Isla San Esteban & San Pedro Martir
Only a sliver of crimson light pierced the indigo sky as the hardiest among us prepared for a pre-dawn landing on Isla San Esteban. As we climbed into the Zodiac that would ferry us to shore, the colors of dawn began to fire the horizon, reflecting upon the still, shining surface of the Gulf of California. Our marinero skillfully guided our agile little craft to a perfect landing and, stepping upon the shore of the island, we turned to watch as the sky and sea cycled through a kaleidoscopic sweep of ever-changing colors. A singular moment of transcendent beauty graced this small part of the world and our cameras raced to capture the experience.
After returning to the Sea Voyager for breakfast, those who chose a more leisurely wake-up call, joined us as we returned to shore to explore the island, searching for the endemic species of spiny-tailed iguanas and chuckwallas that call the protected wilderness home. We spotted many of the lizards and were even treated to the sight of a hungry spiny-tailed iguana lunching upon a blossom at the very top of a magnificent cardon cactus.
After returning to the ship and weighing anchor for San Pedro Martir, the most remote island in the Gulf of California, we spotted a group of fin whales, the second largest creature on earth and smaller only than the gigantic blue whale. As the whales dove and surfaced a few hundred yards off our bow, a large group of mobula rays sailed near the ship, occasionally launching themselves out of the water in amazing aerial exhibitions.
After lunch, we anchored for a Zodiac tour of San Pedro Martir, the most remote island in the Gulf of California and home to many seabird species, including brown boobies, blue-footed boobies, cormorants, brown pelicans and the red-billed tropic bird. Marked by its flowing twin tail feathers and snowy-white plumage, San Pedro Martir marks the northernmost point of the tropic bird’s territory.
And if these weren’t enough incredible photographic opportunities for one day …
Shortly after setting sail from San Pedro Martir, we encountered a number of sperm whales in near proximity to a large group of bottlenose dolphins. While the sperm whales dove, showing their magnificent flukes along the way, the dolphins put on wildly acrobatic displays of leaps, somersaults and cartwheels. Shutters burned pixels (and sometimes film) as we put a close to another amazing day photographing in the Gulf of California.
Only a sliver of crimson light pierced the indigo sky as the hardiest among us prepared for a pre-dawn landing on Isla San Esteban. As we climbed into the Zodiac that would ferry us to shore, the colors of dawn began to fire the horizon, reflecting upon the still, shining surface of the Gulf of California. Our marinero skillfully guided our agile little craft to a perfect landing and, stepping upon the shore of the island, we turned to watch as the sky and sea cycled through a kaleidoscopic sweep of ever-changing colors. A singular moment of transcendent beauty graced this small part of the world and our cameras raced to capture the experience.
After returning to the Sea Voyager for breakfast, those who chose a more leisurely wake-up call, joined us as we returned to shore to explore the island, searching for the endemic species of spiny-tailed iguanas and chuckwallas that call the protected wilderness home. We spotted many of the lizards and were even treated to the sight of a hungry spiny-tailed iguana lunching upon a blossom at the very top of a magnificent cardon cactus.
After returning to the ship and weighing anchor for San Pedro Martir, the most remote island in the Gulf of California, we spotted a group of fin whales, the second largest creature on earth and smaller only than the gigantic blue whale. As the whales dove and surfaced a few hundred yards off our bow, a large group of mobula rays sailed near the ship, occasionally launching themselves out of the water in amazing aerial exhibitions.
After lunch, we anchored for a Zodiac tour of San Pedro Martir, the most remote island in the Gulf of California and home to many seabird species, including brown boobies, blue-footed boobies, cormorants, brown pelicans and the red-billed tropic bird. Marked by its flowing twin tail feathers and snowy-white plumage, San Pedro Martir marks the northernmost point of the tropic bird’s territory.
And if these weren’t enough incredible photographic opportunities for one day …
Shortly after setting sail from San Pedro Martir, we encountered a number of sperm whales in near proximity to a large group of bottlenose dolphins. While the sperm whales dove, showing their magnificent flukes along the way, the dolphins put on wildly acrobatic displays of leaps, somersaults and cartwheels. Shutters burned pixels (and sometimes film) as we put a close to another amazing day photographing in the Gulf of California.
