Cascada Caliente (Hot Waterfall ) Trip

Our cruising friends in the launcha ready for our trip to the
Cascada Caliente (minus me as I was taking the picture)

And now the group is complete!

Our launcha dropped us off at the Public Dock where our
driver waited. The 11 passenger van brought us to the
start of the trail into the waterfall.

 It's been work, work, work here on the Rio getting our boats ready to start this season's cruise. Five couples decided to take an afternoon off and I organized a trip into the Cascada Caliente on the way to El Estor. Besides ourselves, there was Renate & Jim from Emerald Seas, John & Sharon from Sunsation , Steve & Sam from Wanderlust, and Scott & Tamara from Kookie Dance. A launcha from Tortugal Marina took us to the Public Dock and then our driver Ottolei drove us to the start of the trail into the waterfall. It was a 15 Q entrance fee each and a guide led us that we just had to tip later. The van ride took about 45 minutes each way from Fronteras and cost 200Q a couple, including a tip.

Looking down from the trail before we descended to the river.

Steep stairs were built down to the river bank.

The waterfall is indeed hot and only a few of us could stand
being right in it. I preferred standing just far away to be in
the mist.

Renate and our guide

Jim and Scott enjoyed chatting in the lake formed at the bottom

Steve was able to stand the heat directly
underneath and John managed to climb
up onto top of the falls.

Sharon, Heather, Renate, Tamara, Sam and Steve

Renate, Sharon & Heather

The day was actually sunny but we were really in the shade
of the trees so it was very comfortable.

We brought snacks and drinks - here Sam, Heather and Renate enjoy some vino tinto. Sharon got the award for best appetizer -  tiny French goat cheese rounds.

John, Tamara and Scott 

Enormous trees towered overhead and sunlight filtered through. We really lucked out on the
weather. Every other day since we arrived, it rained but this time it didn't!

It was a lovely walk back through the forest.

We met a young boy who was gathering wood for his
family's cookfire. He used a tourniquet to tighten the big
bundle of branches with a strap that went onto his forehead.

Mayan children have to work hard to help
their families.

But after the day's work is done, the boys can at least play
 in the river. 

Scott, Jim, Renate, John, Sharon, Sam, Steve, Scott, Heather and Tamara line up in front of our van.

Several of us bought young coconuts from a woman at
the start of the trail

These two boys were fascinated by watching us foreigners
and the wood didn't get home until we had left.