The road took us to places that looked more and more like scenes at the beginning of a crappy teenage horror movie. Houses became rarer and trees got taller. We were closer to the mountains that every now and then we couldn’t help but stop the motorcycle to stare and take pictures of their majestic beauty. The rocks made it difficult to maneuver the vehicle, so we had to hold tightly to each other to avoid falling off. When the view started to change from forest to beaches, we knew we were close to our destination. We didn’t have any maps, nor were we sure we were following the right path, but the big yellow umbrellas from the distance told us we’ll get there soon.
The place has been recommended quite a couple of times before by friends. They said Napo beach was a good place to visit because it offers a silent retreat to those who do. They were not wrong. Upon entering the gate, we were met by a quiet place that only two other groups were enjoying. One was a family who occupied around three cottages, while the other was a group of teenagers who came there in pairs. (It was quite uncomfortable seeing them being so cuddly with one another.) As for us, we settled for a table under a tree (but didn’t cuddle). We were just three tweens looking for a quick getaway from the city. The trip came as an impulsive decision from the night before. Nobody was sure we would really go for it, but we packed extra clothes just in case.
The view was wonderful. The serenity of the place was enough compensation for the bumpy ride there. A big rock formation stood on the right, a good background for your next Instagram post. The water was clear, free of unnecessary garbage and other unwanted materials. The sound of the waves slowly coming to the shore relaxed our minds and made us forget our troubles for a whole afternoon.
The only bad thing about the place is the fact that there were so many seaweeds in the sand. This is a big issue for me since I don’t like walking barefoot while stepping on plant life. I had to convince my best friend to let me hold on to her so she could drag me along the water. That way, I could feel like I was swimming without having my feet touch the weeds beneath.
After a whole afternoon of picture-taking, eating, talking, and pretending we were mermaids, we washed up at the two available bathrooms. There was plenty of water, so we had no problem cleaning ourselves except for the fact that we had forgotten to bring shampoo and soap. After taking in the view one last time, we headed back to the city, our skins still sticky from the salt residues and our hairs still damp. It was an afternoon well spent.
It's a Ping Thing 