Boca de Soledad & Isla Magdalena
Our second day in Bahia Magdalena was mostly dedicated to whale watching. The National Geographic Sea Bird positioned to the North end of the bay, close to Boca de Soledad, or “Mouth of Solitude,” the Northern entrance to the bay. This is where the Grey whales enter and leave as the tides rise and fall.
The humidity of the Pacific Ocean created a thick fog this morning. By 7:30 the wind had dissipated it and we embarked our Zodiacs in search of Grey Whales. Blows could be seen in the distance, and as we approached we realized we were in the presence of a mother and calf pair. We stayed with them for awhile and they accepted us. It is amazing that after the whaling days, when Greys were persecuted and almost exterminated for their blubber, now they seem to have forgiven us. These leviathans were first protected by Mexico, their country of birth, and later by the United States and Canada. Their populations have increased to the point where they seem to have reached their pre-whaling numbers.
From our Zodiacs, we not only saw whales, but we also took our time to observe birds and dolphins. We had great looks of some really close magnificent frigate birds that were perched on the mangroves.
The dunes on the North end of Isla Magdalena are very dramatic, and we had the opportunity to take the time to explore them. Coyote and jackrabbit tracks adorned most of the sandy surface. The multitude of sea shells we could see represents a place where people rarely visit. Through the years of visiting this place we set an example, when we leave nothing behind but our footprints, and these magical jewels are left intact for others to see in the future.
After a full day of whale watching, walking through the beaches, and even dune jumping, we had the pleasure to have a local band of musicians join us for cocktail hour. “Los Coyotes de Magdalena” played local tunes and typical Mexican music on deck as we enjoyed our ceviche and guacamole.
