San Esteban & San Pedro Martir Islands
During our first day of exploration in the Gulf of California, Mexico, we went to two fantastic islands: in the morning to San Esteban, and in the afternoon to San Pedro Martir. Both islands are remote and have been isolated for a long time. For those reasons, some of the wild animals and plants they have are unique and interesting for researchers and explorers like us. The geology of the two islands is also impressive.
In the morning we hiked on a very beautiful, green and wide arroyo (or dry river bed) on San Esteban Island. There we had the opportunity to observe two of the most fascinating reptiles in the Gulf of California: the “pinto” chuckwalla (the largest of all existing chuckwalla species) and the spiny-tailed iguana, both endemic, or in other words, native and restricted to San Esteban. The chuckwallas were mostly hidden under the jumping cholla cacti whereas the iguanas were seen principally on the rocky slopes and on the top of the cardon cactus branches. The chuckwallas, being completely vegetarian, were waiting to heat up their bodies, as they love the very high temperatures. The iguanas were looking for cardon flowers and fruits. Many youngsters of this last species were also seen everywhere, like the one presented here in the picture. We also had the first introduction to the vegetation of what we call the “Sonoran desert”, which is the driest and hottest of all North American deserts, with the particularity that here in Baja it meets the ocean and is represented both in the southern half of the peninsula and in most of the surrounding islands.
In the afternoon the Sea Voyager moved to San Pedro Martir Island, that constitutes a very steep volcanic island. This place is the favorite for blue-footed and brown boobies, brown pelicans and red-billed tropic birds, who use it as a nesting site. They were seen in great numbers. As no land predators are present here, there is also a large permanent colony of California sea lions. Some individuals of this species were very playful when we undertook our Zodiac cruises. Later, when we left the island, many individuals of sperm whales were seen spread over a vast area in the deep greenish-blue ocean. It was the perfect ending of a perfect first day of exploration in the Sea of Cortes.
During our first day of exploration in the Gulf of California, Mexico, we went to two fantastic islands: in the morning to San Esteban, and in the afternoon to San Pedro Martir. Both islands are remote and have been isolated for a long time. For those reasons, some of the wild animals and plants they have are unique and interesting for researchers and explorers like us. The geology of the two islands is also impressive.
In the morning we hiked on a very beautiful, green and wide arroyo (or dry river bed) on San Esteban Island. There we had the opportunity to observe two of the most fascinating reptiles in the Gulf of California: the “pinto” chuckwalla (the largest of all existing chuckwalla species) and the spiny-tailed iguana, both endemic, or in other words, native and restricted to San Esteban. The chuckwallas were mostly hidden under the jumping cholla cacti whereas the iguanas were seen principally on the rocky slopes and on the top of the cardon cactus branches. The chuckwallas, being completely vegetarian, were waiting to heat up their bodies, as they love the very high temperatures. The iguanas were looking for cardon flowers and fruits. Many youngsters of this last species were also seen everywhere, like the one presented here in the picture. We also had the first introduction to the vegetation of what we call the “Sonoran desert”, which is the driest and hottest of all North American deserts, with the particularity that here in Baja it meets the ocean and is represented both in the southern half of the peninsula and in most of the surrounding islands.
In the afternoon the Sea Voyager moved to San Pedro Martir Island, that constitutes a very steep volcanic island. This place is the favorite for blue-footed and brown boobies, brown pelicans and red-billed tropic birds, who use it as a nesting site. They were seen in great numbers. As no land predators are present here, there is also a large permanent colony of California sea lions. Some individuals of this species were very playful when we undertook our Zodiac cruises. Later, when we left the island, many individuals of sperm whales were seen spread over a vast area in the deep greenish-blue ocean. It was the perfect ending of a perfect first day of exploration in the Sea of Cortes.
