Los Islotes & Bonanza Bay, Isla Espiritu Santo
This morning was one of those very rare but pleasant cloudy days in Baja California. After a nice night, we arrived at Los Islotes. This is one of the thirteen breeding colonies of sea lions inside the Gulf of California. Right after breakfast, we ventured into the water for a close encounter with these graceful, curious, acrobatic and sometimes playful marine mammals.
After this refreshing experience we boarded our Zodiaks to watch the sea lions from a different perspective. These islets are also home to a variety of bird species, from the endemic yellow footed gull, to brown and blue-footed bobbies, cormorants and turkey vultures; we even found a Great blue heron in its nest.
Our afternoon destination was another marvelous place on the nearby Isla Espiritu Santo. A large half moon sandy beach known as Bonanza Bay. Here we went into different adventurous activities, from leisure short hikes, to moderate and long strenuous hikes up the nearby hills. Others had the opportunity to go snorkeling from the beach and finally many went for some exercise aboard our fleet of kayaks.
As a grand finale we enjoyed the barbeque dinner on the beach that the galley and hotel department put together for us, including a bonfire and s’mores. And at the first light of the stars we heard some stories about the Aztecs.
This morning was one of those very rare but pleasant cloudy days in Baja California. After a nice night, we arrived at Los Islotes. This is one of the thirteen breeding colonies of sea lions inside the Gulf of California. Right after breakfast, we ventured into the water for a close encounter with these graceful, curious, acrobatic and sometimes playful marine mammals.
After this refreshing experience we boarded our Zodiaks to watch the sea lions from a different perspective. These islets are also home to a variety of bird species, from the endemic yellow footed gull, to brown and blue-footed bobbies, cormorants and turkey vultures; we even found a Great blue heron in its nest.
Our afternoon destination was another marvelous place on the nearby Isla Espiritu Santo. A large half moon sandy beach known as Bonanza Bay. Here we went into different adventurous activities, from leisure short hikes, to moderate and long strenuous hikes up the nearby hills. Others had the opportunity to go snorkeling from the beach and finally many went for some exercise aboard our fleet of kayaks.
As a grand finale we enjoyed the barbeque dinner on the beach that the galley and hotel department put together for us, including a bonfire and s’mores. And at the first light of the stars we heard some stories about the Aztecs.
