We departed Guaymas at 7.00AM, retraced our route back to toll road #15, about a 10 minute drive.   Once on the highway we came immediately to a toll booth and had to pay 93 pesos.   The first 10 kilometres after the toll booth was new pavement, and smooth.   However, we wonder what they did with the toll money after that.   Highway #15 was rough, many potholes had been patched but still had rough spots.   Some dips in the road caused the springs on the truck to bottom-out.   We encountered many speed bumps (topes) along the way.   As we passed through a some towns the speed bumps provided good opportunities for the local Mexicans to sell their wares to the slowing traffic.    We saw beautiful wicker furniture for sale at one spot, but for the most part people were trying to sell either newspapers, food or beverages.

We passed one military checkpoint enroute.   The soldiers were dressed in desert style camouflage outfits, had shelters built with sandbags, were armed with automatic weapons, but smile graciously and waved us through.    

We paid two more tolls on the way totalling about $150 pesos.    We also passed through a federal police roadblock without incident.    The traffic was light, the road straight but rough so we try to keep our speed down for fear of something shifting or breaking in the trailer.

We reached the town of Huatabampo (pronounced- Wha-ta-bam-po) around 11.30AM, followed signs through the city and stopped at Sorianna’s supermarket to pick up a few things.   Immediately after the supermarket we turned right following signs for Huatabampito.   We knew from information on the internet that Huatabampito was roughly 40 kilometres from highway #15.   What we didn’t know was that the road had unmarked topes, and had places that had been washed out by hurricane Norbert two weeks earlier.  We continued on undaunted.   There were places that the sand had been blown across the road, but eventually we noticed a large sign on our right indicating El Mirador Hotel and RV Campground.   We turned into the sandy laneway and drove up to a yellow building that had the name El Mirador painted on it.    As I stopped out front a gentleman came out of the building to greet us.    We introduced ourselves and he said we could have any site we liked.    Here as in Guaymas we were the only RV campers in the park.   I guess that’s what it is to be ahead of the season.

We chose a site with an ocean view not far from the office.    The sites are packed sand and our trailer bogged down a little in the top layers of sand.    But we were able to manouvre into position.   An electrical problem with one of the outlets was quickly resolved by the owner Enrique and we settled in an got things set up.

Our site with ocean view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beach at Huatabampito is flat, wide, and probably 20 kilometres long.   In certain areas there are sand dunes just back of the beach.   It,  like Bahai de Kino is a shell collectors paradise.   While there were some of the same sorts of shells, I did find many different kinds that I had not seen before.   The water off the beach is shallow for a good distance out, which makes for ideal swimming conditions.  

We enjoyed watching the seagulls and pelicans diving from high above the water, into schools of flying fish that could be seen breaking the surface.  

Later, we decided to combine an offer of a free Margarita by the owner, with supper at their restaurant.   The ambiance was truly Mexican.   Being Sunday there were many Mexican families enjoying the beach.   When we entered the outdoor terrace of the restaurant it was almost full of Mexican families, happily enjoying each other, the view, and a good meal.   Nicole opted for a fried chicken dish and I ordered enchilladas.   We started off with a dish of nachos and a delightful sause, and our waiter Daniel promptly produced two large Margaritas.   We both enjoyed our supper and returned to the trailer shortly thereafter, so that Sunny was not left alone too long.

We had supper under la palapa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had been warned by the owner’s wife Martha, that a dusk we should make sure we closed up the trailer because that is when the mosquitos came out.   We later learned that rain produced by hurricane Norbert, and mangroves located on the opposite side of the roadway made for ideal habitat for the pesky criters.  Sure enough as soon as the sun set out they came.   We found them to be unrelenting and determined in finding their next meal.    The next morning while walking on the beach, had to return to the trailer for long pants, and a jacket as the mosquitos and what I believe were sand fleas were not deterred by my insect repellant.  We found that even during the day if you walked in shady areas, the little devils were after you.   Owner, Enrique told us that by the 1st of November the mosquitos season was finished.    

The next morning I was on the beach by 6.00AM, and surprised by the number of fisherman is small pangas not far off shore.   The sun was just coming up, the humidity was very high, and everything was covered in a heavy dew.   Apparently, shrimp, crab and various fish species are readily available not far off shore.  

Sunrise on the beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the second day of our visit I did some snorkeling several hundred feet from shore.    However, the sandy bottom and the constant turbulence caused by the waves breaking on shore made for murky water and  difficulty seeing bottom.   There is no apparent reef close to shore at the Huatabampito beach.  Seagulls, Cormorants, Pelicans and Turkey Vultures vie for ownership of the waterfront.

Pelicans having a siesta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The afternoon of our second day we had some visitors to the RV park.   This made for a truly Mexican experience.

All visitors are welcome at El Mirador.

Besides walking the beach for several kilometres in each direction, I also took a stroll along the roadway.  It was interesting to observe the different styles of haciendas built on the sand.   White seemed to be the prominent colour of the houses.   The majority were luxurious places, large, and well landscaped.   Others were smaller in a different stages of construction.

This house was beautifully landscaped.

 

New hacienda under construction.

The owner of the park Enrique, his wife Martha, their children and staff were friendly, and helpful which made for a very pleasant stay.    I learned from Enrique that his father, nearly fourty years ago bought a small piece of beachfront property and built a thriving bar/restaurant.   Over the years, neighbouring properties were purchased allowing for the creation of the RV park and a small motel.   The old original building is currently being renovated and plans are to make it the restaurant.   The current restaurant will be converted to a clubhouse for the RV park.    Enrique also told me he plans to extend the sea-wall across the front of the property.

Renovations for a new restaurant.

One only dreams of having a beach all to themselves, but one morning I walked the beach for several hours collecting shells, and other than a few seagulls, and sandpipers never saw another person.   Estan muy tranquilo.

View of beach looking north.

View looking south,our trailer other side of yellow building.

While at El Mirador RV park on two occasions I got to experience true Mexican culture.  Our first night there Enrique invited me to join himself, his brother, and three other friends for a mini fiesta.  Erique’s brother is a multi-talented singer/musician.   He played the accordian and one of the other chaps had a guitar.  All of them were exceptional singers.   I was introduced to what they referred to as “traditional Mexican musica”.

We sat around a table in the restaurant and as one of them would think of a song, la guitarra was passed to them and they would sing a song.   Brother would accompany on the accordian.   It was truly a night to remember.  

On the second occasion I was sitting outside the trailer playing the guitar one afternoon.   I had just put the guitar away and was in the trailer when two amigos that I didn’t know drove up beside the trailer in a green Ford Explorer with California licence plates.   The driver introduced himself as Ricardo, and his spanish speaking friend as Gaston.    He told me they both lived further down the beach and when driving by had seen me playing the guitar.   Gaston immediately produced a harmonica and started playing a blues type song.   When he finished he said, ” Me gusta la musica.”    Ricardo asked if I wanted to get together with them later on and have a few beers and play some music.   Enrique graciously let us use part of the restaurant, away for the pesky mosquitos and we enjoyed a couple of hours of old rock and roll and blues songs.    I don’t pretend to be a good guitar player, but enjoy playing rock and roll type songs for my own pleasure.    The two Mexican friends seem to enjoy the jam session, I think because the music was different from what they would normally hear in Mexico.    All in all it was alot of fun.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at El Mirador, the only negative being the non-stop mosquitos.  We would definately return, but probably later in November or during the winter months when it is reported there are no mosquitos.

Statistics

Kilometres-190   Diesel $40.00   Camping Fee $18. US X 4 = $72.US + tax