Puerto Chiapas Mexico

About 40 miles from the southern most border of Mexico with Guatemala is the commercial port of Puerto Chiapas named after the stae in which it is located.. Our erly morning departure allowed for my to take a light breakfast on the aft deck (breakfast is served untill 10-30am in 16 locations of the ship so several vsists are possible if the light breakfast does not carry you over till lunch!

The port itself has made an attempt to provide some shore facities for tpassengers like a couple of restaurants and a shopping area it is non really Mexico. Mj had decided to stay on board as a week of doing nothing had worn  her out, I took a local bus inland to the closest real town -- Tapachula.

Tapachula is the center of an acricultural area; it is a bustling little place which has only been grazed by tourism making it worth the bus ride to vsisit. The organised excursion from the ship do stop here

As the town is close to the growing areas and the sea an abundance of fresh food stuffs are available at very low prices. There are so few toruist here that the price does is not hiked as soon as theye see you comming especially just a block away from the main square.

A short ride inland is worth the time and effort. The cost is minimal

Huatulco Mexico

Huatulco is half way between Puerto Vallarta and the Guatemalan Border It has thankfully been declared as part of an area for eco-tourism and has thus been protected for some of the violence that mass tourism and develpment can cause.

An early morning brought us intto a very small bay where the port is, once just a fishing village it has seen some development but still has a small port atmosphere despite its waterfront cafes and tourist clothing and handicraft shops

Beacuse of the smallness of the bay the ships moor surprisignly close to the beach.

                                    This is no trick of photography this is really what it looks like.

So far, of the ports of call, this seems to be the only one I could visist again. It  is surrounded by 9 lttle bays with beatiful beaches. Most are only reachable  by small boat.
the larger bays have low rise hotels and restaurants on then

"Stuff" does attract the attention of even a very exprienced traveller !..

The actual town is a short drive inland form the port. Although influenced by the advent of eco-tourism it still maintains the small Mexican town atmosphere including of course a very orrnate church.

When it was time to return to the ship it was very obvious just how narrow the jetty was.

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This is what 180,000 thousand tons of shuips look like moored only 75' appart'..