Los Islotes & Punta Dispensa on Espiritu Santo Island
Approaching slowly to the rookery, the National Geographic Sea Lion finally dropped anchor at Los Islotes, an islet where an active and fascinating breeding colony of California sea lions is established. We conducted Zodiac cruises here to have a closer encounter with these animals. There were many pups, females and sub-adult males, very curious, playing and exploring around our boats, but most of the colony remained on the rocks sleeping, digesting and basking to warm up under the sun and clear sky. The acrobatic capabilities of these pinnipeds were demonstrated at every single moment, giving us a great show in the wild. There were many sea birds as well, mainly blue-footed and brown boobies (they nest right on the cliffs during the breeding season) perhaps coming back to the roockery after an intensive search for food, and frigate birds, soaring high with the thermals. The air was loaded with intense odors, among them those coming from the sea birds’ guano.
As the morning progressed we moved to the southeastern point of Espiritu Santo Island, a beautiful location known as Punta Dispensa. Here we explored the undersea world with a refreshing snorkeling session, and organized hikes along the beach and on the flat, bushy landscape and hills. Our guests looked for the elusive, almost mythical black jackrabbit (seen a couple of times), but the birds were more than good. Among other species, we found shrikes, mockingbirds (called centzontles, or "birds of the four hundred voices", in Mexico), cowbirds, verdins and sparrows. Costa’s hummingbirds, both males and females, were seen several times very close to the excited crowd. The rugged profile of the island with its magnificent reddish volcanic rocks was the frame for the last activities of our exploration in the Gulf of California.
Approaching slowly to the rookery, the National Geographic Sea Lion finally dropped anchor at Los Islotes, an islet where an active and fascinating breeding colony of California sea lions is established. We conducted Zodiac cruises here to have a closer encounter with these animals. There were many pups, females and sub-adult males, very curious, playing and exploring around our boats, but most of the colony remained on the rocks sleeping, digesting and basking to warm up under the sun and clear sky. The acrobatic capabilities of these pinnipeds were demonstrated at every single moment, giving us a great show in the wild. There were many sea birds as well, mainly blue-footed and brown boobies (they nest right on the cliffs during the breeding season) perhaps coming back to the roockery after an intensive search for food, and frigate birds, soaring high with the thermals. The air was loaded with intense odors, among them those coming from the sea birds’ guano.
As the morning progressed we moved to the southeastern point of Espiritu Santo Island, a beautiful location known as Punta Dispensa. Here we explored the undersea world with a refreshing snorkeling session, and organized hikes along the beach and on the flat, bushy landscape and hills. Our guests looked for the elusive, almost mythical black jackrabbit (seen a couple of times), but the birds were more than good. Among other species, we found shrikes, mockingbirds (called centzontles, or "birds of the four hundred voices", in Mexico), cowbirds, verdins and sparrows. Costa’s hummingbirds, both males and females, were seen several times very close to the excited crowd. The rugged profile of the island with its magnificent reddish volcanic rocks was the frame for the last activities of our exploration in the Gulf of California.
