Isla Espiritu Santo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
In his 1535 trip by ship out west, to find his lost to mutineers ship, Hernan Cortes met the Peninsula of Baja California at that place where today lies the capital of the state, La Paz. To enter the large bay of La Paz, he had to sail around the large island known since then as Espiritu Santo. This island is very interesting to us today, as it has two endemic species of mammals, the black jackrabbit and the antelope ground squirrel, as well as endemic scorpions and other animals. It is also in the hands of conservation groups to be held as a preserve. In the morning, we landed at Bonanza Beach, a 2-mile- long beach, where we had hikes and snorkeling. Many snorkelers had the opportunity to see a good number of marine invertebrates.
During lunch, we repositioned to the northern part of the island, called Los Islotes, where we snorkeled with the sea lions, enjoyed a great sea life, and later did Zodiac tours around the two islets, watching all the birds and Sally Lightfoot crabs along the rocks. Magnificent frigate birds, those scissor-tailed pirates, yellow-footed gulls, blue-footed and brown boobies, great blue herons and even oyster-catchers, all on these islets!
And again, one of the most pink-red sunsets for which Baja California is known, with hundreds of frigates gliding against the orange sky…Yes! Baja California is marvelous. Come and see it!
In his 1535 trip by ship out west, to find his lost to mutineers ship, Hernan Cortes met the Peninsula of Baja California at that place where today lies the capital of the state, La Paz. To enter the large bay of La Paz, he had to sail around the large island known since then as Espiritu Santo. This island is very interesting to us today, as it has two endemic species of mammals, the black jackrabbit and the antelope ground squirrel, as well as endemic scorpions and other animals. It is also in the hands of conservation groups to be held as a preserve. In the morning, we landed at Bonanza Beach, a 2-mile- long beach, where we had hikes and snorkeling. Many snorkelers had the opportunity to see a good number of marine invertebrates.
During lunch, we repositioned to the northern part of the island, called Los Islotes, where we snorkeled with the sea lions, enjoyed a great sea life, and later did Zodiac tours around the two islets, watching all the birds and Sally Lightfoot crabs along the rocks. Magnificent frigate birds, those scissor-tailed pirates, yellow-footed gulls, blue-footed and brown boobies, great blue herons and even oyster-catchers, all on these islets!
And again, one of the most pink-red sunsets for which Baja California is known, with hundreds of frigates gliding against the orange sky…Yes! Baja California is marvelous. Come and see it!
