Exploring Gorda Banks & Cabo San Lucas
We awoke aboard the Sea Bird as she cruised in the waters of Gorda Banks. This area of the Gulf of California is known for its winter inhabitants, the humpback whales. An early wake-up call brought many of us up to the bow for a soft pinkish sunrise and warm tropical temperatures. The water was decorated in colorful patterns that shape shifted with each soft swell moving under the bow of the ship. An early watch had been on the bow since the first glimmer of light and in the distance the flukes of humpbacks had been spotted. Slowly our Captain began a cautious approach with the hope of a closer look at these graceful marine mammals. For the next several hours we watched a variety of animals as they cruised the warm waters of Gorda Banks. A cow/calf pair was particularly interested in the Sea Bird and made repeated passes back and forth and around our vessel. The baby humpback whale would rise to the surface of the water and take at least three breaths to its mother’s single breath. This small family unit were never more that a few feet from each other and at times we were all sure that their mutual pectoral fins were touching as these two whales repeatedly swam past the Sea Bird.
In the distance some serious splashes were seen, and soon it was decided we should investigate. As we approached it was obvious that we were in the presence of several competitive humpback whales. From whale research it is surmised that several male humpbacks will “escort” a female all in competition for the possibility of a mating encounter. These animals were very active; slapping their pectoral fins, lob tailing and moving through the water in a series of rapid chases… culminating in a full body breech! The sound of cameras clicking away resounded from the bow as each of us remained poised in hopes of capturing just a glimpse of this rare opportunity… great whales and good conditions for observing. All too soon the Sea Bird began pointing her bow south and it was time for us to head for our afternoon destination of Cabo San Lucas. As several of the natural history staff remained on the bow on the look out for marine mammals our expert in the area invited us to the lounge to give a talk on whales of the world. The Sea Bird remained on course heading south down the eastern side of the Baja peninsula to the tip of this one thousand mile stretch of land to its only large resort community, Cabo San Lucas.
Once our vessel was secured inside the harbor, and we were cleared by port authorities to disembark where several opportunities were available. There were walks for birds and plants. The visual feast of blooming shrubs and butterflies mixed with many sightings of land species of birds singing and feeding awaited our anxious eyes and ears!
Another van was dispatched for a small group of intrepid snorkelers. Their journey took them to a beach called Chilenos and a chance to see a few of the species of tropical fish present only in these southern waters. Warm water and air temperatures made for excellent conditions for the first snorkeling trip of this journey.
Once all activities away from the town of Cabo San Lucas were completed and our vans returned everyone to the Sea Bird the adventure began… shopping in a resort town, with all its slings and arrows of tequila bars and t-shirt shops awaited our exploration.
Cabo San Lucas was once a sleepy fishing village of less than 500 people. In 1925, this small village was discovered by Mexican businessmen, with plans to exploit the rich waters of the Gulf of California by harvesting several abundant fish species. By 1927 a fish processing plant was built and many Mexican people were drawn to Cabo San Lucas in the hopes of employment. Unfortunately in the 1940’s Cabo San Lucas and the surrounding area was hit by a massive flood nearly destroying the town of Cabo and causing severe damage to the southern end of the Baja peninsula. Cabo San Lucas rebounded in the 1950’s when sports fishing and the rich waters of the Gulf of California began to be fished for marlin, tuna and swordfish. It was in those early years that the first American tourists braved the grueling journey down hundreds of miles of dirt road to fish in those rich waters. In the 1970’s the Trans Peninsular Highway was completed and Cabo San Lucas was no longer an exotic and remote tourist destination for sport fishermen, but a new and budding resort town! Today, we took a couple of hours to wander through those colorful and somewhat crowded streets of this resort town, searching for the few inconspicuously small gallery quality shops that told a story of the richly colored and diverse ethnic history that is Mexico. In a window we found a gifted Huichol artisan who smiled at our request for a portrait. In the bright colors of his regalia and the spectacular beadwork his people are famous for, we felt the spirit and old traditions of Mexico being expressed through artwork. In many corners of Cabo we could find just that expression tucked away, awaiting a patient travelers discovery.
