Sand Dollar Beach & the Hull Canal
Our first day in Baja California started with a marvelous sunrise, painting several colors across the sky, turning the moment mystical and amazing. We were visiting Magdalena Island, a huge island in the northwest part of Magdalena Bay. After breakfast we headed to the island for walks on the beach, talking small groups across the sand dunes to Sand Dollar Beach. On our way we identified the local vegetation; loco weed with purple flowers, sand vervena, and wolf berry. We found footprints of animals like coyotes, rabbits, lizards and mice and a lot of shell sediment.
After an hour walking we arrived at the other side of the Island at Sand Dollar Beach, a beautiful area. Some made the most of the cool water of the beach and swam for awhile, while others walked along the beach looking for sand dollars, animals bones, shells and birds. Still others just stayed on the beach resting and watching the landscape.
After that great morning we headed back to the ship for our lunch. Then, in the afternoon, we stayed onboard the ship to transit north through the Hull Canal. This is a natural waterway that separates the barrier island of Isla Magdalena from the mainland of the Baja peninsula. We spent the afternoon looking for wildlife in this area. The weather was wonderful, and we spied a lot of birds, a large great mangrove, and more attractive beaches and dunes.
After dinner we had the opportunity to visit the small town of Lopez Mateo to enjoy the Festival of the Coronation of the Grey Whale Queen, which is a big party in this area. We had the chance to meet with the people of the town, taste food and drinks, and dance. This was a very unique opportunity and a first for the National Geographic Sea Bird.
Finally we returned to the ship sharing our experiences… We were satisfied with a great day.
Our first day in Baja California started with a marvelous sunrise, painting several colors across the sky, turning the moment mystical and amazing. We were visiting Magdalena Island, a huge island in the northwest part of Magdalena Bay. After breakfast we headed to the island for walks on the beach, talking small groups across the sand dunes to Sand Dollar Beach. On our way we identified the local vegetation; loco weed with purple flowers, sand vervena, and wolf berry. We found footprints of animals like coyotes, rabbits, lizards and mice and a lot of shell sediment.
After an hour walking we arrived at the other side of the Island at Sand Dollar Beach, a beautiful area. Some made the most of the cool water of the beach and swam for awhile, while others walked along the beach looking for sand dollars, animals bones, shells and birds. Still others just stayed on the beach resting and watching the landscape.
After that great morning we headed back to the ship for our lunch. Then, in the afternoon, we stayed onboard the ship to transit north through the Hull Canal. This is a natural waterway that separates the barrier island of Isla Magdalena from the mainland of the Baja peninsula. We spent the afternoon looking for wildlife in this area. The weather was wonderful, and we spied a lot of birds, a large great mangrove, and more attractive beaches and dunes.
After dinner we had the opportunity to visit the small town of Lopez Mateo to enjoy the Festival of the Coronation of the Grey Whale Queen, which is a big party in this area. We had the chance to meet with the people of the town, taste food and drinks, and dance. This was a very unique opportunity and a first for the National Geographic Sea Bird.
Finally we returned to the ship sharing our experiences… We were satisfied with a great day.
