Baja California, 2/19/2019, National Geographic Sea Bird
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Bird
Baja California
We awoke near Puerto Lopez Mateos, a fishing village near Boca del Soleda at the mouth of the mangrove-lined estuary. Wind pushed up a large swell but that didn’t stop most of the guests in this hardy group. Once out exploring, we had numerous gray whale sightings—including a cow and newborn calf.
Pete Pederson has always been attracted to the out-of-doors and is fascinated by the diversity of life and how natural systems function. He studied zoology and completed his Master of Science degree in wildlife management at Humboldt State University...
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In the second part of our voyage, today National Geographic Venture sailed to reach Punta Colorada. This magnificent location is on San Jose Island, with red, orange, and ochre-tinted sandstones with mollusk fossils. The morning was busy with hikes, kayaking, and snorkeling. Our guests observed the varied vegetation of the island with lots of blooming plants that colored the desert! In the afternoon, we explored the waters south of the Loreto National Marine Park and found a humpback cow with a calf feeding on the rich marine resources of the area. The mother whale was fishing with her enormous mouth right at the ocean’s surface; we were able to see her baleens, tongue, eyes, and throat grooves that expanded during her feast.
National Geographic Venture was anchored off the coast of Espiritu Santo Island this morning. Hikes departed from the beach and traversed the scope of an arroyo. The start was particularly interesting as we walked along an estuary that contained four different species of mangroves: red, black, white, and sweet. Snorkelers spent the morning at a rock reef area amongst schools of various juvenile reef fishes in beautifully clear water. We transitioned to La Paz for the afternoon. There we enjoyed a folkloric dance presentation and mariachi band, followed by a delicious meal on the Malecon, before returning to the ship in the evening.
Cabo Pulmo is a marine protected area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We had the opportunity to snorkel and boat cruise in the park and it was an amazing morning. We saw so many beautiful reef fish and incredible humpback whales, including mom and calf pairs. We also enjoyed a run. It was another beautiful day in Baja.
