Our Tour To "La Manga"

Besides of a few errands in town we wanted to drive out to La Manga, a traditional fishing village a few km out west of San Carlos. I-Overlander mentions a few camping possibilities there and besides of being interested in seeing the village we also wanted to check out camping.

The "La Manga" adventure began with a sudden stop of the pavement. 

Road to "La Manga"

So we followed the gravel road into what looked like a remote village somewhere far away in Central America. Primitive shacks, half finished construction projects, some buildings obviously abandoned a long time ago and  ---- restaurants, a lot of them. They were built like open construction, one or two walls, or no walls at all, the roofs covered with palm leaves

What a great place to eat!

In the village of La Manga

Yes, this was old Mexico as we had never seen it. People there went about their business, a man working on his truck, a couple of people on a beach trying to catch fish, a woman looking down to us from her balcony.

Black Vultures

Beach at La Manga

These fishermen's families have been living here for ever, while modern life developed 7kms away in San Carlos and its outskirts where we had passed along fancy condominium complexes, gated communities and few modern hotel complexes. 

The contrast between rich and poor could not be bigger. While villagers are hoping for "Turistas" to frequent their restaurants, they are also facing a threat that rich developers might show up offering round sums of Pesos for land where they can build even more of the beautiful white condominiums.

Rocky coast at Pietras Pinta

And the area at La Manga is truly beautiful. Small white beaches flanked by rocks with the tempting blue waves of the Sea of Cortez would attract the same type of people who already have invested in their dream property from where they enjoy "million-dollar-views". But it also threatens the century-old way of living for Mexican families.

Cerro Tetakawi new development

Leaving rusty old entrance gates and car wrecks behind, we turned around and drove down to "Pietras Pintas". another truly beautiful beach. This is one of I-Overlander's camp areas, and it would be perfect for a small rig which is capable of navigating along the bumpy narrow roads leading to such treasures, but out of the question for a 40ft bus like ours.

MIRADOR LOOK-OUT

The next stop was the beautiful look-out MIRADOR. One of the most stunning views along the rocky coast. It reminds of coastal areas in Italy or Spain.

View from Mirador

Full of new impressions we made it back to the core of San Carlos and our camp.

San Carlos Air Squadron exercising