Gorda Banks & San Jose del Cabo
After a good night’s sleep, we began adding to our list of marine animals: a California sea lion, two turtles, humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins! Breakfast happened too soon and we made the bow of the National Geographic Sea Bird our base for the whole morning. Cameras clicked and made other unwholesome noises. A great activity of humpback whales unraveled, cows fed their calves (!) and males fought for dominance. Eventually we had to retake our route to the south, to the end of the 800 mile-long peninsula: San Jose del Cabo and later, Cabo San Lucas and Finisterra.
In San Jose del Cabo we were taken by buses to a fantastic bird paradise, the Estero. Here we walked along the stream and mudflats, enjoying the plethora of water and land birds. Meanwhile, others walked along the streets of the old town of San Jose del Cabo, where we enjoyed the handicrafts found in the myriad stores, enjoyed a beer and saw the old mission.
As soon as everyone was back at the meeting point, we were taken back to the ship, and sailed away to our early evening’s destination: Cabo San Lucas. There we approached the famous rocks of Finisterra and the Arch. Solid granite and thousands of birds getting ready to pass the night on that safe haven: magnificent frigate birds, cormorants, pelicans, blue-footed and brown boobies…
And on around that point, and into the Pacific, to begin our night-long trip to the western side of the peninsula and the gray whales! What a sunset!
