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Perry and Cindy Mack
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Perry and Cindy Mack
Words by Perry and Cindy Mack
We will give you the most valuable travel tip right at the beginning. If you take nothing else away from our story - take this. The most important aspect of any trip or tour, regardless of how beautiful, or disappointing the accommodations, weather or landscape, is always the company you keep that makes it a spectacular success or a spectacular disaster.
Perry's brother and sister-in-law are probably the best traveling companions on the planet. Yes, that is a bold statement. They are the perfect combination of storytellers, positive outlook, on-demand walking Wikipedias, and giving hearts that can only come from Atlantic Canada.
Isla de Venados (Deer Island), is the largest of Mazatlan's coastal islands and part of the nature reserve that includes all 900+ islands in the Sea of Cortez that UNESCO has declared as World Heritage Site. At one time a tour was offered which included a tour hiking to the top of the Island. However, the current cruise doesn't encourage it.
We boarded the Kolonahe catamaran ready for the open bar all-day cruise. We settled into a spot on the boat and waited as our English speaking server made the rounds taking and delivering drink orders. Tip number two; order two (or more) drinks right away as it can take a while for him to get to all guests and return to you.
You may have already guessed that the tour was unspectacular for us. There was nothing wrong with it, there just wasn't anything about it that we can say “It was the most….”. The tour leaves El Cid Marina and swings south around ‘Islas Blancas', also known as 'Los Dos Hermanos', the 'White Islands' or 'Two Brothers.' Early researchers (California Academy of Sciences 1895) deduced the colour of the islets as white volcanic rock, while more recent observations attribute the colour to seagull droppings.
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After cruising past the Two Brothers, we came upon the sea lion colony as advertised - six sea lions on a rock - before we were deposited on Deer Island. It is an eastwardly facing narrow, short strand of beach protected from the Pacific Ocean waves, which makes it an excellent spot for watersports. The tour includes complimentary use of kayaks, snorkel gear and banana boat rides. If you’ve snorkeled anywhere like the Caribbean or Hawaii, this will be a disappointment. If you’ve kayaked anywhere, this will be a disappointment. If you have never snorkeled or kayaked anywhere in the world - go forth and enjoy!
Lunch was included and while acceptable, was low by Mazatlan standards, which are quite high. Unlimited liquor was included, although when we went to the bar the bartender was absent. Your humble authors, ever the helpful Canadians, went behind the bar and began serving drinks. To coin an overused catchphrase, "a good time was had by all."
This returns us to the number one travel tip, and an unpresuming beach volleyball ‘court’. Beginning with the Mack family of four, we cajoled, invited, seduced, lured, and tempted the visiting vacationers into a game until it grew into the 'First-Ever International Mexico vs Canada Beach Volleyball' tournament, the International Canadians vs Americans Beach Volleyball' tournament, the Men vs Women Beach Volleyball' tournament, the International Over and Under 30 Beach Volleyball' tournament and any other 'This Side vs That Side International Beach Volleyball' tournament. Once again, a good time was had by all, if only all ‘conflicts’ could be resolved as enjoyably.
Eventually, it was time to return ‘home’. While unexceptional in any one aspect, it was an amazing day of sun, sand, and surf, which may be all it takes to gather an international group of vacationers for a glorious afternoon. With your expectations in check, it will be a glorious afternoon for you as well.
The tour is sold by several tour resellers for about $65 USD but is actually run by the Aries fleet out of El Cid Marina. To book direct; ariesfleet@elcid.com.mx or (52) 669 916 34 68.