Gabby in her wisdom did some research and found another town further north along the coast called Palomino. This is what I thought it would be like. It is a town that is just on the brink of being spoiled but still has all its charm. Lots of beach hut style places, good food, and some great music. The beach is atmospheric and seems to go on forever. Really cool beach bars and very chilled out. Restaurant staff that seem genuinely happy to see and serve you good fresh food. Very little rubbish about. Hopefully, it will stay this way but in a couple of years, it will probably be all hotels.
We had an amazing day at Palomino, we tubed down the river, guided by Luis. It was really blissful just drifting in the river with jungle on both sides. Very chilled, almost dozing in the heat.
At the end we had a lovely lunch, some great fish in a coconut cream sauce, right on the beach with the water just a few feet from us. Really felt like we did it right today, Caribbean, boshed! With the glow of a great day still on us, the good mood turned to cheer and few drinks were had.
Woke up the next day sweltering as there was no power in all of Palomino so that meant no aircon. I was not feeling great at all and this continued into what must have been heatstroke also! I was feeling really awful. We had planned to travel so with the heatstroke we packed up in 30+ degrees walked to the bus and had one of the worst journeys I had ever. It was only an hour but felt like a lifetime. I thought I was going to pass out/vomit. After that, we had to take a motorbike with all our bags to the hostel! I collapsed into bed. I managed to get up for dinner but was such a struggle with the heatstroke and now a bad stomach also. Sitting miserable waiting to be served a coconut came crashing to our table hitting my arm. Missing my head by centimeters!! It was quite shocking, it that had hit my head it was light out! So needless to say that day was really not my day! I managed a few mouthfuls of food but was sweating so much from heatstroke that Gabby sent me to bed and sleep!
Felt a bit better the next day but still quite weak we traveled further along the coast to another hostel. The hostels here are basic and you just move along the beach. This one was very peaceful and right on the water’s edge. Very basic though, with only a few hours of power per day. Rest up we did though and it was much appreciated.