Madrone looks tiny anchored on the east side Caleta Partida, dwarfed by the rugged rocky cliffs
The many bays and coves on the west side of Isla Espiritu Santo are a cruising dream – blue water, red rock, and white beaches. When Coromuel winds blow, however, it can be a rude awakening. The 40 miles of open water to the southwest of the island allows a steep chop to develop, and the west side doesn’t really offer much protection from the uncomfortable seas.
Exploring the sea caves and enjoying the crystal clear water
Since the Coromuel was in the forecast, we chose to spend the night in Caleta Partida on the east side of the island. While there’s a low spot in the island to allow the wind to whip through, the island itself blocks the waves so the anchorage is still comfortable.
Luckily none of the rocks fell on us…
The winds only blow at night, so that gave a perfect opportunity to explore the riotous geography of the small cove and coastline. Tall cliffs of volcanic rock plunge into the sea, and the waves continually eat away at the base. The result is a series of sea caves, perfect for exploring by dinghy and paddleboard.
Paddle boarding was a delight with clear water- it was like snorkeling from above
In a normal setting it doesn’t take much encouraging to get Angie out on the paddleboard, and in a protected cove with sea caves, dolphins, and sea turtles it takes even less.
Mike required a long siesta after all the paddle boarding
