Chacala

We motor-sailed (to charge our batteries) to the small bay and even smaller tourist village of Chacala in four hours. The "current" charts for this area put us about two miles East of our actual position and warn of non-existent rocks and other hazards.

The bay is very small in Chacala, so the swell refracts around the point, making a stern anchor mandatory for getting a good night's sleep. Even so, our first anchor position was very far out into the bay, making nights in the vee-berth like a gentle, continuous bungy-jump. Despite this, we did sleep well there.

After two nights, we decided to tuck in behind Escapade to get out of the swell and the boat was much more comfortable. Chacala has turned out to be our favorite anchorage so far. With the stern anchor, rolling is turned to a comfortable pitching. The beach has good surf and good swimming. The village is touristy enough that you can order a hamburger on the beach, but not touristy enough that you are surrounded by beach vendors (eg. we bought leche-de-burro soap from a fifth-generation soap-maker).

The sun set in the opening to the bay each night and the hammock strung is becoming the favourite spot on the boat. We have enough provisions to stay here as long as we like and Justin really likes it here so we may say a while. When we move on, we will update this entry to put it in the past tense.