (averaging just under 4 knots per hour), but the light winds were consistent. We didn’t need our motor at all for the entire 11 ½ hours it took us to reach Matanchén. And oh what a beautiful sunrise to begin our journey!

Along the way we noticed what we refer to as a bait-ball, where thousands of small fish are churning up the water (presumably trying to escape some predator below, only to become prey to predators from above).

Not far behind was someone else interested in hordes of small fish… juvenile whales. Several of them passed between our boat and the land traveling in the opposite direction. The water was fairly shallow this close to shore, so I assume mama was watching closely from deeper waters. Hope you are not tired of whale pictures from the last post…

We didn’t stay in Matanchén long (only a few days), because in spite of being a large, calm, protected bay ideal for anchoring, it is also a haven for no-see-ums. We anchored far away from land, made sure to always keep our no-see-um screens closed, and tried never to be out between dusk and dawn when they are most active, but of course it is impossible to get away with no bites. We both left with at least a dozen a piece.

While we didn’t go to the crocodile sanctuary this time, we were nevertheless reminded by this little guy that they don’t just live in the sanctuary and to keep a close eye on Lily.

Part of what we love about Matanchén is the miles of beautiful beach beyond all the palapa restaurants.

After being cooped up inside the boat so much of the time, it’s nice to have a place to get out and stretch our legs. It feels so tropical with the backdrop of a jungle landscape along the beach.

Lily leads the way making sure the beach is clear.

And she is not done until every last bird (in this case vultures), has been chased away!

This is the beach where some of you will remember from several years ago when Lily caught a fish in the surf which began her love of hunting in the water. Try as she might, she didn’t get one this year. She did however pull a dead eel carcass out of the water—which she was very proud of despite its lifeless attempt to get away.

We did not leave Matanchén at first light, or anywhere near sunrise. We wanted to make sure as many of the bloodthirsty no-see-ums as possible had a chance to disperse back to land from wence they came before putting ourselves on the menu out in the open on deck. Fortunately, our next destination is only about 24 miles south, so we had plenty of time to wait them out. We had a picturesque sail along the coast to Chacala.

And always a joy, as well as a good portent, we were accompanied by dolphins for a while along the way.

Well look at that, I managed a short one! Thanks for reading. Join us next time in Chacala…