One
of the oldest watercrafts known to man is a flat boat, which is neither a canoe
nor kayak. A thousand years ago they were used by Polynesians to travel from
island to island, and face storms and high seas.
These modern Sit-On-Tops are ideally suited for our lagoons and seas because a novice can paddle it and it can easily be reboarded. Absolutely no skill is required!
Our non-tip 2-person model has an outer hull
constructed of heavy duty PVC and polyester, with an inner hull made of heavy
duty PVC material with double I-beam electronically welded seams. The
comfortable, adjustable padded seats make our kayaking trips possible for adults
as well as children. They are so stable, we have seen two teens stand up on them
and try to push each other off (not part of our tour!).
Please click on photos to enlarge
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There are several scenic and extensive mangrove wetlands and lagoons in the state of Colima. Our lagoons are lined with three types of mangroves: Red, black, and white (named for the color of their bark), and buttonwood, which is related and sometimes called a mangrove. What you most readily see is the red mangrove with its noticeable prop roots. The black and the white mangroves grow behind them. |
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Mangroves are extremely important to the ecosystems of lakes, lagoons and sea. They shed leaves copiously all year long, creating the basic source of food. Bark, twigs, root material, guano from birds roosting in the trees, and organic matter of all kinds including dead animals and loose sea grass trapped in the maze of roots add to it. All decompose to begin the food chain. Bacteria and fungi are the agents that produce edible detritus and are themselves eaten by marine animals often too small to see. They in turn are eaten by larger animals. And finally, larger predators, including humans, come along to harvest the bounty, including shrimp, crabs and fish. |
The kayaking tour takes you around the lagoon, offering many opportunities to observe the diverse bird and plant life that make this area so unique. |
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| Frequent stops are made to observe the various water birds, and other flora and fauna. After about an hour, we'll take a break for snacks and drinks, and a short swim to cool off. | ||||
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The saltwater lagoon has a channel that leads to the sea, and once rested, we'll head out to the ocean for a snorkel on our beautiful 10,000-year-old coral reef in shallow water. |
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The "Aquarium," as we call our reef, is replete with a plethora of colorful fishes and living coral. Since our kayaks don't tip, it's easy to get on and off. |
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The trip will culminate with a stop at a seaside thatched-roof restaurant called a ramada for refreshments and lunch, if desired. This area was once a small fishing village that has existed for more than 450 years. If you choose to stay for lunch, the restaurant serves excellent seafood at an additional cost. For a refreshing drink, try our namesake, a "Coco Loco" served in a fresh coconut. If you don't know what's in a Coco Loco, be sure and ask. Friendly Indian vendors will walk by your table showing off their wares, and as for other activities, there's horseback riding and banana boat rides. |  |
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You will be
able to swim in the clear waters where the lagoon meets the sea, and you'll get
up-close-and- |
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DETAILS |
Cost: $55/person U.S.
What to bring: Aqua shoes or sandals; camera, binoculars, towel, sunscreen, hat, daypack. Even a small, well-behaved dog on a leash is welcome. Water and snacks provided. Sorry, we cannot accommodate special dietary requirements, but feel free to bring along your favorite food items.
What we bring: Plenty of water, first aid kit, snacks, such as granola bars, chips & cookies, day packs with insulated coolers (if needed), one pair of binoculars, insect repellent, dry bag for cameras and other items you can't get wet.
About us: Susan Dearing, a 17-year resident of Manzanillo has explored the the state for years, and has written the only tourist guidebook about the area. She has selected several of the most interesting spots she knows. Not offered on any other tour, you can be assured that you will see places off the beaten path no other tourist has ever seen before.
Our goals: Coco Loco Tours and their naturalist guides believe in being as "ecologically correct" as possible. Colima has some of the most beautiful, untouched ecosystems in Mexico, and we hope you'll enjoy learning about the nature and history of the area. In order to not put a burden on the ecosystems, we will only take small groups of people making it also possible for our travelers to receive personal attention from our guides.
