Another night and more crazy weather. Last night began with lightning and thunder, which is nearly unheard of for this time of year. We awoke to squalls and an incredible full rainbow. But, it all passed during breakfast. The sun came out, the wind dropped, and we were treated to Baja at its finest.
In the morning, we went ashore on Dispensa beach on the southern tip of Espiritu Santo Island. To begin with, many of us went for our first desert walks on the islands here in Baja. After trudging through some very unusual mud, we made it up to our first massive cardon cactus. We learned about the various plants, their adaptations, and some of their medicinal uses. Some of us continued on for a longer hike, making it to the top of one of the peaks for stunning views. Some even spotted the endemic black jackrabbit.
Later in the morning it was time for watersports. Many of us snorkeled, others kayaked, and some even tried stand-up paddleboarding. The bay was calm, turquoise blue, filled with fish and coral, and the perfect place for an introduction to the ocean here in Baja.
In the afternoon we repositioned up the west side of Espiritu Santo Island to the stunning bay of Ensenada Grande. Some decided to snorkel again after a short hike, but many of us went for a long hike up a dry riverbed. Our hike was challenging but stunning as we scampered over massive boulders surrounded by gorgeous cacti. Some saw an endemic ground squirrel while others saw the black jackrabbit. The highlight for sure though was the view from the top. We were perched on a cliff that went straight down about 500 feet into the ocean. Hundreds of mobula rays, a cousin of the famous manta, were jumping far below us and making large splashes. It was spectacular!
All of us gathered back on the ship and watched a stunning sunset with a green flash over the Baja peninsula.
