Chasing Wind in the Yucatan

Jenine and I like to alternate between cities and beaches every couple of weeks.  We had just wrapped up an amazing time in Mexico City, and I was dying to get to the Yucatan to catch the end of the windy season for kiteboarding.  There is generally good wind in the Yucatan from Dec through end of March.   From my research, the top three places to kiteboard in the Yucatan are Progreso (strongest wind), Isla Blanca (beautiful and close to Cancun) and Isla Hotbox (no cars allowed though). We also heard Tulum and Cozumel are both nice for kiting.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fwEFARoPMJc/VQsM-9JphOI/AAAAAAAAuuU/FV3ZQSK9W-E/s144-c-o/IMG_3145.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/Blog19KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6128005993674147042″ caption=”#kitesurfmobile in the Yucatan, Isla Blanca.” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3145.JPG” ]

Progreso

We started with Progreso which involved about 2 days of driving from Mexico City.  Progreso is a Mexican tourist town close to the popular city of Merida. Cruise ships dock here, but I haven’t heard of too many Americans going here.  It was really windy when we arrived, but we didn’t see any kiters on the water and we didn’t know where to camp.  We boondocked by the beach, and then Angel from Yuckite emailed me back detailing the good places to kite.  The wind blows early here, so at 8am the next morning we headed to a nearby flat water lagoon and kited with Angel and some awesome local kiters.  Wind was light but it was a lot of fun meeting everyone.  We also learned from them a much better place to camp/kite.  It pays to get the local knowledge.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6GxYnwBd2vY/VQsHyOiO-WI/AAAAAAAAuXs/aqbRTJrncaU/s144-c-o/IMG_3074.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6128000277444229474″ caption=”First kite stop – Progreso.  Angel from www.yuckite.com was really helpful in showing me the spots!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3074.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KCzjbzIB4A0/VQsKWfAABuI/AAAAAAAAuYA/cEsM6JDLo0s/s144-c-o/IMG_3083.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6128003099362592482″ caption=”Hopping over the piers in Progreso” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3083.JPG” ] [pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2RgO55BOMpc/VQsMW6OkdNI/AAAAAAAAuYc/5Y6NFNuFkpg/s144-c-o/IMG_3120.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6128005305694713042″ caption=”Kitesurfing, beach camping, sunsets, cervezas #sportsmobile” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3120.JPG” ]

Isla Blanca

After three days in Progreso, we headed to Isa Blanca which is just 25 miles north of Cancun.  It is an incredibly beautiful place, but also a lot more crowded due to being so close to Cancun.   Foka the owner of Ikarus Kiteboarding , let us camp on his beautiful property.   He is one of the nicest guys I have met, and we had such an amazing time here.  I recommend it for anyone looking to take a kiteboard vacation.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ow4N-kIbAFU/VQnk18eZf2I/AAAAAAAAuuk/aZgsMGGhfF0/s144-c-o/IMG_0152.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6127680383432097634″ caption=”Kiteboarding stop #2 – Isa Blanca.  Camping at Ikarus Kite Camp.  Could not have asked for a better set up.  (http://www.kiteboardmexico.com/)” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0152.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wchMy3Ck3mg/VQsN1SqeyNI/AAAAAAAAuY0/ESWp8FbmboI/s144-c-o/IMG_3153.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6128006927161936082″ caption=”This is what I pictured in my mind when we bought Titus – #Sportsmobile” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3153.JPG” ]

Isla blanca has no WiFi and no cell service, so it was awesome to unplug for the next 8 days.   We timed the wind perfectly as the kiteboarding was fantastic.  Also, Foka’s son Anthar (14 years old) is one of the top freestyle kiteboarders in the world, and it was amazing kiteboarding with him.  Check out this video which showcases Anthar and Ikarus Kite Camp. 

