Colima – Maruata : 358 km

Yesterday was the warm up, today was our first real run. We drove from Colima to a beach about 5 hours away called Maruata. I've been to the beach before, and am always keen to go back. It's by far the most beautiful beach I've ever seen, and every time I go it amazes me more than the last. It was a new experience for me to get there so fast, since having the car means that you don't have to spend hours waiting to change buses, or to drive quite as slowly. Another great advantage of having a car is that you can stop wherever you like, to take a photo, buy a drink or go to the toilet.

We managed to recruit a couple of the Colima folk to come and keep us company as far as Maruata, and to pay for our petrol into the bargain, so the day got off to a good start, and after stopping for provisions we were on the road. We had decided the night before to stop off at the turtle camp near Tecomán to say hello and goodbye to some of the staff and volunteers there. When we actually arrived, there was hardly anybody there – they hadn't got back from Colima, where they had appeared at the same party as us the night before. Since there weren't so many goodbyes to say, we decided not to waste the stop, and went down the road to the laguna for a swim (the rip tide at the beach is too strong to swim in). This turned out to be one of Nicky's better plans. Not only was the water a much needed cool-down, but I managed to start a seaweed fight.

Back on the road to Maruata and stopping wherever we liked to look at the incredible views, we made it there in another couple of hours. After setting up at a 'hotel' (hut), we headed straight to the beach, where our recently acquired beers, ice and coolbox were all brought firmly in to play, and where Nicky started kicking himself for turning down all the previous visits. Despite attracting the attention of a rather too stoned local (“Where you from, man?”. “England”. “Cool man. You speak English?”), we all managed to relax and have fun. We were soon back at the hotel eating shrimp – the rooms may be primitive but the seafood is fantastic.

Related posts:

1. Maruata II
2. Guzmán – Colima : 61km
3. Maruata – Acapulco : 503 km
4. Almost Famous
5. The Big Night