Our week at Barillas just flew by.
The adventure and relaxation that we all needed began with a Monkey Walk in the nearby jungle. We met up with Angel Jimenez, who lives close to the family of spider monkeys. As we approach the trees where they live, Angel calls out “Pancho! Pancho”, and suddenly we are surrounded by 6-8 cute little monkeys, all reaching for the bananas that Angel has brought with him. We are allowed to feed them too and Savannah giggles as the mother with baby pulls her hand down to steal the sweet treat. Jen (s/v Eternal Bliss), on the other hand, has an entirely different experience as the little guy in the tree above her decides it’s time to pee !!

It’s a lazy pace at Barillas. We start each day with a bit of school work and perhaps a small boat project. As the heat increases, our speed decreases, and so the afternoons are spent in the pool sipping cold cervezas or whipped frozen coconut smoothies (BTW, my new favorite drink!)

The complimentary, air-conditioned van takes a group of us to the town of ‘Usulutan’ to re-provision our perishables. It’s a bumpy, but interesting, 45 minute ride to town as we pass thru sugar cane fields and make our way to the paved highway. The open-air markets and ‘rabbit’ grocery have more than we need and the vendors are very friendly and happy to chat as Kim and I practice our Spanish.
It’s lunchtime and shopping has given us an appetite. The market stalls where ‘pupusas’ are being made are small and hot, but we are anxious to try El Salvador’s traditional dish made of rice masa with beans and cheese. Yummy and cheap!
Cold beers are passed around the van and we share ‘market’ stories during the ride back to the estuary.

Laundry services are available and propane bottles get filled. We are never really sure what day it is, but know we need to think about our next port of call. Check-out procedures begin with an informal gathering (in bathing suits) under a palapa by the pool. Port Authority has agreed to give us our international ‘zarpe’ (exit papers to be given to the next country) a day early. This means that we only need to check out with immigration on Tuesday morning. A lancha (dingy) is sent for us at 5am and the immigration officer is happily waiting for us. The exit papers are quickly completed and passports are stamped. It’s amazing how well we are all functioning at such an early hour ☺. Walter is waiting to guide up the estuary, thru the opening in the sand bar, and back to the ocean.

The staff at Marina Barillas and the people of El Salvador have shown us incredible kindness and hospitality. It is a ‘must stop’ for anyone traveling in this area.

Next stop: Punta Ampala anchorage for a quick overnight stop – then on to Isla Meanguera (in la Bahia de Fonseca) for a day of snorkeling and boat bottom inspections.