San Jose del Cabo
The early morning light painted beautiful warm tones on granitic rocks at Land’s End as we sailed past them shortly after sunrise. With her bow just a few yards from the world-famous arch, the National Geographic Sea Bird became an ideal platform to observe the abundant marine birds roosting on the rocks; magnificent frigatebirds, brown pelicans and brown boobies were getting ready to start the day’s activities under the vigilance of an attentive osprey.
We eventually continued our way NE, now officially sailing inside the Sea of Cortez. Land’s End constitutes the boundary between this gorgeous body of water and the open Pacific Ocean. It didn’t take long before humpback whales made their appearance; mother-and-calf couples, groups of competitive males and solitary individuals delighted us throughout the morning. Some other marine creatures showed themselves, including a pelagic thresher shark which jumped out of the water and showed the real long upper lobe of its tail, an efficient tool used to corral the small schooling fishes and squid that it feeds on.
Shortly after noon we entered the brand new marina at Puerto Los Cabos. Motor coaches were waiting to take us to the San Jose River and town. Many of us went bird watching and had a great time looking for –and finding- some of Baja California’s specialty birds, the Xantus’ hummingbird, the gray thrasher and the Belding’s yellowthroat. Others went into town and enjoyed some shopping and walked along the streets of San Jose del Cabo. More humpback whales and lots of Mobula rays kept us busy during the last part of the afternoon, and as the sun disappeared behind the peninsula we all realized what a wonderful day we had.
The early morning light painted beautiful warm tones on granitic rocks at Land’s End as we sailed past them shortly after sunrise. With her bow just a few yards from the world-famous arch, the National Geographic Sea Bird became an ideal platform to observe the abundant marine birds roosting on the rocks; magnificent frigatebirds, brown pelicans and brown boobies were getting ready to start the day’s activities under the vigilance of an attentive osprey.
We eventually continued our way NE, now officially sailing inside the Sea of Cortez. Land’s End constitutes the boundary between this gorgeous body of water and the open Pacific Ocean. It didn’t take long before humpback whales made their appearance; mother-and-calf couples, groups of competitive males and solitary individuals delighted us throughout the morning. Some other marine creatures showed themselves, including a pelagic thresher shark which jumped out of the water and showed the real long upper lobe of its tail, an efficient tool used to corral the small schooling fishes and squid that it feeds on.
Shortly after noon we entered the brand new marina at Puerto Los Cabos. Motor coaches were waiting to take us to the San Jose River and town. Many of us went bird watching and had a great time looking for –and finding- some of Baja California’s specialty birds, the Xantus’ hummingbird, the gray thrasher and the Belding’s yellowthroat. Others went into town and enjoyed some shopping and walked along the streets of San Jose del Cabo. More humpback whales and lots of Mobula rays kept us busy during the last part of the afternoon, and as the sun disappeared behind the peninsula we all realized what a wonderful day we had.