Huatulco and White Water Rafting

Hi Guys,

Huatulco - 29 March 2011

(Latitude: 15 46’North Longitude: 96 08’ West)

(Time -5 GMT)

We pull into Huatulco at the foothills of the Southern Sierra Madre Mountains in the beautiful state of Oaxaca; it is 513 kms south along the Mexican coast from Acapulco.

Roy with a Welcome

Aurora visits Huatalco

Following the success of Cancun, the Mexican Government looked for an equivalent resort on the Pacific coast; the result was Huatulco, based around 9 bays and 22 miles of stunning beaches. It curious that the wording that I am reading suggests that the Mexican Government might ignore Acapulco as an alternate to Cancun and select Huatulco, hopefully, the wording should read, “An additional resort”.

The ship pulls right into town such that the bow towers above the local beach. We go on a “White Water Rafting” experience and we are whisked off along a highway in an open safari truck which provides good air-conditioning. The temperature is in the 90s with the humidity like that of NY in August. We turn off into the jungle to the Copalita river up in the mountains.

Huatulco and Marina

We have a “safety briefing” limited to a finger pointed to the mountain of life jackets that each of us was to wear, but no crash hat was required. The rubber dingy comfortably held 10 of us perched on the inflated gunwales, all those on the outside where armed with a paddle, and in his best Spanglish Juan would urge us, “Forward” and “No paddle” and sometimes more urgently, “No paddle” “No paaaaddle” The boat would sometimes get stuck on the round rocks and we would sit there as the boat made “whorls” until Juan got out and heaved a bit On occasions Juan could not get us moving and it was necessary for me to get out and assist as I, “heave a bit” myself, then I am urged to do my “Hawaii Five-O” bit. and paaaaddle ..




Down the Copalita without a paddle




Roy and Hawaii Five-O




OOOO KKKK


We proceed down the river crossing white water bits and observe cormorants drying their wings, a kingfisher flit around, some egrets watch us furtively, other birds I cannot identify. and we enjoy a thoroughly lazy amble down the river almost to the surf where we see it crashing in the distance.

The return to town and wander around this 10 block town with a nearby marina, a couple of hotels, restaurants and a lobster house that are strung along the beachfront just to trap the cruise ship passenger who might like a belly bursting lobster and a $6 beer, kinda charming. We walk off the main road to find, “La Cantina” with the published menu prices and the beer for $1.50. We order tacos, enchiladas and a couple of beers and were completely happy. We wander around the stores and reject the $220 silver earrings and enjoy the marina on the way back to the Aurora.