Like rough red adobe bricks haphazardly stacked by giants, ‘The Islets’ or Los Islotes with their frosted rocky towers and faint barking sounds beckoned to us, calling us into the expedition landing craft and across the sea to be delighted and charmed by this small outcrop and its protected inhabitants. Los Islotes is the southernmost breeding colony for California sea lions in the Gulf of California, and they were on hand to greet us, their first visitors of the day. Twirling and leaping groups of adolescent animals swam around, under and behind the boats, causing much laughter and excitement among us. Above us soared magnificent frigatebirds, brown pelicans in beautiful breeding plumage, brown and blue-footed boobies nesting on the cliffs and oh my, a peregrine falcon hovered high up, perhaps considering which of these unwary seabirds would make a good lunch.
By mid-morning snorkelers slid into the cool deep blue water. Large blocks of welded volcanic ash covered by algae, waving gorgonians, sea stars, and other interesting invertebrates provided home and foodstuff to thousands of colorful fishes like the yellow-tailed surgeon fish, sergeant majors, and giant damsel fish. Playful sea lions dazzled us with their movements, quicker and so much more graceful than ballet dancers.
The white crescent beach of Half Moon Bay on the west side of Isla San Francisco offered afternoon activities for everyone…kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming in the turquoise water, and desert walks with the naturalists or beachcombing on your own. What a relaxing way to contemplate our adventures at sea and on the shores of beautiful Baja California.
