Bahia Alcatraz & Isla Angel de la Guarda
We woke this morning to the sight of a fin whale—the second largest whale species in the world. There are approximately 200 such individuals in the Gulf of California, and today’s rare appearance was enough to get even the most sleep-deprived of us out of bed. The fin whale offered several elusive glimpses of its glossy back before disappearing, conveniently, right before breakfast.
We stopped next on the coast of Baja Peninsula, at Bahia Alcatraz, where some of Baja’s most unique and plentiful varieties of plant species can be found. Our group took nature walks through groves of elephant trees, cardon cacti, ocotillos, chollas, and iodine bushes. One of the most notable sightings occurred on the medium-intensity trek, when a rattlesnake meandered a few feet from our group and looked menacingly in our direction, daring someone to poke it.
We also took advantage of the pristine white beaches of Bahia Alcatraz to snorkel and kayak, or to swim in the clear waters and evaluate the efficacy of our sunscreen protection factors.
After lunch, everyone attended a presentation about the culture, flora, and fauna of Mexico. Meanwhile, our ship sped us to Isla de la Guarda. The largest island in the Gulf of California, it offered views of colorful cliffs and pre-Colombian archaeological sites. We toured the island in Zodiac boats, and went snorkeling near sea lion colonies. As an end to our busy day, we listened to a presentation about the early exploration of Baja Peninsula and the Gulf of California, learning of the many ill-fated attempts by Cortes to subjugate the land and its peoples.
We woke this morning to the sight of a fin whale—the second largest whale species in the world. There are approximately 200 such individuals in the Gulf of California, and today’s rare appearance was enough to get even the most sleep-deprived of us out of bed. The fin whale offered several elusive glimpses of its glossy back before disappearing, conveniently, right before breakfast.
We stopped next on the coast of Baja Peninsula, at Bahia Alcatraz, where some of Baja’s most unique and plentiful varieties of plant species can be found. Our group took nature walks through groves of elephant trees, cardon cacti, ocotillos, chollas, and iodine bushes. One of the most notable sightings occurred on the medium-intensity trek, when a rattlesnake meandered a few feet from our group and looked menacingly in our direction, daring someone to poke it.
We also took advantage of the pristine white beaches of Bahia Alcatraz to snorkel and kayak, or to swim in the clear waters and evaluate the efficacy of our sunscreen protection factors.
After lunch, everyone attended a presentation about the culture, flora, and fauna of Mexico. Meanwhile, our ship sped us to Isla de la Guarda. The largest island in the Gulf of California, it offered views of colorful cliffs and pre-Colombian archaeological sites. We toured the island in Zodiac boats, and went snorkeling near sea lion colonies. As an end to our busy day, we listened to a presentation about the early exploration of Baja Peninsula and the Gulf of California, learning of the many ill-fated attempts by Cortes to subjugate the land and its peoples.
