San Esteban and San Pedro Martir Islands, Baja California
The first day of our journey into the Gulf of California, more romantically called The Sea of Cortes, began with a calm ocean. Then we anchored at San Esteban Island for hikes. San Esteban is reputedly one of the most interesting islands because of its isolation and particular geological origin, as well as for its unique endemic fauna and flora. As we approached on our Zodiacs, we started to see the yellow-footed gulls nesting right on the rocky beach. To avoid disturbing them, we walked along the shoreline close to the water until we reached the wide arroyo or stream bed. As we went deeper into the arroyo, we discovered the wonders of the Sonoran desert: hundreds of plants all over, including the Saguaro-like cactus called Cardon with great numbers of white flowers and fruits, as well as limberbush, jojoba, galloping cactus and the endemic hedgehog cactus. Our main interest though, was focused on the amazing lizards that live on the island: the giant or “pinto” (spotted) chuckwalla and the spiny-tailed iguana. In fact, looking underneath the palo verde trees, or at the base and branches of the jumping chollas, we found these fascinating endemic reptiles warming themselves with the morning sun. While our cameras were shutting, the animals stayed steady or slowly moved to the depths of the bushes. Some more individuals were found on the rocky slopes of the arroyo or were high at the top of the cardon cacti looking for the delicious and hard-shelled fruits and flowers. On our way back to the shore, we also saw gnatcatchers, ravens and red-tailed hawks.
Once on the Sea Voyager, the crew pulled up anchor to sail and seek for marine mammals. A few minutes later, it was announced that our first whale was in sight. Blows of a Bryde’s whale were seen several times until the cetacean came close to the ship, showing details of its graceful body. Then we moved southbound, and some pods of short-finned pilot whales were detected as well. These animals practically surrounded the ship, probably feeding. Even more, a big male went down from one side of the boat to the other (photo) to our amusement, and some more sailed along the ship for several minutes. The Sea Voyager continued its journey towards San Pedro Martir Island, our afternoon’s destination. Therefore, a frenzy feeding performed by hundreds of common dolphins, a humpback whale and thousands of brown and blue-footed boobies interrupted for a time our naps and navigation to that island.
Finally, once we arrived at San Pedro Martir, the ship went around the island to allow us to admire its dramatic geologic formation, and Zodiac cruises were sent to have closer encounters with marine birds, such as tropic birds, Brandt’s cormorants and brown pelicans, and sea lions lying on the boulders on shore. The Undersea Specialist and the Dive Master dove together to record for us the wonders of the sea in a pleasant video shown right after dinner. We went to bed thinking that we already explored the very heart of the Gulf of California.
The first day of our journey into the Gulf of California, more romantically called The Sea of Cortes, began with a calm ocean. Then we anchored at San Esteban Island for hikes. San Esteban is reputedly one of the most interesting islands because of its isolation and particular geological origin, as well as for its unique endemic fauna and flora. As we approached on our Zodiacs, we started to see the yellow-footed gulls nesting right on the rocky beach. To avoid disturbing them, we walked along the shoreline close to the water until we reached the wide arroyo or stream bed. As we went deeper into the arroyo, we discovered the wonders of the Sonoran desert: hundreds of plants all over, including the Saguaro-like cactus called Cardon with great numbers of white flowers and fruits, as well as limberbush, jojoba, galloping cactus and the endemic hedgehog cactus. Our main interest though, was focused on the amazing lizards that live on the island: the giant or “pinto” (spotted) chuckwalla and the spiny-tailed iguana. In fact, looking underneath the palo verde trees, or at the base and branches of the jumping chollas, we found these fascinating endemic reptiles warming themselves with the morning sun. While our cameras were shutting, the animals stayed steady or slowly moved to the depths of the bushes. Some more individuals were found on the rocky slopes of the arroyo or were high at the top of the cardon cacti looking for the delicious and hard-shelled fruits and flowers. On our way back to the shore, we also saw gnatcatchers, ravens and red-tailed hawks.
Once on the Sea Voyager, the crew pulled up anchor to sail and seek for marine mammals. A few minutes later, it was announced that our first whale was in sight. Blows of a Bryde’s whale were seen several times until the cetacean came close to the ship, showing details of its graceful body. Then we moved southbound, and some pods of short-finned pilot whales were detected as well. These animals practically surrounded the ship, probably feeding. Even more, a big male went down from one side of the boat to the other (photo) to our amusement, and some more sailed along the ship for several minutes. The Sea Voyager continued its journey towards San Pedro Martir Island, our afternoon’s destination. Therefore, a frenzy feeding performed by hundreds of common dolphins, a humpback whale and thousands of brown and blue-footed boobies interrupted for a time our naps and navigation to that island.
Finally, once we arrived at San Pedro Martir, the ship went around the island to allow us to admire its dramatic geologic formation, and Zodiac cruises were sent to have closer encounters with marine birds, such as tropic birds, Brandt’s cormorants and brown pelicans, and sea lions lying on the boulders on shore. The Undersea Specialist and the Dive Master dove together to record for us the wonders of the sea in a pleasant video shown right after dinner. We went to bed thinking that we already explored the very heart of the Gulf of California.
