A smooth, gentle ride north in the Gulf of California took us to our morning destination: Isla San Jose.
We enjoyed perfect conditions for our morning activities. The glassy water provided the kayakers with an amazing view of the underwater world, filled with a variety of fish, sea stars, and a few sting rays swimming close to the bottom. It was like snorkeling without getting in the water!
A perfect cloud cover filled the sky to protect us from the intensity of the sun, as we are getting closer to the spring equinox. The air temperature was perfect for exploring the arroyo to enjoy some green vegetation left over by the abundance of rain this past Fall and Winter. Flowers were surrounded with bees and butterflies, and a few Xantus hummingbirds were spotted by the avid birdwatchers. As we were lifting anchor to begin making our way to the Baja Peninsula, a large school of common dolphins surrounded the ship and delighted us all.
This afternoon, we anchored near Puerto Gato for our next adventures ashore. As the day was getting hotter, many chose the opportunity to learn the art of snorkeling and to become comfortable in their new environment. Others chose to hike to the top of the hill to capture views of the high mountains of the Peninsula on one side and the Sea of Cortez on the other side. We spent the rest of the afternoon on the beautiful white sandy beach contrasting against the terracotta colored cliffs, as the pastel purple sunset colors filled the sky. We were treated to a delightful barbeque dinner as the tapestry was unfolding in front of our eyes.
