Enjoying the sail from Barra to Cuastecomates
Just a few miles north of the towns of Barra de Navidad and Melaque is a small bay known as Secret Anchorage. A small indent behind a headland, it’s a less-visited spot because of its proximity to the perfectly protected anchorage in Barra.
The local vacation village of Cuastecomates lies at the head of the bay. While palapa restaurants line the beach just like nearly every other Mexican beach town, Cuastecomates is different because it is designed to be completely accessible to folks in wheelchairs and to the blind.
Signs like this one are found throughout Cuastecomates. This one reads: This town is for all.
There are lines of raised plastic bumps to mark the sidewalks for the visually impaired, ramps from the nicely paved streets to the smooth sidewalks for wheelchairs, and designated handicapped parking spots. Street signs include braille, a boardwalk lines the beach to allow wheelchair access, and there’s even a small park that’s reserved for bathrrom use by guide dogs.
The government of the state of Jalisco invested about 50 million pesos ($2.5M USD or so) for the improvements, and the result is striking. In an area where most small towns have one or two crumbling sidewalks, it’s a surprise to find a fully accessible town like Cuastecomates.
Stretching our legs on the beach
The bay in front of the town is lovely. We spent a couple of days here, rocking gently at anchor with two or three other boats. Exploring the bay by dinghy, swimming ashore for a walk on the beach, and cleaning Madrone’s hull of barnacles and marine growth kept us plenty busy!
Cleaning Madrone’s hull leaves the crew thirsty and hungry. Good thing there is a beach palapa nearby with plenty of tacos, ceviche and cervezas!
