Today was the first hike of our voyage to the southern islands of the Sea of Cortez. We landed at the beautiful cove of El Cardonal on Isla Partida. We had our first look at the contrast between two completely different habitats found within feet of each other: mangrove forest and the impressive cardon cacti of the Sonoran Desert. Some of us were able to reach the eastern side of the island and enjoy the turquoise blue waters of the Gulf of California, while others investigated fiddler crabs and other life in the mangroves. Although not seen, fresh tracks of "ring-tailed cats" and the endemic black-tailed jack rabbit reminded us of their presence.