It is very hot and the wind is not really enough to motivate us to hoist a sail. We are waiting for some breeze to take us 850 miles across the Pacific to the Galapagos. Our GRIB file forecasts are relentlessly light and variable.  So we have had a few days island hopping in Las Perlas.

Our first anchorage at Pachequa was surrounded by so much life, in the sea and the air.  Squawking seabirds in vast numbers. Pelicans dive-bombing, whole colonies of cormorants taking flight, fish jumping, dolphins never far away.

We made our way to Isla Contadora with the promise of a bar or restaurant, we found both and had a memorable return trip to the boat that night. 3-up on the paddle board splashing towards Escapade through bright bioluminescent sea.

Next anchorage was a hot swampy lagoon. Just us and a million birds. We were too worried about crocodiles to swim.

The following day we found the pearl in Las Perlas. The tiny islet of Boyaneta is a bank of white sand on a ridge of rock. Clear water to cool off in, no sign of crocs. A wild and beautiful speck of land.

I am loving the freedom to explore again. Open the pilot book, pick an island and plot a course, nobody around, go where you like and probably catch supper on the way.

We visited the village on Isla Pedro Gonzales and threaded the narrow and shallow channel Ventura Cruz through the jungle to Isla del Rey.  While we were keeping an eye on the depth and calculating the tide, we couldn’t help noticing the sharks and crocodiles in the channel, so no swimming there.

We plan to leave tomorrow, next post should be from The Galapagos, wind permitting!

• escapadesailing
• April 9, 2018
• Uncategorized
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