Teacapán
1/19/09 – 1/22/09
Departing from Mazatlan, we were immediately struck by the absence of urban sprawl as the landscape changed quickly from urban streets to rural farms and small towns. A month in the city was excellent for familiarizing ourselves with some of the practicalities of Mexico, but we were ready and anxious to escape the constant noise of the city, namely niños, perros, and tubas.
We found our respite one hundred kilometers south, on the tranquil beaches of Teacapán, stopping along Mex 15 in Rosario for yet another perfectly prepared meal. We opted for chicken for lunch in an effort to support the local industry. Enormous chicken farms are visible along the roadside in southern Sinaloa. The terrain here ranges from rugged mountains to flat agricultural lowlands along the coastal stretch. Small vegetable production was prominent but on a smaller, more localized scale than in the northern end of the state. Coco palm plantations, in some cases double cropped with nut orchards, are prominent almost to the coastal edge.
Mountains of Southern Sinaloa
Double Cropping Coconut Palms
We drove through the numerous campground areas along the Teacapán coast and settled in at La Tambora, just north of town on a long secluded beach. The campground itself is really just a flat area on the back of the dunes, and is operated from the palapa style restaurant, which opens daily for a few hours in the middle of the day. Services on site are fairly limited but with a flush toilet at the restaurant and the ocean outside our van, we were more than content. This campground is extremely empty and quiet with spectacular views of the beach and sunset. We spent one evening watching dolphins seemingly perform in the surf, riding the waves. Breaching whales are also visible on the horizon. Beach combing is ideal with an abundance of sand dollars. The seabreeze keeps biting insects to a minimum and the waves change form throughout the day. The water surface can vary from surfable to glass and was always pleasant for swimming.
The beach at La Tambora
The sunset from our campsite
The town of Teacapán itself is a very small fishing town but is complete with all provisions from a bakery to hammock sales. We had lunch in town one day from what seemed to be a very popular chicken stand. The locals seem to order theirs to go but we ate in the small facility, having the only thing on the menu, a whole chicken (charcoal grilled) with salsa, tortillas, pasta, cucumbers, and lettuce for the bargain price of 65 pesos. The whole chicken provided two meals for us - clearly the locals take theirs home to feed a larger family!
A saltwater marsh and mangrove fringe give way a species rich estuary with abundant birdlife on the southern end of town. Fishing boats line the malecon and local seafood is readily available. Bird watching from the edge of the estuary is possible and guided boat tours through the estuary and into the jungle are available.
The malecon in Teacápan
A lesser used vessel
Mangrove fringe on the south end of town
American Egret
Departing from Mazatlan, we were immediately struck by the absence of urban sprawl as the landscape changed quickly from urban streets to rural farms and small towns. A month in the city was excellent for familiarizing ourselves with some of the practicalities of Mexico, but we were ready and anxious to escape the constant noise of the city, namely niños, perros, and tubas.
We found our respite one hundred kilometers south, on the tranquil beaches of Teacapán, stopping along Mex 15 in Rosario for yet another perfectly prepared meal. We opted for chicken for lunch in an effort to support the local industry. Enormous chicken farms are visible along the roadside in southern Sinaloa. The terrain here ranges from rugged mountains to flat agricultural lowlands along the coastal stretch. Small vegetable production was prominent but on a smaller, more localized scale than in the northern end of the state. Coco palm plantations, in some cases double cropped with nut orchards, are prominent almost to the coastal edge.
Mountains of Southern Sinaloa
Double Cropping Coconut Palms
We drove through the numerous campground areas along the Teacapán coast and settled in at La Tambora, just north of town on a long secluded beach. The campground itself is really just a flat area on the back of the dunes, and is operated from the palapa style restaurant, which opens daily for a few hours in the middle of the day. Services on site are fairly limited but with a flush toilet at the restaurant and the ocean outside our van, we were more than content. This campground is extremely empty and quiet with spectacular views of the beach and sunset. We spent one evening watching dolphins seemingly perform in the surf, riding the waves. Breaching whales are also visible on the horizon. Beach combing is ideal with an abundance of sand dollars. The seabreeze keeps biting insects to a minimum and the waves change form throughout the day. The water surface can vary from surfable to glass and was always pleasant for swimming.
The beach at La Tambora
The sunset from our campsite
The town of Teacapán itself is a very small fishing town but is complete with all provisions from a bakery to hammock sales. We had lunch in town one day from what seemed to be a very popular chicken stand. The locals seem to order theirs to go but we ate in the small facility, having the only thing on the menu, a whole chicken (charcoal grilled) with salsa, tortillas, pasta, cucumbers, and lettuce for the bargain price of 65 pesos. The whole chicken provided two meals for us - clearly the locals take theirs home to feed a larger family!
A saltwater marsh and mangrove fringe give way a species rich estuary with abundant birdlife on the southern end of town. Fishing boats line the malecon and local seafood is readily available. Bird watching from the edge of the estuary is possible and guided boat tours through the estuary and into the jungle are available.
The malecon in Teacápan
A lesser used vessel
Mangrove fringe on the south end of town
American Egret
Hey gals, its Dave, your neighbor from La Tambora. Thanks fo rthe tip on Sayulita, that place was pretty fun! good waves and a chill vibe.
ANother fun spot, kind of in the middle of nowhere is Nexpa, on the coast in Michoacan. mostly a surfer hang, but small nice town, beautiful beach, not overrun.
cheers!
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