Isla San Jose, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Isla San Jose lies in the lower part of the Gulf of California, close to the mainland of this 800-mile-long body of water. The very deep waters surrounding this island support a great diversity of life. Morning found us searching these waters, where we found Bottlenose Dolphins. Our main goal, however, was to explore Isla San Jose. We anchored offshore and in our Zodiacs, we ventured into the narrow channels of the mangroves and also hiked in one of the most beautiful cardón forests in Baja California. The cardón is found only in Baja California with some individuals reaching a height of 68 feet. A great number of other cacti were seen on land, such as the Sweet and Sour Pitahayas, the Pencil Cactus, Chollas, Barrel Cacti and Nipple Cacti. A great number of other desert-adapted plants were also seen. Among the mangroves were the Red, Black, and White, which formed the impregnable wall of the mangrove system. The mangrove also offered us views of many different birds, as well as fish and other ocean creatures, such as the upside-down jellyfish known as Cassiopeia.
We enjoyed our afternoon while we kayaked and hiked at another part of the island. Here we had the opportunity of seeing one of the rare hummingbirds of the area: Xantus’s Hummingbird. And at the same place, we enjoyed an evening barbecue, storytelling and stargazing in an absolutely dark night!
Isla San Jose lies in the lower part of the Gulf of California, close to the mainland of this 800-mile-long body of water. The very deep waters surrounding this island support a great diversity of life. Morning found us searching these waters, where we found Bottlenose Dolphins. Our main goal, however, was to explore Isla San Jose. We anchored offshore and in our Zodiacs, we ventured into the narrow channels of the mangroves and also hiked in one of the most beautiful cardón forests in Baja California. The cardón is found only in Baja California with some individuals reaching a height of 68 feet. A great number of other cacti were seen on land, such as the Sweet and Sour Pitahayas, the Pencil Cactus, Chollas, Barrel Cacti and Nipple Cacti. A great number of other desert-adapted plants were also seen. Among the mangroves were the Red, Black, and White, which formed the impregnable wall of the mangrove system. The mangrove also offered us views of many different birds, as well as fish and other ocean creatures, such as the upside-down jellyfish known as Cassiopeia.
We enjoyed our afternoon while we kayaked and hiked at another part of the island. Here we had the opportunity of seeing one of the rare hummingbirds of the area: Xantus’s Hummingbird. And at the same place, we enjoyed an evening barbecue, storytelling and stargazing in an absolutely dark night!
