Bahia de Loreto Marine Park
To say the first morning of our expedition was amazing is an understatement. Within the Bahia de Loreto Marine Park three species of whales were seen all before 9:00 am. Our first sighting was the blue whale, the largest creature to ever roam the planet. In brilliant morning light more blows emerged from the horizon. Out of the blue (no pun intended!) the second largest whale on earth surprised us, the fin whale. More blows continued to rise from the ocean in every direction. Humpbacks were the next to appear. It was most amazing that in every direction a different species of whale could be seen at the same time!
We continued to cruise along the east side of Isla Del Carmen, one of the largest islands in the area to Isla Danzante, Carmen’s little sister. Bottle nose dolphins cruised alongside us in which case we added yet another marine mammal species to our list. Both islands are located in front of the most magnificent stretch of the Sierra de la Giganta, a mountain range running along the eastern side of the peninsula. It served as a majestic backdrop for the afternoon’s activities. On the tiny island of Danzante we snorkeled, hiked and kayaked for the first time.
Exploring the Sonoran Desert gave us an understanding of how plants and animals are able to survive extreme dryness and heat. For one, cacti hold great amounts of water inside and practically ignore the outside conditions by metabolizing their sugars at night. Many fascinating examples of these strategies became more and more apparent as we observed them from up close.
Finally, snorkeling gave us the chance to see some colorful fish. Giant damsels, king angels, and a variety of brilliant sea stars were among the highlights.
To say the first morning of our expedition was amazing is an understatement. Within the Bahia de Loreto Marine Park three species of whales were seen all before 9:00 am. Our first sighting was the blue whale, the largest creature to ever roam the planet. In brilliant morning light more blows emerged from the horizon. Out of the blue (no pun intended!) the second largest whale on earth surprised us, the fin whale. More blows continued to rise from the ocean in every direction. Humpbacks were the next to appear. It was most amazing that in every direction a different species of whale could be seen at the same time!
We continued to cruise along the east side of Isla Del Carmen, one of the largest islands in the area to Isla Danzante, Carmen’s little sister. Bottle nose dolphins cruised alongside us in which case we added yet another marine mammal species to our list. Both islands are located in front of the most magnificent stretch of the Sierra de la Giganta, a mountain range running along the eastern side of the peninsula. It served as a majestic backdrop for the afternoon’s activities. On the tiny island of Danzante we snorkeled, hiked and kayaked for the first time.
Exploring the Sonoran Desert gave us an understanding of how plants and animals are able to survive extreme dryness and heat. For one, cacti hold great amounts of water inside and practically ignore the outside conditions by metabolizing their sugars at night. Many fascinating examples of these strategies became more and more apparent as we observed them from up close.
Finally, snorkeling gave us the chance to see some colorful fish. Giant damsels, king angels, and a variety of brilliant sea stars were among the highlights.
