Isla Monserrate, Isla Carmen
Each day of this voyage we’ve seen an incredible array of the delights Baja California has to offer, and today was certainly no exception. Our morning was spent ashore on Isla Monserrate. Some folks chose to hike the beautiful arroyo that meandered between limestone cliffs filled with fossil shells, and found surprisingly diverse and verdant plant life. Others chose to kayak along the shoreline, and witnessed dozens of Sally Lightfoot crabs tiptoeing over the rocks. Snorkeling, swimming and lazing on the beach rounded out the choices for an activity filled morning.
Those who sought a siesta were sorely disappointed, though, as we found the Sea Bird’s first blue whale of the season immediately after lunch. Watching this immense animal glide through the water was truly magical. Our dinner plans included a barbecue, so we continued northward in search of a suitable beach – and were delighted to find another blue whale along the way. We stood enraptured on deck, listening to its powerful exhalations and watching the fine mist from its blow shimmer in the sunlight. Over the course of nearly an hour we watched this whale surface and breathe and then lift its flukes for a deep dive four separate times! And the books say that blue whales rarely show their tails…
Each day of this voyage we’ve seen an incredible array of the delights Baja California has to offer, and today was certainly no exception. Our morning was spent ashore on Isla Monserrate. Some folks chose to hike the beautiful arroyo that meandered between limestone cliffs filled with fossil shells, and found surprisingly diverse and verdant plant life. Others chose to kayak along the shoreline, and witnessed dozens of Sally Lightfoot crabs tiptoeing over the rocks. Snorkeling, swimming and lazing on the beach rounded out the choices for an activity filled morning.
Those who sought a siesta were sorely disappointed, though, as we found the Sea Bird’s first blue whale of the season immediately after lunch. Watching this immense animal glide through the water was truly magical. Our dinner plans included a barbecue, so we continued northward in search of a suitable beach – and were delighted to find another blue whale along the way. We stood enraptured on deck, listening to its powerful exhalations and watching the fine mist from its blow shimmer in the sunlight. Over the course of nearly an hour we watched this whale surface and breathe and then lift its flukes for a deep dive four separate times! And the books say that blue whales rarely show their tails…
