Bahia Almejas in Bahia Magdalena, 1/16/2023, National Geographic Sea Bird
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Bird
Baja California
Today we went whale watching from pangas in Bahia Almejas. Here at the southernmost entrance of Bahia Magdalena, we observed many gray whales – we saw their blows and backs as they surfaced to breathe, and occasionally one rolled on its side or raised its head above the surface.
Berit grew up on the rocky shores of Marblehead, Massachusetts, where she explored the marine environment through changing tides and seasons, nurturing a love of natural history and marine biology.
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Our morning started with an incredible sunrise and glassy calm water in the Canal de Soledad. We continued our morning with an expedition on board pangas captained by local captains to search for gray whales. After a lovely brunch (which included fabulous cinnamon rolls!), we continued towards Sand Dollar Beach where we hiked among the incredible barchan sand dunes, incredible desert plants, and made it to the Pacific Ocean, where we encountered all kinds of marine life.
This morning, we had the opportunity to Zodiac cruise in a maze of mangroves that offered some protection from the northerly breeze blowing on the Hull Canal. Both red and white mangroves are present, sharing the estuary and growing side by side. These plants have adapted to survive in saltwater marshes and create a unique ecosystem that many different animals take advantage of, including a nice variety of shorebirds, osprey, frigatebirds, egrets, and even a few passerines. Once back on board, National Geographic Sea Bird sailed north in the Hull Canal, a long and narrow saltwater river that leads to the small town of Lopez Mateos. We anchored just a little south of it and had a chance to simply wander on the extensive dunes of Isla Magdalena, enjoying the scenery, some photo opportunities, and the warm sand on our bare feet. During the evening cocktail hour, we had a very special visit from a local duet who played guitar and sang songs from the Mexican folklore tradition.
Our day aboard National Geographic Sea Bird began with a wonderful gray whale watching adventure in Bahia Almejas. Aboard our pangas driven by local captains, we were surrounded by whales. In the afternoon, guests enjoyed hikes, fat-tire bike rides, and beverages and ceviche in Puerto Magdalena, followed by a party onboard led by Los Coyotes de Magdalena – a local band. What a way to end our trip!
