Isla San Marcos
Spontaneity is defined as behavior that is natural and unconstrained and is the result of impulse, not planning.
Waking up this morning on the National Geographic Sea Bird was surreal. We had an amazing pink sunrise, and common dolphins circled our ship. Our plan was to venture to the north side of Isla San Marcos, located north of Bahia Conception and south of Santa Rosalia. However, strong north winds forced us to the east side of the island and to somewhat unfamiliar territory.
As we searched for the best snorkeling site we found a beautiful cove. Unexpectedly, the winds began to pick up even more, and the ocean began to swell. At the last minute our Expedition Leader, Tom O’Brien, abandoned our plan and we changed our snorkeling site farther east to a place none of our group had ever been. We didn’t know what to expect.
We admired the brown pelicans surrounding the area, and the warm sun accompanied the cool winds flawlessly. Our guests were all enthusiastic, brave, and eager to see what lay beneath the surface. There, we found great visibility, an abundance of king angelfish, moray eels, puffer fish and endless diverse species of Baja’s sea life.
After lunch we moved the ship to a beach on the west side of Isla San Marcos. This was also a site we are not able to frequently explore. Many guest asked “what are we going to see?” In our expedition style we replied “we’ll soon find out.” Finding a safe landing site was quite a challenge. Huge boulders, sea urchins, and waves obstructed our route to the beach. However, our fearless staff and crew were able to provide our Zodiacs and guests with stable ground.
On shore we found an amazing arroyo. As we hiked we admired the passionflowers and wild cotton. Goat skulls and termite remnants were all extraordinary details. Rhyolite cathedrals were around every corner lying next to craggy outcrops of deep orange lahars.
Many were interested and learned a plethora of information about the geological wonders of Baja. Some of us hiked to the saddle of the main distant peak giving us great views. While we were at the summit, we took one minute of silence to have gratitude for our day of adventure and the events that led us to this remote place of wild beauty and spontaneous events.
The minute felt like an eternity, as we could hear the sound of our own breath, the cool wind on our skin, and the tantalizing scents of the desert.
