Isla Espiritu Santo & Los Islotes
During the very first day of our Baja California season, we could appreciate the greatness of this magical place. We started our day in the Espiritu Santo area. Early in the morning the National Geographic Sea Bird dropped anchor in the magnificent bay of Ensenada Grande. Ensenada Grande is located at Isla Partida, which is in reality the northern end of Espiritu Santo. During the lowest tides these two islands become one.
We explored the desert by walking through a broad dry river bed, locally known as an “arroyo.” We saw some interesting desert creatures, like the endemic antelope ground squirrel and the verdin. We found it fascinating to learn about the different strategies that plants and animals have developed to survive in this hot and arid environment.
Exploring with our kayaks along the shoreline gave us a very different perspective. The fascinating geological formations and the aquamarine color of the water made this a very unique experience. Some enjoyed the opportunity to exercise, while others simply took in the peace of being surrounded by such an amazing place.
During lunch time, the ship repositioned to a small group of islets located just north of Isla Espiritu Santo, called Los Islotes. These rocks are the southernmost breeding colony of California sea lions in the Gulf of California. This place offers great opportunities to swim and snorkel with these playful creatures. It is amazing to see how these wild animals seem to be naturally friendly to humans. They all have their own personalities, and some interact a lot more than others.
The water temperature was very warm and pleasant for this time of the year and the visibility in the water was very good. This place is not only famous for its sea lions, but also for the great amount of colorful fish that live here. We had the perfect conditions to have the perfect wildlife experience.
Later on, we embarked our zodiacs to cruise near the sea lion colony. Blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigate birds, yellow-footed gulls and many other birds are also attracted to these remote rocks, and use them as a roosting and feeding area. As evidence of this, the red volcanic rocks turn snow white at the cusps, which have been literally covered with guano by thousands of birds.