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-24iRs-kkNEU/VQsRbKiHHhI/AAAAAAAAuZ0/vDDRI3RSwM4/s144-c-o/IMG_3221.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6128010876349259282″ caption=”Kiteboarding in about 4 inches of water” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3221.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IqOpOliDerU/VQ74HUPKzUI/AAAAAAAAuu0/v1lZ3rvhjLE/s144-c-o/IMG_3389.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6129108947472928066″ caption=”Isla Blanca” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3389.JPG” ][pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8bJF4Iy5h1U/VQsSwFLNp1I/AAAAAAAAuaE/HI94dtxsiUE/s144-c-o/IMG_3234.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6128012335199922002″ caption=”Home on the shore, kite out my front door” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3234.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6OAuCQ3k

We were the only campers here, but there is a hotel at Ikarus with 4 rooms so it was really cool to meet other kiters staying here including one of the top female kiters in the world Helena Brochocka.   Jenine also got to kite!  Isla Blanca is one of the best places to learn in the world since it is knee deep swallow as far as you can walk.   Nicky, a former pro and instructor from England, gave Jenine a great lesson where she even got up on the board.  Jenine is excited to try kiteboarding again at the next spot, although, we won’t find a place as perfect as Isla Blanca.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UXSEddWVRMI/VQ74MneQOFI/AAAAAAAAueg/tWDAO-WoXpg/s144-c-o/IMG_3403.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6129109038535817298″ caption=”Jenine getting her first taste of kiting” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3403.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PQNCrLFPBuY/VQ74VWXioHI/AAAAAAAAuew/q_pERUQZLCU/s144-c-o/IMG_3392.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6129109188563083378″ caption=”With new friends at Ikarus” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3392.JPG” ]
[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-choe6-6DXD4/VQ74BGV72HI/AAAAAAAAueQ/30LbtbDkFRQ/s144-c-o/IMG_3356.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6129108840663996530″ caption=”great pic, but just didn’t get that shirt buttoned properly” type=”image” alt=”IMG_3356.JPG” ]

At the end of our stay at Ikarus, Cory who we met in Baja, came and met us.   He had just spent the last 4 months surfing in central america and was making his way back north to Vancouver.  His finance had just flown back home from Cancun, and he was looking for some travel mates.   We decided against heading to Tulum or Isa Holbox (no cars allowed there anyway), as Isla Blanca was about as perfect as we could imagine (it’s why we decided to stay for 8 days rather than move around).    So our first stop together was to Tres Cenotes back by Merida, about 4 hours drive from Isla.  We were able to camp at Tres Cenotes for free in the parking lot, and that allowed us to take the very first tour in the morning.  It was one of the coolest things we have done.   At the first cenote, you enter by climbing down a huge hole under a tree.  The second cenote was our favorite though, and we had it all to ourselves.  It was incredible to say the least.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l9Y5YfXTvEU/VQntp7U8RDI/AAAAAAAAuRo/-S1UmUeELQQ/s144-c-o/IMG_0247.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6127690072570217522″ caption=”camping with Cory from @bigfoottracks at Tres Cenotes” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0247.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eksJXlnV714/VQnx2SywFKI/AAAAAAAAuSU/R0RHvY30eVY/s144-c-o/IMG_0743.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6127694683074204834″ caption=”Off to the Cenotes” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0743.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/–MpqpuWYLxk/VQnzHNhdutI/AAAAAAAAuuU/AThf97bTL40/s144-c-o/IMG_0748.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6127696073228925650″ caption=”The first Cenote, you climb down a huge hole beneath a tree” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0748.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jPfoByRH0rc/VQr_afn_BFI/AAAAAAAAuus/vqCu1QzuU0c/s144-c-o/IMG_0793.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/115263927216347870948/KiteboardingInTheYucatanAFlatWaterFreestyleParadise#6127991073621869650″ caption=”Unbelievably gorgeous inside and the water was so refreshing!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0793.JPG” ]

After the Cenotes, us and Cory headed over to Chiapas to explore the Mayan ruins there, as well as the town of San Cristobal de Las Casas.  We’ll talk about on our next blog!   Hasta La Vista!

More pictures of our time in the Yucatan:

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