Los Cabos and Gorda Banks
Shortly after sunrise, as the Sea Bird abandoned the vast open Pacific waters and officially entered the Gulf of California, we admired Los Frailes rocks and the famous arch that are known as the boundary between these two bodies of water. Popularly known as land’s end, the dramatic granite formations glowed with the low bright morning light. After many photographs were taken, we brave explorers landed at the Cabo San Lucas fuel dock and divided into two different groups, ready to board buses that took us to our snorkeling and birding destinations. Coming from the pristine sand dunes of Magdalena Bay. It was a bit of a shock being in such close quarters with traffic and t-shirt stores. We quickly regained our composure, however, and learned about how Cabo San Lucas is struggling against itself in order to grow into a more environmentally-friendly city.
Not everything here is beer and spring-breakers, no! Most hotels and resorts are developing innovative ways to conserve and recycle fresh water, and some are even involved in such interesting projects as the conservation of sea turtles. By protecting the sea turtles that nest on the beaches in front of them and promoting environmental education among their guests, both the turtles and the people are benefited. Even I participated several years ago into one such project, releasing a tiny little sea turtle hatchling into the awaiting surf not far from here! As a result of those and other similar efforts being done in other places in Mexico, population of some sea turtle species like the olive Ridley show signs of a slight recovery from previous depletion. Anyway, we ventured from Cabo to our different destinations and although separated, we kept the same high spirits and sense of wonder. We marveled the same at either large schools of grunts, snowy egrets, Mexican goatfishes, ospreys or king angelfishes…
Later on, after having a chance to wander around town, we departed from Cabo and cruised East around the tip of the peninsula. Several marine creatures shared their oceanic realm with us, from the occasional jumping Mobula ray to the fragile-looking phalarope; even a mother and calf humpback whale got their share of “ooohhh’s” and “clicks.” However, I couldn’t’ help but smile at the sight of the sea turtle in the above picture, remembering that little hatchling I released years ago…
Shortly after sunrise, as the Sea Bird abandoned the vast open Pacific waters and officially entered the Gulf of California, we admired Los Frailes rocks and the famous arch that are known as the boundary between these two bodies of water. Popularly known as land’s end, the dramatic granite formations glowed with the low bright morning light. After many photographs were taken, we brave explorers landed at the Cabo San Lucas fuel dock and divided into two different groups, ready to board buses that took us to our snorkeling and birding destinations. Coming from the pristine sand dunes of Magdalena Bay. It was a bit of a shock being in such close quarters with traffic and t-shirt stores. We quickly regained our composure, however, and learned about how Cabo San Lucas is struggling against itself in order to grow into a more environmentally-friendly city.
Not everything here is beer and spring-breakers, no! Most hotels and resorts are developing innovative ways to conserve and recycle fresh water, and some are even involved in such interesting projects as the conservation of sea turtles. By protecting the sea turtles that nest on the beaches in front of them and promoting environmental education among their guests, both the turtles and the people are benefited. Even I participated several years ago into one such project, releasing a tiny little sea turtle hatchling into the awaiting surf not far from here! As a result of those and other similar efforts being done in other places in Mexico, population of some sea turtle species like the olive Ridley show signs of a slight recovery from previous depletion. Anyway, we ventured from Cabo to our different destinations and although separated, we kept the same high spirits and sense of wonder. We marveled the same at either large schools of grunts, snowy egrets, Mexican goatfishes, ospreys or king angelfishes…
Later on, after having a chance to wander around town, we departed from Cabo and cruised East around the tip of the peninsula. Several marine creatures shared their oceanic realm with us, from the occasional jumping Mobula ray to the fragile-looking phalarope; even a mother and calf humpback whale got their share of “ooohhh’s” and “clicks.” However, I couldn’t’ help but smile at the sight of the sea turtle in the above picture, remembering that little hatchling I released years ago…
