Gulf of California
The reddish-orange rays of the sun found us traveling up north into the Gulf of California during our first day of voyage. Having departed from the beautiful City of La Paz, with some strong wind hitting the ship's bow, we reached the northern portion of San Jose island, where a pod of around one hundred and fifty Common Dolphins, and then a big Bottle-nosed Dolphin were awaiting for us. We spent half an hour or so in delight, with all these intelligent animals jumping out the water and showing their capabilities as divers.
Later on, just after lunch, we anchored at a point known as Punta Marcial, on the peninsula, where almost three quarters of us got into the water for a deserved snorkeling session. The rocky underwater spot uncovers its treasures: sea urchins, sea stars, trumpet fishes and many other marine creatures. As we were getting out of the water again, we prepared ourselves for the second part of our afternoon: hikes in the Cretaceous-looking arroyo of Punta Marcial. In fact, as we entered the arroyo, we began to see the fabulous desert plants growing on the gravely ground: cardones, sour pitahaya, organ pipe cactus, lomboy trees, palo verde, palo blanco, palo fierro trees and several blooming shrubs, among which was a solitary flower of a Morning Glory, showing the intense yellow color of its petals. It was a kind of colorful miracle in the middle of nowhere and the tender touch among the volcanic landscape surrounding us.
The reddish-orange rays of the sun found us traveling up north into the Gulf of California during our first day of voyage. Having departed from the beautiful City of La Paz, with some strong wind hitting the ship's bow, we reached the northern portion of San Jose island, where a pod of around one hundred and fifty Common Dolphins, and then a big Bottle-nosed Dolphin were awaiting for us. We spent half an hour or so in delight, with all these intelligent animals jumping out the water and showing their capabilities as divers.
Later on, just after lunch, we anchored at a point known as Punta Marcial, on the peninsula, where almost three quarters of us got into the water for a deserved snorkeling session. The rocky underwater spot uncovers its treasures: sea urchins, sea stars, trumpet fishes and many other marine creatures. As we were getting out of the water again, we prepared ourselves for the second part of our afternoon: hikes in the Cretaceous-looking arroyo of Punta Marcial. In fact, as we entered the arroyo, we began to see the fabulous desert plants growing on the gravely ground: cardones, sour pitahaya, organ pipe cactus, lomboy trees, palo verde, palo blanco, palo fierro trees and several blooming shrubs, among which was a solitary flower of a Morning Glory, showing the intense yellow color of its petals. It was a kind of colorful miracle in the middle of nowhere and the tender touch among the volcanic landscape surrounding us.
