Bahia Alcatraz and Puerto Refugio
The Sea of Cortez is such a vast ocean that is hard to decide where to go. This day, however, we decided to touch the peninsula and explore its shores. We landed at Bahia Alcatraz (the Pelican Bay, in old Mexican Spanish), where we encountered interesting tracks from coyotes, foxes, jackrabbits, crabs, lizards, mice and other. Our Naturalists realized that the location was potentially good for bighorn sheep, mule deer and of course mountain lions. We climbed the hills and observed the volcanic rocks overlaying the granitic basement of the peninsula. Enriching the beautiful scenery there were at least three ospreys and several black-throated swifts flying around, and many red elephant trees in flower.
Kayaking and snorkeling were also delightful. Many marine creatures were seen under the water, as was shown by our Undersea Specialist in a very interesting and encouraging video during cocktail time. By the afternoon, the Sea Voyager took us along the Canal de Ballenas (whale’s channel), where we had a fin whale (the second largest living creature in the world) fluking right next to the bow of the ship.
In the afternoon we finally arrived to Puerto Refugio, on the northern end of Angel de la Guarda Island. At this location we made some Zodiac cruises to observe the impressive numbers of brown pelicans nesting everywhere on the slopes and flat areas. Many white, downy-looking chicks were also seen moving the gular pouches at once to cool themselves. Adults were going and coming, many of them carrying fishes into their mouths to fed their youngsters. Others, like in the photograph, were just perched having a deserved resting time. Some time later we went to a little islet known as Granito to see a colony of California sea lions, but we were amazed by an elephant seal, which is a rare presence into the Gulf of California. After all these emotions, a beautiful full moon was displayed once the darkness covered the land.
The Sea of Cortez is such a vast ocean that is hard to decide where to go. This day, however, we decided to touch the peninsula and explore its shores. We landed at Bahia Alcatraz (the Pelican Bay, in old Mexican Spanish), where we encountered interesting tracks from coyotes, foxes, jackrabbits, crabs, lizards, mice and other. Our Naturalists realized that the location was potentially good for bighorn sheep, mule deer and of course mountain lions. We climbed the hills and observed the volcanic rocks overlaying the granitic basement of the peninsula. Enriching the beautiful scenery there were at least three ospreys and several black-throated swifts flying around, and many red elephant trees in flower.
Kayaking and snorkeling were also delightful. Many marine creatures were seen under the water, as was shown by our Undersea Specialist in a very interesting and encouraging video during cocktail time. By the afternoon, the Sea Voyager took us along the Canal de Ballenas (whale’s channel), where we had a fin whale (the second largest living creature in the world) fluking right next to the bow of the ship.
In the afternoon we finally arrived to Puerto Refugio, on the northern end of Angel de la Guarda Island. At this location we made some Zodiac cruises to observe the impressive numbers of brown pelicans nesting everywhere on the slopes and flat areas. Many white, downy-looking chicks were also seen moving the gular pouches at once to cool themselves. Adults were going and coming, many of them carrying fishes into their mouths to fed their youngsters. Others, like in the photograph, were just perched having a deserved resting time. Some time later we went to a little islet known as Granito to see a colony of California sea lions, but we were amazed by an elephant seal, which is a rare presence into the Gulf of California. After all these emotions, a beautiful full moon was displayed once the darkness covered the land.
