The southern tip of the Baja Peninsula is a spectacular region with wild desert and an ocean filled with wildlife. With a high mountain range reaching 6,000 feet in the background, the scenery is spectacular as well. From sunrise to sunset, we enjoyed exploring the Cape of Baja. Starting at the famous arch of Land’s End and finishing in a sheltered bay on the east cape, today was filled with wildlife, history, and scenery.
After breakfast, we docked in the port near the town of San Jose del Cabo and divided in order to explore two very different aspects of this town. Some of us went for the cultural and historical aspect of the area. We visited the older, more traditional part of town that included art studios and typical Mexican handicrafts. We also had a special demonstration at a glass blowing studio, which uses recycled glass to make gorgeous creations. Many of us decided to also visit an estuary with water flowing from the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains many miles to the north. Here a great variety of wetland and desert birds were encountered. Egrets, herons, ducks, and grebes filled the water while birds in the scrubby vegetation included the endemic gray thrasher. We all returned to the ship for lunch and soon it was time to head out and see what we could find in the ocean.
As we headed north and east along the peninsula we soon encountered humpback whales. Every winter, these whales come to the cape to breed and give birth. The waters are relatively sheltered and warm, and the perfect spot for humpbacks. In the distance we spotted the splash of one breaching, and it continued to breach repeatedly as we approached. It was a bit erratic and challenging, but then it did one perfect breach with a twist that nearly all judges rewarded with a perfect 10! As we continued along, many more whales were spotted and we enjoyed learning about them and taking many photos.
The weather today was very strange for this part of Baja. The wind started strong from the west, and continued to switch around and change throughout the day. We also had three different rain squalls, which is very unusual for this time of the year. However, it cleared later in the afternoon and led to magical light on the mountains and sand dunes. Towards sunset we anchored in a sheltered bay and enjoyed another gorgeous sunset before we continue on north into the Sea of Cortez later this evening.
