February 16, 2022. Playa Royale, Nuevo Vallarta. Yelapa.

Today Wendy, Anne and Kenny took the boat to Yelapa, a tiny town on on Bandares Bay. It is the last twon before leaving Bandares Bay. The town is only accessible by boat. No roads lead to Yelapa. The mountains are directly behind the town. Yelapa has an interesting history. In the late 16th Century, the King of Spain deeded this bit of land to the indigenous people of the area. Of course, once upon a time, those people owned all the land but now they were given this area on the coast, to be held forever for the local people. In 1870, four families moved to Yelapa to live. The place is still owned jointly by the people. No one is allowed to own property. The same families are still there but now it a tourist destination. Vallarta Adventure takes trips there every day. There are several restaurants along the beach and there are many people helping the tourists. When our three arrived, at Yelapa, a man came out in a pango to welcome them and to take them to a mooring. Then he transported them to the shore and told them how to get to the water fall, which was about a 15 minute walk. After returning to the town, they ate lunch on the beach at the restaurant owned by the owner of the little boat. Their fish tacos were delicious. When they were finished lunch, their man took them back to their boat, which they then sailed back to Paradise Village Marina. Wendy, Anne and Kenny arrived home just in time to enjoy the sunset at 7:00. It was a long but happy day. Now we want to know how this place has survived all these years. Yelapa is an interesting place.