Tenacatita & Barra De Navidad: Dinghy Dramas, Crocodiles & Cruiser Goodbyes

Date: January 2, 2024 - Feb 23, 2024

Starting Location: Barra De Navidad

Ending Location: Tenacatita, Barra, Tenacatita

Conditions: Sunny!

Miles Sailed: 47 NM

Crew Status: Tired and a constant state of hungover

After a quick three-hour motor from Barra de Navidad, we were anchored back in

Tenacatita Bay, ready to soak up more of its laid-back charm. The plan was simple:

stay until we ran out of food, then head back to Barra.

Hikes, Crocs, and Dinghy Mayhem

It didn’t take long before we found ourselves tagging along on a hike to the far side of the bay. While the destination—a dried-up waterfall—wasn’t exactly worth writing

home about, the crocodile sanctuary definitely was.

For just 50 pesos, we strolled through a “Mexico-safe” sanctuary filled with massive

crocs. It was quirky, a little sketchy, and totally worth it.

We may have lingered in town a bit too long. By the time we got back in the dinghy, the wind had picked up and the bay had turned… sporty. One of us bailed water as waves poured over the sides, while the other tried to steer around the worst of it. We arrived back at the boat soaked and salty. Lesson learned.

Mangrove Mishaps & a Leaky Dinghy

Next up on the dinghy adventure list: the popular mangrove route to the next beach

over. We loaded up the dog and navigated through the small surf break, dodging

waves over the stern as we entered the peaceful tunnel of green.

Cruising the mangroves

We were on the lookout for crocodiles (no luck), but the mangrove ride was still

beautiful. The beach on the other side was calm and perfect for an afternoon chill.

The return trip? Not so relaxing.

Friends ahead of us ran their dinghy aground, and as we maneuvered to avoid them,

the current pushed us onto the rocks. That’s when we heard it: the hiss of a leaking

pontoon. Yep, we popped the dinghy.

Back at the boat, we did a quick patch job—which, spoiler alert, didn’t hold. We spent

the rest of the winter inflating the dinghy daily. #BoatLife

Cruiser Routine: Surf, Sun & Palapa Beers

Despite the dinghy issues, the vibe in Tenacatita was unbeatable. The next week

blurred into a rhythm of: morning yoga, surf sessions, beach bocce and palapa beers.

But after ten days, it was time to return to Barra de Navidad—both for provisions and

Cruise-In Week, a sailing festival we’d heard great things about.

Back to Barra: Festivals, Pajaretes & Dive Bars

We motored back to Barra and dove straight into festival life. We met new cruisers,

reconnected with friends, and quickly became regulars at The Sands—a beloved local

pool/dive bar that’s basically a second home for sailors.

Cruise-In Week was full of events, social gatherings, and non-stop fun. Barra was

buzzing, and we soaked up every minute.

Not only did we visit dive bars in the afternoons, we started the early morning with Pajarets, or boozy goat milk coffee. Simply put, we walked out of town to a stand with a goat, a table and a farmer. You mix up some instant coffee, grain Alchohol, light it on fire and then put the fire out by milking the goat into the flaming cup. Weird? Yes. Delicious? Also yes.

Turning North (Slowly)

As March was nearing, it was time to think about heading toward Banderas Bay. We

said tough goodbyes to friends heading farther south and reluctantly left Barra behind.

After a month in the lagoon, our hull was disgusting. We motored out of Barra at a

crawling 3 knots toward Tenacatita. It was a slow trip.

Just One More Week…

We planned to pass through Tenacatita quickly, but cruising rarely goes according to

plan. More friends showed up, and suddenly we were back in full swing—surfing,

playing beach bocce, and sharing sundowners on each other’s boats.

Finally, after 10 more glorious days, we said our official (maybe) goodbyes—unless, of course, we run into each other again in the Caribbean.

With that, we pointed the bow north and set out to begin our spring and summer

season.