Whale Watching & Isla Santa Catalina
An early-morning wake-up call lured folks to the bow for a blue whale that surfaced beneath a stunning sky. A pastel palette highlighted the mackerel clouds like those of a Monet painting. Islas del Carmen and Coronados flanked the ship, and the craggy peaks of the Sierra de la Giganta rose sharply to the crest of the peninsula itself. We devoted most of the morning to whale watching. We lingered with one blue whale after another in addition to a much darker fin whale. Just to see a blue whale once in one’s lifetime is exceptional. These animals are thought to be the largest creatures ever to have lived on the planet. Their numbers were heavily depleted during whaling times and still have not fully recovered. We almost reached sensory overload watching them rise, spout, and even raise their tails high above the water before descending for deeper dives. Once you have seen water pouring from the broad, stiff flukes of a blue whale, you may never forget it.
The afternoon activities focused on Catalina Island, one of the gems of the Gulf of California. A snorkel boat was anchored off of Elephant Rock, an impressive outcrop that with some imagination resembles its name. A wide variety of underwater habitats attracts king angelfish, yellowtail surgeonfish, sergeant majors, sea stars, urchins and a myriad of other fishes and invertebrates.
This island is a perfect place for walks up a beautiful arroyo lined with massive cardons and the endemic giant barrel cacti that are found only on this and adjacent islands. Those on the long hike climbed all the way to a high point on the island for spectacular views of the surrounding ridges and the sea so far below. Many opted for short or medium-length walks through the lower canyon where they could take in the desert scenery and look more closely at the fascinating vegetation, birds and geology. As late afternoon shadows crept over the landscape, we left this lovely spot behind. In this single day we had observed tiny lizards and immense blue whales, experiencing just part of the biological diversity that makes Baja California such a special part of the world.
An early-morning wake-up call lured folks to the bow for a blue whale that surfaced beneath a stunning sky. A pastel palette highlighted the mackerel clouds like those of a Monet painting. Islas del Carmen and Coronados flanked the ship, and the craggy peaks of the Sierra de la Giganta rose sharply to the crest of the peninsula itself. We devoted most of the morning to whale watching. We lingered with one blue whale after another in addition to a much darker fin whale. Just to see a blue whale once in one’s lifetime is exceptional. These animals are thought to be the largest creatures ever to have lived on the planet. Their numbers were heavily depleted during whaling times and still have not fully recovered. We almost reached sensory overload watching them rise, spout, and even raise their tails high above the water before descending for deeper dives. Once you have seen water pouring from the broad, stiff flukes of a blue whale, you may never forget it.
The afternoon activities focused on Catalina Island, one of the gems of the Gulf of California. A snorkel boat was anchored off of Elephant Rock, an impressive outcrop that with some imagination resembles its name. A wide variety of underwater habitats attracts king angelfish, yellowtail surgeonfish, sergeant majors, sea stars, urchins and a myriad of other fishes and invertebrates.
This island is a perfect place for walks up a beautiful arroyo lined with massive cardons and the endemic giant barrel cacti that are found only on this and adjacent islands. Those on the long hike climbed all the way to a high point on the island for spectacular views of the surrounding ridges and the sea so far below. Many opted for short or medium-length walks through the lower canyon where they could take in the desert scenery and look more closely at the fascinating vegetation, birds and geology. As late afternoon shadows crept over the landscape, we left this lovely spot behind. In this single day we had observed tiny lizards and immense blue whales, experiencing just part of the biological diversity that makes Baja California such a special part of the world.
