Isla Partida and Espiritu Santo
As the sun rose, we were on glassy seas just west of Isla Partida. We spent the first half of the day at Ensenada Grande, a cove rimmed by beautiful rocks that resemble melted chocolate ice cream. Geologists have an explanation for the rocks’ fanciful appearance: millions of years ago, volcanic ash hardened into a material called tuff, and this was eroded by the sea. Many of us snorkeled beneath these chocolate cliffs. Undersea specialist Carlos showed us a tiny octopus - perfectly camouflaged in a tiny rock hole. On shore, we walked behind the white, sand beach and investigated the many desert plants living among rocks of a dramatic canyon. Most of us turned back before negotiating ever-larger, car-sized rocks, but one group of hikers set out for the top of the island, and for their strenuous hike they were rewarded with lovely views.
We enjoyed lunch on deck, and had brief looks at a Bryde’s whale as we traveled south to Miracle Beach on Espiritu Santo. We spent the afternoon kayaking along the shores of two protected coves and strolling along a lovely sand beach. Sea cucumbers lay hidden among rocks at the beach’s end. A balloonfish that floated in near the beach looked like a spiny white baseball with fins, two large eyes, and a mouth. Moments after we admired this little fish, we watched in disbelief as a frigatebird swooped down, plucked the unlucky animal from the surface, and swallowed it in midair.Many of us returned to the beach and enjoyed a bonfire under moonlight. Bioluminescent plankton sparkled in the wake of the Zodiacs. Even our footsteps in the wet beach sand sparkled blue-green.
As the sun rose, we were on glassy seas just west of Isla Partida. We spent the first half of the day at Ensenada Grande, a cove rimmed by beautiful rocks that resemble melted chocolate ice cream. Geologists have an explanation for the rocks’ fanciful appearance: millions of years ago, volcanic ash hardened into a material called tuff, and this was eroded by the sea. Many of us snorkeled beneath these chocolate cliffs. Undersea specialist Carlos showed us a tiny octopus - perfectly camouflaged in a tiny rock hole. On shore, we walked behind the white, sand beach and investigated the many desert plants living among rocks of a dramatic canyon. Most of us turned back before negotiating ever-larger, car-sized rocks, but one group of hikers set out for the top of the island, and for their strenuous hike they were rewarded with lovely views.
We enjoyed lunch on deck, and had brief looks at a Bryde’s whale as we traveled south to Miracle Beach on Espiritu Santo. We spent the afternoon kayaking along the shores of two protected coves and strolling along a lovely sand beach. Sea cucumbers lay hidden among rocks at the beach’s end. A balloonfish that floated in near the beach looked like a spiny white baseball with fins, two large eyes, and a mouth. Moments after we admired this little fish, we watched in disbelief as a frigatebird swooped down, plucked the unlucky animal from the surface, and swallowed it in midair.Many of us returned to the beach and enjoyed a bonfire under moonlight. Bioluminescent plankton sparkled in the wake of the Zodiacs. Even our footsteps in the wet beach sand sparkled blue-green.