We awoke aboard the Sea Bird as she cruised in the waters of Gorda Banks. This area of the Gulf of California is known for its winter inhabitants, the humpback whales. An early wake-up call brought many of us up to the bow for a soft pinkish sunrise and warm tropical temperatures. The water was decorated in colorful patterns that shape shifted with each soft swell moving under the bow of the ship. An early watch had been on the bow since the first glimmer of light and in the distance the flukes of humpbacks had been spotted. Slowly our Captain began a cautious approach with the hope of a closer look at these graceful marine mammals. For the next several hours we watched a variety of animals as they cruised the warm waters of Gorda Banks. A cow/calf pair was particularly interested in the Sea Bird and made repeated passes back and forth and around our vessel. The baby humpback whale would rise to the surface of the water and take at least three breaths to its mother’s single breath. This small family unit were never more that a few feet from each other and at times we were all sure that their mutual pectoral fins were touching as these two whales repeatedly swam past the Sea Bird.
In the distance some serious splashes were seen, and soon it was decided we should investigate. As we approached it was obvious that we were in the presence of several competitive humpback whales. From whale research it is surmised that several male humpbacks will “escort” a female all in competition for the possibility of a mating encounter. These animals were very active; slapping their pectoral fins, lob tailing and moving through the water in a series of rapid chases… culminating in a full body breech! The sound of cameras clicking away resounded from the bow as each of us remained poised in hopes of capturing just a glimpse of this rare opportunity… great whales and good conditions for observing. All too soon the Sea Bird began pointing her bow south and it was time for us to head for our afternoon destination of Cabo San Lucas. As several of the natural history staff remained on the bow on the look out for marine mammals our expert in the area invited us to the lounge to give a talk on whales of the world. The Sea Bird remained on course heading south down the eastern side of the Baja peninsula to the tip of this one thousand mile stretch of land to its only large resort community, Cabo San Lucas.
Once our vessel was secured inside the harbor, and we were cleared by port authorities to disembark where several opportunities were available. There were walks for birds and plants. The visual feast of blooming shrubs and butterflies mixed with many sightings of land species of birds singing and feeding awaited our anxious eyes and ears!
Another van was dispatched for a small group of intrepid snorkelers. Their journey took them to a beach called Chilenos and a chance to see a few of the species of tropical fish present only in these southern waters. Warm water and air temperatures made for excellent conditions for the first snorkeling trip of this journey.
Once all activities away from the town of Cabo San Lucas were completed and our vans returned everyone to the Sea Bird the adventure began… shopping in a resort town, with all its slings and arrows of tequila bars and t-shirt shops awaited our exploration.
Cabo San Lucas was once a sleepy fishing village of less than 500 people. In 1925, this small village was discovered by Mexican businessmen, with plans to exploit the rich waters of the Gulf of California by harvesting several abundant fish species. By 1927 a fish processing plant was built and many Mexican people were drawn to Cabo San Lucas in the hopes of employment. Unfortunately in the 1940’s Cabo San Lucas and the surrounding area was hit by a massive flood nearly destroying the town of Cabo and causing severe damage to the southern end of the Baja peninsula. Cabo San Lucas rebounded in the 1950’s when sports fishing and the rich waters of the Gulf of California began to be fished for marlin, tuna and swordfish. It was in those early years that the first American tourists braved the grueling journey down hundreds of miles of dirt road to fish in those rich waters. In the 1970’s the Trans Peninsular Highway was completed and Cabo San Lucas was no longer an exotic and remote tourist destination for sport fishermen, but a new and budding resort town! Today, we took a couple of hours to wander through those colorful and somewhat crowded streets of this resort town, searching for the few inconspicuously small gallery quality shops that told a story of the richly colored and diverse ethnic history that is Mexico. In a window we found a gifted Huichol artisan who smiled at our request for a portrait. In the bright colors of his regalia and the spectacular beadwork his people are famous for, we felt the spirit and old traditions of Mexico being expressed through artwork. In many corners of Cabo we could find just that expression tucked away, awaiting a patient travelers discovery.
