Bahia Magdalena: Sand Dollar Beach and Hull Canal
This morning we awoke sailing north on the western side of Isla Margarita through the Pacific Ocean. As soon as the first sun rays appeared after a green flash, gray whale blows became evident in all directions.
We entered Bahia Magdalena through its majestic opening, “La Entrada.” At this spot, between Isla Santa Margarita and Isla Magdalena, we spotted more gray whales and exceptional bird life. We could also see the old whaling station, one of the last remnants of the dark whaling days that amazingly gray whales endured and survived as a species, now excluded from the endangered species list.
We disembarked on Isla Magdalena to appreciate the intact landscapes and the interesting wildlife of Sand Dollar Beach. Here we had the opportunity to walk through the sand dunes and understand more of this special environment. Walking to the Pacific side of the island revealed to our eyes the beauty of Isla Magdalena. On our way we found natural jewels on the sand like an iridescent abalone shell, hundreds of sand dollars, bones and other interesting things. We sought out birds, finding some plovers, sandpipers, and this beautiful “zarapitos trinadores” as we call them here in Mexico, better known as whimbrels, among others.
The afternoon hours were spent cruising the “Canal de Soledad” or Hull Canal. Our local pilot, Alejandro Camacho, took us through the narrow channel bound to the town of Lopez Mateos. During this time, we cruised through a mangrove ecosystem surrounded by dunes and approached our anchorage counting gray whales.
This morning we awoke sailing north on the western side of Isla Margarita through the Pacific Ocean. As soon as the first sun rays appeared after a green flash, gray whale blows became evident in all directions.
We entered Bahia Magdalena through its majestic opening, “La Entrada.” At this spot, between Isla Santa Margarita and Isla Magdalena, we spotted more gray whales and exceptional bird life. We could also see the old whaling station, one of the last remnants of the dark whaling days that amazingly gray whales endured and survived as a species, now excluded from the endangered species list.
We disembarked on Isla Magdalena to appreciate the intact landscapes and the interesting wildlife of Sand Dollar Beach. Here we had the opportunity to walk through the sand dunes and understand more of this special environment. Walking to the Pacific side of the island revealed to our eyes the beauty of Isla Magdalena. On our way we found natural jewels on the sand like an iridescent abalone shell, hundreds of sand dollars, bones and other interesting things. We sought out birds, finding some plovers, sandpipers, and this beautiful “zarapitos trinadores” as we call them here in Mexico, better known as whimbrels, among others.
The afternoon hours were spent cruising the “Canal de Soledad” or Hull Canal. Our local pilot, Alejandro Camacho, took us through the narrow channel bound to the town of Lopez Mateos. During this time, we cruised through a mangrove ecosystem surrounded by dunes and approached our anchorage counting gray whales.
