As we ascended, the air grew cooler and fresher. The occasional gust of wind carried with it the salty scent of the sea and the dry air of baked earth . The water, dark blue to turquois, with small flecks of white  and the white sand of the beach sparkled in the sun's fading light. The mangroves, their roots submerged in the water, formed a natural barrier that protected the beach from the rough waves of the open sea. I could see sailboats motoring in for the night in this small protected cove.

We continued our climb, scrambling over loose rocks and boulders. I could feel my muscles protesting the effort as we hurried, but the view from the top would be worth it. Finally, we reached the summit, and I was not disappointed at the panoramic view that greeted us.

From this vantage point, we could see the meandering coastline, stretching out into the sea and Balandra Bay curving inward beside us. The orange and pink hues of the setting sun painted the sky, casting a warm glow over the rugged landscape. The Cordon cactus standing proud soaking up the last rays of sun. 

We could see the outline of  the distant islands, and the endless expanse of the sea, its surface shimmering in the light.

In awe and excitement, we stood there for a moment, taking in the beauty of our surroundings. As the last rays of sunlight turned the sky shades of purple and faded, we began our descent back down to the beach, exhilarated by the experience and already planning our next adventure.