Huatulco 2023 Monte Cruz trail ride to Playa Cacaluta with friends. Sendero Cruz del Monte

Hitting the Monte Cruz trail, this time from the Crucecita entrance with friends.

That's our trailhead coming up at the end of this residential street.  Turn off at the Binniguenda Hotel corner.

This is it.

Away we go. Lucero takes the lead.

This is a great place for a pitstop.  There are giant banners explaining the legend of Monte Cruz. I had been by here recently and a local man tried to explain it to me but I only understood about 50% or less.  Isaac filled in the gaps and it seems that I'd had the gist of it after all.  It's nice to have it confirmed. 

Time to push through the sand.

This is the trail intersection from the previous post. From this direction, it is a little easier to miss so keep your eyes open.  Even Isaac says he passed it on by one time and he's the guy I depend on for directions.

It was especially advantageous to be travelling with friends this time because I had a puncture on the way back.  We didn't bring a pump because we never need one.  Ha!  I wanted to just send them along and finish the trail.  Isaac had the good sense for us to walk back together on  the paved route.  He was right.  There was no way I would have made it out of that jungle before nightfall.  Maybe if I ran but that isn't the sort of thing I do.

It's getting sandy again.

Previous visits

https://alackofcleardirection.blogspot.com/2023/01/new-years-eve-day-huatulco-2022-monte.html
https://alackofcleardirection.blogspot.com/2016/12/return-to-sendero-cruz-del-monte.html

https://alackofcleardirection.blogspot.com/2021/03/adventure-night-ride-to-cacaluta.html

Huatulco 2022 Monte Cruz trail to Playa Cacaluta New Years Eve Day Solo Ride

This was my first ever solo journey from the highway entrance of the Monte Cruz trail to Playa Cacaluta.  The trail is reasonably safe but it is always better to enter the jungle with friends.  Things can happen and there is no cellphone coverage.

Travelling from downtown Crucecita in the direction of Pochutla for about 2 kms, you'll find this roadside sign indicating the entrance.  Other than the sign, which motorists could easily miss, it is rather discreet.

Make sure the traffic is clear before crossing.  This is the highway and some drivers are in an awful hurry to get to the beach.  

Not far from the entrance, you will come to this gate.  It's there to stop motorized traffic.  Just pull your bike through one of the gaps.

Most  of the trail is a smooth dirt road with a few rough spots where the rain has dug runnels.  

The advantage of taking the highway route is that it is a gradual climb from downtown and the trail is mostly downhill freewheeling.  But keep both hands on the handlebars, near the break and don't accelerate too much.  There are lots of surprises and a few sharp bends. 

This is the park rangers station.  I didn't see anyone that morning but the sun was barely up when I arrived and hadn't penetrated the trees yet.

 There's a good reason to wear a helmet.  Duck.

At this intersection, turning left takes you back to town and the right leads to Playa Cacaluta. 

This feels more like a trail at this point.  You might squeeze an ATV through here but parts of it are extremely narrow.

On this part in particular, the trail hugs the embankment of the dry riverbed and there's no room to get off and walk beside your walk.  You have to push it in front of you. 

Cross the river here.

Follow other people's bike tracks and you'll rejoin the trail here.

On this route, it is easy to pass right on by the sign because you're facing the wrong way.  Take a look back at every fork you pass so you don't miss it.

This road takes you the rest of the way, getting sandier and sandier the closer you get to the beach until you need to hop off your bike and push.

 

And we made it.

See the trail in motion.

Earlier visits

https://alackofcleardirection.blogspot.com/2015/10/cruz-del-monte-trail-sendero-cruz-del.html

https://alackofcleardirection.blogspot.com/2016/12/return-to-sendero-cruz-del-monte.html

https://alackofcleardirection.blogspot.com/2021/03/adventure-night-ride-to-cacaluta.html

The Far Side of Santa Cruz

 Last Wednesday, I checked off an old item from my bucket list.  I've been whimsically toying with the idea of exploring the small beaches on the other side of Santa Cruz, past the cruise ship wharf, for years.  I mentioned it to William the previous morning and he was interested so we called Isaac and off we went.   The first beach gets a little traffic but not too much.  It's perfect for families with small children.  The water isn't very deep and they are no waves to speak of.

Even at 8:30 AM, it's very quiet here.  You can say that about all of Huatuclo these days but I think that's normal for this quiet little cove.  There's a great boat launch here for small craft.

The canal from the marina is right on the other side of that red beacon light.

Here we are prepping for our journey.  People can rent kayaks somewhere around here.  That's the usual way for visiting the series of tiny beaches.  As far as I know, people don't swim out there too often.

Here we are resting at the sixth beach.  Will doesn't rest for very long.

Will and Isaac both brought googles for the trip.  I wish I had too because once you're past the second beach, there is a coral reef all the way to the end and there is so much to see.  Will, sharp-eyed as ever, spotted a child's snorkeling mask with a broken strap at the bottom so I could just hold it up too my face and take short peeks of everything down there.  Next time, and there will be a next time, I'm bringing my goggles.

I think this is beach number 5.  Apparently all of these beaches have individual names but there was no one there to tell us and no signs.

Group shot.   That was a fun day.  Thanks, Isaac for sharing some of your great pics.