El Empachado 🇲🇽 🏝️

Our first morning at El Empachado, we grabbed the paddle-boards, hit the shore and followed a sheep trail that took us up the steep cliffside. The hike along the rugged ridge was an epic adventure, with every step offering jaw-dropping views. Once we reached the top, we were blown away by the gorgeous sights of the bays around us and the beautiful white sands of Playa El Corralito below.

As we explored the rugged coastline of Isla Espíritu Santo in the dinghy, a weathered sailboat washed up among the rocks caught our eye. Curiosity led us to shore in search of hidden treasures. We collected several pieces of hardwood, which Alex later integrated into our dinghy cradle on deck, ensuring the inflatable will be securely fastened as we continue our journey at sea.

The crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs created an ideal setting for snorkeling and swimming. You could easily spot the colorful fish swimming beneath the surface while standing on deck, and even the anchor was visible resting on the ocean floor. The stunning coral formations were truly remarkable and stood out as a highlight of this beautiful bay.

While hiking the ridge, we spotted mangroves in the distance and decided to take the paddle boards to explore. We stacked the boards and towed them behind the dinghy to the next bay over, where we anchored the dinghy and carried the boards through the narrow, shallow entrance to the mangrove pond. We paddled around the mangroves and enjoyed some time playing in the mud at the far end, while trying to spot sheep on the hill side. Baaaa 🐏