Cabos San Lucas & Gorda Banks, Baja California Sur
The morning dawned on our approach to “Land’s End”, a stunning geological formation on the very tip of Baja. We had an extremely calm run down the Pacific coast from Magdelena Bay. We spent the morning either snorkeling at Pelican Rock, visiting the little museum, or strolling the streets of Cabo. Cabo San Lucas is far from the sleepy little fishing village of a decade ago. We now find large hotels and many homes built along the coastline.
Snorkeling was absolutely great! We saw a huge variety of fish and other marine life. With the addition of a wetsuit provided by Lindblad, the water was just the right temperature. The aquatic life we spied included the giant damselfish, cortez angelfish, bull’s eye ray, and rainbow wrasses. Those interested in the intervertebrates saw several types of sea stars, gorgonians, hydra and corals. We were awestruck by our close-up view of the granodorite rocks of Land’s End on our way out of the harbor. Besides the colors and shapes of the rocks, we were able to get a look at brown boobies, a peregrine falcon, and a magnificent frigatebird with an exceptional large bright red gular pouch. This pouch is used in the birds’ breeding displays. It is also instrumental in assisting them in the cooling method called gular fluttering. Sea Lions lounged on the rocks as the waves crashed into and through the arches and cracks in the cliffs.
After a wonderful “build-your-own” Mexican buffet topped off with the always popular ice cream sundae bar we proceeded on to the Gorda Banks. This area is a good place to see the Humpback whales in action. First we saw breaching and tail lopping by two Humpback whales off the port bow. Flukes in general have distinctive markings that enable us to identify a majority of Humpback whales. We then listened to Naturalist Carol Keiper discuss “The Science Behind the Sightings” at a lecture and slide show on oceanography and whale biology before concluding our afternoon with more looks at Humpback whales. This time their performance was truly spectacular, if that is a strong enough word. Full breaches and flukes rising up against a beautifully lit evening sky of reds, oranges, and purples! It was a night those aboard will never forget.
The morning dawned on our approach to “Land’s End”, a stunning geological formation on the very tip of Baja. We had an extremely calm run down the Pacific coast from Magdelena Bay. We spent the morning either snorkeling at Pelican Rock, visiting the little museum, or strolling the streets of Cabo. Cabo San Lucas is far from the sleepy little fishing village of a decade ago. We now find large hotels and many homes built along the coastline.
Snorkeling was absolutely great! We saw a huge variety of fish and other marine life. With the addition of a wetsuit provided by Lindblad, the water was just the right temperature. The aquatic life we spied included the giant damselfish, cortez angelfish, bull’s eye ray, and rainbow wrasses. Those interested in the intervertebrates saw several types of sea stars, gorgonians, hydra and corals. We were awestruck by our close-up view of the granodorite rocks of Land’s End on our way out of the harbor. Besides the colors and shapes of the rocks, we were able to get a look at brown boobies, a peregrine falcon, and a magnificent frigatebird with an exceptional large bright red gular pouch. This pouch is used in the birds’ breeding displays. It is also instrumental in assisting them in the cooling method called gular fluttering. Sea Lions lounged on the rocks as the waves crashed into and through the arches and cracks in the cliffs.
After a wonderful “build-your-own” Mexican buffet topped off with the always popular ice cream sundae bar we proceeded on to the Gorda Banks. This area is a good place to see the Humpback whales in action. First we saw breaching and tail lopping by two Humpback whales off the port bow. Flukes in general have distinctive markings that enable us to identify a majority of Humpback whales. We then listened to Naturalist Carol Keiper discuss “The Science Behind the Sightings” at a lecture and slide show on oceanography and whale biology before concluding our afternoon with more looks at Humpback whales. This time their performance was truly spectacular, if that is a strong enough word. Full breaches and flukes rising up against a beautifully lit evening sky of reds, oranges, and purples! It was a night those aboard will never forget.
