Los Islotes
What an anthropomorphic morning! Acting playful as a litter of puppies and curious beyond belief, the sea lions of Los Islotes cavorted with our snorkelers, careened through the water like road raged drivers and exhibited enough curiosity to use up nine lives of a cat. Bulging eyes looked innocently up at us as young sea lions played hide and seek under and around the Zodiacs. One animal joined the snorkelers inside the snorkel boat as we readied to get into the water with them! This was the ultimate “dry snorkel” if you wanted to enjoy a great look at a sea lion. The one young fellow leapt out of the water, landed on the pontoon of the Zodiac and did a little people watching while we frantically photographed it. Apparently bored with our non-antics, it jumped back into the water and rejoined its pinniped buddies.
This lovely sculpted islet is not only home to sea lions. A number of birds roost or even nest here, as evidenced by the thick “powdered sugar” gruel coating the cliffs and ledges. Turkey vultures and magnificent frigate birds soared above the cliff tops, riding the lift created by the northerly wind smacking into the islet. Blue footed and brown boobies perched in the lee while yellow footed gulls scoped out the lower rocks nearer the slumbering sea lions. Historically as well as today, these birds contribute to the crusty white coating of Los Islotes.
The protection of Punta Dispensa on Isla Espiritu Santo provided the perfect setting for a leisurely paddle in our kayaks and a walk amongst the desert vegetation. In the waning afternoon sun the brilliant orange fruits of the coyote gourd shone bright as holiday ornaments strung along and hanging from tree branches. The agaves have started to send up their bionic asparagus of a flower stalk, punctuating the skyline with a series of botanical exclamation points.
The sky blushed into sunset with shades of pink swirled with orange highlights as the last Zodiac returned to the mother ship. During our short time in the Gulf of California we have gleaned many precious memories, and with the morning we will continue onward to Copper Canyon and continue to learn about and appreciate the people and landscapes of this lovely and diverse country.