Los Islotes and Isla San Francisco
Through the night we sailed north into the Sea of Cortez. Dawn found us anchored adjacent to the small islets called simply “Los Islotes.” An optional sunrise outing beckoned early-risers and avid photographers to cruise by Zodiac around these outcroppings of rocks to see the first light of the day (photo). These rocks are composed of reddish volcanic ash, and in the glow of dawn they were a rich, ruddy red color. There were seabirds of several species reeling about overhead: boobies, pelicans, frigatebirds, and our first sightings of the yellow-footed gulls that are endemic to the Gulf of California. The most noticeable and entertaining of the island’s inhabitants were undoubtedly the throngs of California sea lions that call this place home. Many were sprawled lazily on the shoreline rocks, the large adult males patrolled their territories, and younger immature sea lions leapt playfully from the water around our boats. By mid morning, some of us were jumping into the water with snorkel or scuba gear to join the sea lions, and watch their delightful underwater maneuvers. Close to noon we lifted anchor and were on our way to look for new sights.
No sooner was lunch announced than we were in the midst of an enormous group of several hundred bottlenose dolphins. The morning’s winds had subsided and the surrounding sea had smoothed into a polished surface broken only by the exuberant leaps of these merry creatures. The dolphins were dispersed across a broad area and were surfacing in every direction around us. As some of them swam alongside the ship, others catapulted high into the air with magnificent leaps 15 feet or more out of the water. By early afternoon we reached the peaceful anchorage known as Half Moon Bay on Isla San Francisco. Here we set to assorted activities of hiking, kayaking and relaxing on the long, arcing, white sand beach. The ship’s crew prepared a wonderful dinner for us on shore, and the orange light of an evening bonfire lit our many smiles as we gathered beneath a sky full of stars.
Through the night we sailed north into the Sea of Cortez. Dawn found us anchored adjacent to the small islets called simply “Los Islotes.” An optional sunrise outing beckoned early-risers and avid photographers to cruise by Zodiac around these outcroppings of rocks to see the first light of the day (photo). These rocks are composed of reddish volcanic ash, and in the glow of dawn they were a rich, ruddy red color. There were seabirds of several species reeling about overhead: boobies, pelicans, frigatebirds, and our first sightings of the yellow-footed gulls that are endemic to the Gulf of California. The most noticeable and entertaining of the island’s inhabitants were undoubtedly the throngs of California sea lions that call this place home. Many were sprawled lazily on the shoreline rocks, the large adult males patrolled their territories, and younger immature sea lions leapt playfully from the water around our boats. By mid morning, some of us were jumping into the water with snorkel or scuba gear to join the sea lions, and watch their delightful underwater maneuvers. Close to noon we lifted anchor and were on our way to look for new sights.
No sooner was lunch announced than we were in the midst of an enormous group of several hundred bottlenose dolphins. The morning’s winds had subsided and the surrounding sea had smoothed into a polished surface broken only by the exuberant leaps of these merry creatures. The dolphins were dispersed across a broad area and were surfacing in every direction around us. As some of them swam alongside the ship, others catapulted high into the air with magnificent leaps 15 feet or more out of the water. By early afternoon we reached the peaceful anchorage known as Half Moon Bay on Isla San Francisco. Here we set to assorted activities of hiking, kayaking and relaxing on the long, arcing, white sand beach. The ship’s crew prepared a wonderful dinner for us on shore, and the orange light of an evening bonfire lit our many smiles as we gathered beneath a sky full of stars.
