Isla San Marcos
After we departed the dock at Puerto Escondido, we sailed north with the most wonderful weather conditions and had a smooth passage all through the night. Early this morning we arrived to our first day destination at Isla San Marcos. This island is one of the few islands in the Gulf of California with a human population, which is due to the exploitation of a Gypsum mine on the southwestern part of the island.
Many amazing and surprising things happened this day on San Marcos Island. When we first went ashore for hikes, the moon was slowly settling down below the horizon. We began dividing into groups for the hikes: a longer and more strenuous hike which would last around 3 hours, a medium interpretative hike and a short leisure like walk. A very rare and strange phenomenon was stirring off the islands shore. In a matter of minutes, a thick blanket of fog rolled in slowly crawling over the hill sides and up over the towering mountains. This is something seldom seen in Baja California.
While walking, we all had the opportunity to be introduced to the Sonoran Desert. We observed the vegetation that dominates almost all of the islands in the Gulf of California such as the Cardon cacti, Chain-Link Chollas, Iron Wood trees, Palo Blanco and Palo Verde, etc. We also saw other inhabitants of the islands such as the Great Blue Herons, Ospreys, Ash Throated Flycatchers, Costas Hummingbird and many more. For many of us, the highlight of the day was the sight of a three foot long rattlesnake endemic to the region.
We shuttled back to the Sea Voyager via our zodiacs for lunch and repositioned to another beach on the northwest side of the same island for our afternoon activities. Before we took off to the beach, we had a snorkel briefing and handed out masks, snorkels and wet suits. Now we were ready for kayaking and snorkeling from the beach. Both snorkelers and kayakers had amazing opportunities to encounter a number of fascinating fish and invertebrates.
Finally as our day is coming to an end, the National Geographic expert, Kira Salak, will be giving a talk on her voyage - kayaking solo 600 miles to Timbuktu.
Through the night we will continue our journey north through the beautiful and wonderful Gulf of California.
After we departed the dock at Puerto Escondido, we sailed north with the most wonderful weather conditions and had a smooth passage all through the night. Early this morning we arrived to our first day destination at Isla San Marcos. This island is one of the few islands in the Gulf of California with a human population, which is due to the exploitation of a Gypsum mine on the southwestern part of the island.
Many amazing and surprising things happened this day on San Marcos Island. When we first went ashore for hikes, the moon was slowly settling down below the horizon. We began dividing into groups for the hikes: a longer and more strenuous hike which would last around 3 hours, a medium interpretative hike and a short leisure like walk. A very rare and strange phenomenon was stirring off the islands shore. In a matter of minutes, a thick blanket of fog rolled in slowly crawling over the hill sides and up over the towering mountains. This is something seldom seen in Baja California.
While walking, we all had the opportunity to be introduced to the Sonoran Desert. We observed the vegetation that dominates almost all of the islands in the Gulf of California such as the Cardon cacti, Chain-Link Chollas, Iron Wood trees, Palo Blanco and Palo Verde, etc. We also saw other inhabitants of the islands such as the Great Blue Herons, Ospreys, Ash Throated Flycatchers, Costas Hummingbird and many more. For many of us, the highlight of the day was the sight of a three foot long rattlesnake endemic to the region.
We shuttled back to the Sea Voyager via our zodiacs for lunch and repositioned to another beach on the northwest side of the same island for our afternoon activities. Before we took off to the beach, we had a snorkel briefing and handed out masks, snorkels and wet suits. Now we were ready for kayaking and snorkeling from the beach. Both snorkelers and kayakers had amazing opportunities to encounter a number of fascinating fish and invertebrates.
Finally as our day is coming to an end, the National Geographic expert, Kira Salak, will be giving a talk on her voyage - kayaking solo 600 miles to Timbuktu.
Through the night we will continue our journey north through the beautiful and wonderful Gulf of California.
