San Ildefonso Island
Our day began with the colors of the sunrise reflected in a perfectly smooth sea. We approached the island of San Ildefonso, a breeding ground for numerous species of seabirds. Pelicans, boobies, gulls and cormorants swirled past the ship in the dawn light.
During breakfast we repositioned back southward to a landing near Punta Pulpito. Here we had options for kayaking, snorkeling, or hiking up a long and winding rock canyon. Today’s photo shows the ship framed by the edges of the canyon as viewed by returning hikers.
In the afternoon we cruised farther north in the gulf, pausing to watch whales and dolphins along the way. Early in the afternoon we spent time with several large fin whales and a nearby group of bottlenose dolphins. Things quieted down for some hours giving us time for napping. By late afternoon we again gathered out on deck to watch feeding seabirds, and a group of long-beaked common dolphins. Just before sunset we discovered two blue whales plying the deep waters off of the mouth of Bahia Concepcion. We watched the blue whales until the yellow sun drifted behind the horizon beneath layers of orange clouds.
Our day began with the colors of the sunrise reflected in a perfectly smooth sea. We approached the island of San Ildefonso, a breeding ground for numerous species of seabirds. Pelicans, boobies, gulls and cormorants swirled past the ship in the dawn light.
During breakfast we repositioned back southward to a landing near Punta Pulpito. Here we had options for kayaking, snorkeling, or hiking up a long and winding rock canyon. Today’s photo shows the ship framed by the edges of the canyon as viewed by returning hikers.
In the afternoon we cruised farther north in the gulf, pausing to watch whales and dolphins along the way. Early in the afternoon we spent time with several large fin whales and a nearby group of bottlenose dolphins. Things quieted down for some hours giving us time for napping. By late afternoon we again gathered out on deck to watch feeding seabirds, and a group of long-beaked common dolphins. Just before sunset we discovered two blue whales plying the deep waters off of the mouth of Bahia Concepcion. We watched the blue whales until the yellow sun drifted behind the horizon beneath layers of orange clouds.