Every trip is different because of the time of year, the group and, most importantly, spontaneity. Our trips are about exploring. Colima's lakes, waterfalls, lagoons and rivers make up a vast network of intricate waterways that always surprise us with new discoveries. Whichever area you select, you'll be fascinated.
FAQ:
IS THERE ANYTHING OUT THERE THAT CAN HURT ME? We have never encountered anything that is threatening. If you don't bother it, it won't bother you.
WHAT ABOUT MOSQUITOES? Some people are mosquito magnets! For most people, they are not a problem, but just in case you have a "magnetic" personality, we bring insect repellent.
WE HAVE HEARD THERE ARE CROCODILES. SHOULD I WORRY? There are crocs in the lagoons, and they are very shy. The photo was taken with a telephoto. They are more afraid of us than we should be of them. When they see us, they are gone in a hurry.
MY HOBBY IS PHOTOGRAPHY. CAN I TAKE PHOTOS? Photography is the primary reason we offer these tours. Feel free to take as many photos as you wish. We've got plenty of time.
I'M NOT AS NIMBLE AS I USED TO BE, BUT I REALLY WANT TO KEEP ACTIVE. WHICH TOUR IS BEST FOR ME? The easiest kayaking is the Juluapan Lagoon, and "The Aquarium," snorkeling, with lunch at La Boquita. You can take a break and rest any time you want.
YOU SAID I CAN BRING MY DOG. HOW DOES THAT WORK? Assuming your mascot is small and well behaved, responds to commands, and is not aggressive toward people or other pets, he or she is welcome. You may have noticed "Sandy" (the poodle in the photos) enjoys kayaking (and swimming). If you'd like to bring your pet, and we have other people in the group that are not affiliated with you or your group, we'll check with them and make sure they don't mind. We have found that most people love animals, and enjoy the camaraderie of having an animal cavorting around. If you hate pets or have an allergy, we will schedule a trip without "man's best friend" tagging along.
HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD I BRING ALONG IF I CHOOSE TO HAVE LUNCH AT THE RESTAURANT ON THE BEACH? $8-10 U.S. The restaurant accepts both U.S. dollars and pesos. They do not accept credit cards. If you choose to spend the day, the restaurant will be happy to call a taxi for you to return to your hotel or the cruise ship terminal. We have to return to wash the equipment.
WHAT KIND OF SOUVENIRS CAN I BUY FROM THE VENDORS? Hammocks, wood carvings, jewelry, pottery, bathing suits, beach cover-ups, T-shirts, candy, ice cream, fresh fruit, inflatables, pottery, wind chimes, bottle openers, key chains, and many other novelties. You can also have your hair braided like Bo Derek in the movie "10," and get a fake tatoo!
CAN YOU PICK ME UP AT MY HOTEL? We do pick-ups anywhere in the main hotel zone. Sorry, the taxi unions do not allow us to pick up at the cruise ship dock. Cost to get to our store is $15 by taxi from the cruise ship terminal.
Refund Policy: Because we have limited the amount of people we take on our trips, and we have many accessories to pack, we will only refund due to bad weather. Since the sun shines here 350 days of the year, you are virtually assured the trip will not be cancelled. Though it rains every 4-5 days in the summer months, the rain is usually light. It normally never rains in the mornings when the tour is conducted. If there is lightning during a morning rain, however unlikely, we will cancel the tour. Though we have not had a hurricane since 1959, if there is one we will cancel the tour! If you cannot make the trip, for any reason--illness, hangover--ship changed date or time--you may reschedule on another date. Remember, we must act responsibly to ensure your safety and enjoyment of the tour. (In other words, we will not be out drinking all night; we will be "good girls and boys" the night before to be sure you are taken care of, so we expect you to respect us by doing the same.)
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Coco Loco Tours
Km. 15 Blvd. Miguel de la Madrid, Santiago (at Scuba Shack)
Phone (314) 333-3678
