Islas Sean Jose and San Francisco
If you’re looking at this photo, I hope you’re wondering what’s around the next corner. This is probably one of the most significant questions we ask as travelers.
This morning our discoveries were in a desert wash on Isla San Jose. An abundance of green leaves seemed to calm the thorny dry surroundings. We hiked along a flat arroyo so narrow in places we could reach out and touch both sides with our hands. The white bark of palo blanco trees gave the canyon a refined feeling. Showy purple mariola and rama parda flowers splashed color on nearby shrubs. Some of us left the sandy wash and climbed a ridge driven by the curiosity of what views might unfold. Hikers taking more time found a Xantus’s hummingbird and other species farther down the trail.
Our focus after lunch was on Isla San Francisco. Some walked the wave-beaten beaches on top of the tiny fragments of coral and sand. Kayakers explored the coastline and watched the effects of wind on water and how the forces pushed their gentle crafts. Many of us took advantage of a low tide by peering curiously under rocks at the waterline. It was a great treasure hunt. Some of the best finds were brittle stars over a foot across with snake-like arms moving wildly about, a green moray eel that wriggled between the cracks of stones, numerous slate pencil urchins and Bradley sea stars. Our exploration went deeper as snorkelers left the beach. We encountered many fish species including Sergeant majors, king angelfish, wounded wrasses, freckled porcupine fish, and goatfish at a cleaning station.
Our day wasn’t about just seeing what’s around the corner. We were thorough and worked hard at exploring from the ridge tops to the ocean realm.
If you’re looking at this photo, I hope you’re wondering what’s around the next corner. This is probably one of the most significant questions we ask as travelers.
This morning our discoveries were in a desert wash on Isla San Jose. An abundance of green leaves seemed to calm the thorny dry surroundings. We hiked along a flat arroyo so narrow in places we could reach out and touch both sides with our hands. The white bark of palo blanco trees gave the canyon a refined feeling. Showy purple mariola and rama parda flowers splashed color on nearby shrubs. Some of us left the sandy wash and climbed a ridge driven by the curiosity of what views might unfold. Hikers taking more time found a Xantus’s hummingbird and other species farther down the trail.
Our focus after lunch was on Isla San Francisco. Some walked the wave-beaten beaches on top of the tiny fragments of coral and sand. Kayakers explored the coastline and watched the effects of wind on water and how the forces pushed their gentle crafts. Many of us took advantage of a low tide by peering curiously under rocks at the waterline. It was a great treasure hunt. Some of the best finds were brittle stars over a foot across with snake-like arms moving wildly about, a green moray eel that wriggled between the cracks of stones, numerous slate pencil urchins and Bradley sea stars. Our exploration went deeper as snorkelers left the beach. We encountered many fish species including Sergeant majors, king angelfish, wounded wrasses, freckled porcupine fish, and goatfish at a cleaning station.
Our day wasn’t about just seeing what’s around the corner. We were thorough and worked hard at exploring from the ridge tops to the ocean realm.
