Isla San Marcos/Santa Rosalía

Another beautiful sunrise and sighting of bottlenose dolphins before breakfast is getting to be the normal routine around here. The water was smooth and the dolphins worked well with the shadows and reflections of the ship as our pressure wave pushed them in front of us.

We headed for our morning anchorage off the north end of Isla San Marcos. Here we condensed a week’s worth of activities into a few hours. There was a lot of bird action on the scenic islets along the coastline, so we maximized our exposure with Zodiac and kayak excursions. We photographed brown pelicans, American Oystercatchers, Heermann’s gulls, osprey, turkey vultures, and blue-footed boobies. Sally Lightfoot crabs scampered on the rocks and wave-sculpted caves enhanced the dramatic scenery.

Walks up a rocky arroyo exposed outlandish volcanic geology and even more colorful flowers – wild cotton, desert mallow, morning glory, passion flower, and various other plants. There was also an option for snorkeling – another way to look at the great diversity of life around the islands of the Sea of Cortez.

Upon returning to the National Geographic Sea Lion, lunch was served in the pleasant ambience on the upper deck. Then we prepared for docking and our afternoon visit to the town of Santa Rosalía. Established in 1888, this settlement grew up around the mining industry. Now it lies in a strategic position along Route 1, the sole highway that runs the length of the peninsula. It serves tourists and truckers passing through, and offers convenient harbor to fishermen.

The highlights of our various options in town included visiting the cemetery with colorful grave sites and the church designed by Eiffel. The French bakery was up the street from the church and we chatted with the friendly townspeople. We hosted a gathering for the ship’s guests, featuring guacamole, chips and Margaritas at the Hotel Frances, perched above the town, in the late afternoon.

After dinner the National Geographic Sea Lion left the dock and hovered near the squid-fishing Zodiacs outside the breakwater, cheering them on as they lifted large Humboldt squid out of the water.

Each day onboard has brought something unique and wonderful. Baja California has cast its spell upon us, holding us captive to its magic.