Paradise in Peril
This gorgeous beach is Bahia de Tenacatita. Half way between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo on Mexico's west coast, it has long been a destination for those escaping the crowds, looking for a quiet place to camp on the beach, or just to enjoy a fresh fish dinner while the kids swim in the gentle waves and babies play in the sand.
The crescent beach on the left is Playa de Tenacatita, the small one on the right, Playa Mora. The few restaurants that are on the beach are on Playa Tenacatia. In addition are a few small hotels, and recently 2 tiny stores. La Mosca was the last restaurant on the beach, serving fish his sons caught that morning. Past mosca there is no electricity.
The story goes that years ago an environmental rights group won a case against lights on the beach. That beach is a prime nesting habitat for endangered sea turtles. If there are lights on the beach, the turtles become confused and ofter go toward the lights instead of the sea. There is a line of electric poles out to the end of the beach that have never been used.
Playa Mora has the distinction of having the beach of the bay on one side and the beach of the open ocean on the other. It is a very special place. In addition the bay side is home to a coral reef that supports a variety of colorful and fascinating fish and other aquatic life forms. It is a safe and magical place to snorkel, one of the few on Mexico's Pacific coast.
I heard many years ago that the ownership of Tenacatitia was in question. I heard that 2 ejidios and a developer were fighting over it. I figured that is why it was still so nice. No one was going to invest much until they knew and could prove who owned it.
Last Wednesday, August 4th, the people of Tenacatita were surprised and forcibly moved from their homes, the road has been barricaded off and guarded by riot police. Horrible stories abound on a local La Manzanilla message board about the police take over in favor of the developer in Tenacatita.
http://members5.boardhost.com/lamanzanilla/index.html?1266882296
Many of us have family and friends who have deep connections with Tenacatita, going back to the 50's.
This is a photo I took there last winter, visiting friends who have camped on that same spot for 6 months for almost 20 years.
This knoll does not look like much, it is the end of Playa Mora. There is a steep trail up to the clearing you can see in the photo. We use to go up there for sunset, the view was unparalleled. My friends sang Love and Gratitude to the evening sun with music and sounds. It was a very moving and powerful experience.
This is the view from the sweet little hotel I stayed in for the last 10 years......
and was hoping to spend many more.
This is the view from the beach in front of the hotel. It is a magical place and I know there are many really good people working on making this right and winning this amazing place for the people, the regular people and not just another resort for the super rich.
and I was planning on taking my granddaughter there this winter to snorkel......I can still have hope.
