Ensenada de Carrizal

Ensenada de Carrizal

We ended up staying one more day in Santiago but left the next day, February 27th for Carrizal bright and early. Carrizal is just 4NM from Santiago. So it took us less than an hour to get there and to get anchored. 

This place is so gorgeous! It’s a small-uninhabited cove surrounded by lush green jungle covered mountains. The water is a crystal blue aquamarine color. There are no palapas, restaurants, houses or hotels in sight, just water, sand and mountains.

Notre Isle anchored

While we were there in our newfound paradise, there was only one other sailboat anchored in the cove…our newest friends, Cindy and Marcus on SV Rebecca. We met this couple in Santiago just the day before. They are from Grass Valley and have been cruising for the past 7 years.

During our stay in Carrizal, we mostly swam, snorkeled and took little trips in the dinghy exploring the banks of the bay. Snorkeling was SO much fun! It’s my new favorite thing! I have never REALLY snorkeled before.  I’ve attempted a few times with girlfriends or family but it always turned into a laughing fest and I ended up choking and getting water in my facemask, so I gave it up. This time, I had all the right equipment, which really seems to have made a difference! Before Rick and I left Sacramento, we went into a dive shop and bought new fins a new mask and snorkel. They weren’t cheap, but I’m seeing you definitely get what you pay for when it comes to diving gear.

Harley asking permission to go swimming!

This is Harley swimming back to our dinghy. Since the shore was so rocky we had to toss her off the side of the dinghy and instruct her to "go potty" on the shore and then call her back to us.

As we snorkeled we saw some super colorful fish. Not too many different types, but loved the variety that we saw. One small yellow fish in particular took turns following Rick and I around. It would swim right next to our face masks almost as a permanent fixture. It was like having Dory (from Finding Nemo) follow us around. One day Harley joined us snorkeling. She would swim right by our sides not getting in our way like she does when we try to surf or body surf.

 

Mr. Pelican perching on the cliff 

Watching the fishermen casting their nets. What an art!

Our tour guide :)

What I loved about snorkeling besides seeing brightly colored fish was the weightlessness that I felt as I just let myself float and observe, swaying back and forth with the tide.

Sunrise at Carrizal

After 3 nights in Carrizal we buddy boated with SV Rebecca over to Barra de Navidad. The winds were super light and on our nose as well as the swells. So we were unable to sail and just motored. It was a beautiful day out and I was enjoying just staring out at the blue water and the sandy shores.

Just rounding the corner to Barra de Navidad

 

SV Rebecca anchored behind us at the anchorage in the Lagoon

We arrived in Barra around 1:40 p.m. This time in Barra we did not dock at the marina, but we anchored out in the Lagoon. The Lagoon is just beyond the Grand Isla Resort & Marina. Mangroves surround the edges of the Lagoon. There is a small village on the south side of the Lagoon, which we plan to check out one day while we are here.

Later in the evening Rick and I took the water taxi into Barra and had dinner.

Took a walk the next day to the other side of the golf course on the beach. A long walk that takes you to a stone stairway that's carved into the cliffs. We climbed the stairs and to the other side of the cliff to a beautiful little cove with waves crashing on the rocks. So pretty!

Spent a few days in Barra. Took the bus to Melaque one day with Cyndi and Marcus for dinner and a little provisioning.

We left Barra buddy boating again with SV Rebecca - Cyndi and Marcus, on March 5th.