Sayulita surfing

Sayulita is well known for surfing, especially for novice surfers. The waves can get kind of crowded with beginning surfers this time of year.

If you plan to surf Sayulita, don’t bother booking one of the $45 lessons online in advance. For 400 pesos (< US$23) you can get a lesson, rashguard shirt, and surfboard for the rest of the day if you just hit the locals up on the beach. We did this on one of the busiest days of the year, too, so it isn't like they will be gone if you don't make a prior reservation.

Posted on December 23rd, 2015 under Other. Tags: ellie, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D750, pacific ocean, sayulita mexico, surfing. Comments Off on Surfing Sayulita

Our first stop once we arrived at the Marieta Islands (accessible by boat from Sayulita, Puerto Vallarta, or anywhere in between) was the now famous “hidden beach” or “beach of love” (Playa del Amor). We went there first to beat the crowds and arrived with “only” 50 or so other people. By the time we left there were hundreds. The photos of this beach when it is empty are amazing, but the massive numbers of people really detract from its specialness. Our guide indicated that it has only become popular in the past 5-10 years thanks to the internet and before that it was very cool.

image of “Playa del Amor” not by me – the place is never this empty anymore

We headed around the backside of one of the bigger islands to snorkel. This was the spot:

We were by ourselves here, and snorkeling, especially under the arch, was great. Unlike our snorkeling experiences in Hawaii and Thailand, we could stay in the water for as long as we wanted without ever becoming a bit cold.

Posted on December 21st, 2015 under Other. Tags: mexico, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D750, pacific ocean, sayulita mexico. Comments Off on Islas Marietas

Whale watching near Sayulita, Mexico

We went on an “eco-discovery/snorkeling experience” with Sayulita enTOURage this morning. We saw whales, but the conditions weren’t great for them. We didn’t get anything like the photos or videos on their website (no cresting or lobtailing), but it was still fun to see whales in the wild for the first time.

Posted on December 19th, 2015 under Other. Tags: AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II, mexico, Nikon D750, pacific ocean, sayulita mexico, wildlife. Comments Off on Whale watching

Tomorrow we will head to the same coast as that in today’s picture. However, we will be about 2,400 miles south in Sayulita, Mexico.

Posted on December 17th, 2015 under Oregon. Tags: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED Lens, Nikon D750, pacific ocean, sunset. Comments Off on Sunset over the Pacific

Spouting Horn at Cook’s Chasm (near Cape Perpetua on Oregon’s coast)

Posted on December 5th, 2015 under Oregon. Tags: ellie, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D750, Oregon, pacific ocean, yachats oregon. Comments Off on Spouting Horn