Return to Casa Abandonada
Meet Sam - and another way to hike the Juluapan if you have a car or want to take a taxi.
We have good friends visiting from Ohio. It is so much fun to watch them relax and enjoy Manzanillo, as they start to slow down and move on to Mexico Time. Yesterday we spent the day on the beach enjoying the surf, sun and sand. In the late afternoon Tim and I decided to head up the Juluapan. I wanted to double fact-check my story (posted yesterday) about the hike to Mirador Quetzal.
The sea breeze had kicked in, swinging the cargo ships at anchor in the bay 180 degrees. It kept us cool as we crossed the Boquita Bridge and headed up the mountain, bypassing the rope climb shortcut and staying on the main path.
I was concerned that Tim would not be able to handle the heat and the climb, but he was in better shape than me. The hot air was pouring up the cliff side at the Quetzal Mirador as the sun heated up the rocks below. We refreshed ourselves with a drink of water, then headed up to Casa Abandonada. We hadn’t seen a soul. The Casa is at an altitude of 230 meters, 130 meters higher than the gate entrance.
There was no one at the Casa. We took in the views and enjoyed some more water.
Shortly another hiker, a bit out of breath, appeared on the rooftop of Casa Abandonada. Meet Sam, originally from Mexico City but living and working at the Port of Manzanillo for the past 5 years with his wife. Sam posed with my friend Tim for a picture with Santiago Bay in the background,
Manzanillo is the largest container port in Mexico. We asked Sam for recommendations of other great hiking places in Mexico. He pulled out his phone and shared photos of his recent trip to Huasteca Potosiona, San Luis Potosi. I wasn’t aware of this place but we are making plans to visit next year. If you have been there and have any advice please pass it on!
I asked Sam if he had left his car at the gate house, wondering if he had found the road difficult to drive. But Sam had left his car at La Boquita Bridge, walked across the bridge, and followed the same path we had taken. In my story yesterday, Walk to Mirador Quetzal, I neglected to mention that option. You can take a taxi to Club Santiago and have the driver drop you off at the far end of La Boquita, where the road ends at the Bridge, or if you have a car, do as Sam does, and park it at the bridge then cross over on the same path I described in the article.
Sam said the Casa Abandonada is still owned by an Ejido, or agricultural commune. Sam said the land is owned by the members of the commune, or ejidatarios. The reputed narco who had started to build Casa Abandonada - he was captured in the 1980’s before it was finished - apparently used money or threats to get permiso to build the Casa. I made a mental note to discuss this with Luis, who is in charge of the Park.
Coming down is always so much easier for me, and such a joy to feel the gravity pulling you along. I do want to add one more comment for the walk down. If you are going to the bridge, be sure not to miss the trail turnoff at El Risco unless you are taking the rope shortcut. Follow the sign to Puenta Boquita, which will be on your right. The rope shortcut trail turns off 200 meters earlier. If you didn’t take the rope up, I advise not to take it down on your first trip as it is a bit dicey.
The shadows were getting long as we descended. It was Friday night and the party was getting wound up. I cannot resist taking pictures of bridge jumpers! They have so much fun!
Legal Disclaimer: It is very dangerous to jump here and I wouldn’t do it. First of all, you must jump in the right spot, at the channel, or you will break your legs or worse. Also even though the tide regularly cleanses the lagoon, I am sure the bacteria count must be very high here.
We stopped for a selfie at the end of the beach. Welcome to Mexico Tim and Joyce!
Thanks for reading! Hope you are on Mexico Time where ever you are!
For earlier posts on Casa Abandonada check out these stories: