The passage to Banderas Bay and Neuvo Vallarta was a much shorter one of ~80NM, though we decided to make it an overnight journey so that we could both leave and arrive in daylight. On the way we passed the Islas Marías, a no go zone for us and most everyone else as the Isla Maria Madre is the prison home to many of Mexico’s worst offenders. The visibility wasn’t fantastic, so we didn’t see the islands at until the setting sun revealed them in profile. We passed Punta Mita and entered Banderas Bay at sunrise.
Banderas Bay is hallowed for it’s perfect sailing conditions and despite the early hour, it didn’t disappoint, giving us a pleasant 12kt breeze to beat our way upwind toward Nuevo Vallarta and Paradise Village Marina.

Islas Marias at sunset

Punta Mita at sunrise

Aphrodite in Paradise