Los Islotes and La Paz, 1/7/2025, National Geographic Venture
Aboard the
National Geographic Venture
Baja California
At the break of dawn, National Geographic Venture was anchored near Los Islotes so that we could see the California sea lions, either by snorkeling or Zodiac cruise. After wildlife viewing, we all tucked in for a lovely brunch and then a presentation by one of our naturalists. In the afternoon we went into La Paz, had a local ice cream, a cultural performance, and an amazing meal at a local restaurant.
I like to remind people that there are very few big surprises left in life, but if you are out in nature, with an open mind and a lot of time, you never know what you will find.
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We started our day with a perfect sunrise tinting the clouds in fading pinks and oranges. We had an all-in-one day starting with snorkeling by the colorful rocky shores of Punta Colorada, a place that is only accessible when we have perfectly calm conditions as we had today. We spotted a humpback whale straight from the dining room during lunch, and right after we headed back out for our arroyo hikes and kayaking. The cove was unbelievably beautiful. Trapped in the sandstone, we found innumerable fossils of shells and even the carapace of a turtle and some whalebones. We also learned of the Baja California desert vegetation and history from our informative naturalist that led the way. We went kayaking which provided a spectacular perspective of the tall pink and yellow walls that line the coves. From Zodiacs we could enjoy the enviable views of this pristine island. We are only on day one of National Geographic Venture’s Among the Great Whales expedition and we have seen and done so much. We feel accomplished yet we’re hungry for more!
Our morning began with a stop at Los Islotes, part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, for a sunrise snorkel with playful juvenile California sea lions. As they twisted and turned through the water with ease, it was such a joy for many to experience their curiosity so closely. We also enjoyed closer looks at the island from the bow of National Geographic Venture . The chorus of barking sea lions hauled out on the rocks was a raucous experience; we also observed a variety of birds, including Cocos and blue-footed boobies, and some California brown pelicans seeking refuge from the wind. After a fantastic brunch, we cruised the Canal de San Jose of the Gulf of California in search of wildlife, and it did not disappoint. Our first sighting was a humpback mother with her calf, cruising in the same direction as us. Then not long afterwards, the distinctly angled blows of sperm whales were sighted, while four mobula rays passed along our starboard side. And then the largest animals on our planet surfaced! Can you believe it? Blue whales!!!
Today was an amazing day, the last day of the first month of the new year. In the morning we pulled National Geographic Venture into a bay called El Cardonal, near Isla Partida, which provided protection from the furious north wind. We observed the dramatic erosion on the rock cliffs, which are made of ignimbrite and pyroclastic flows. We made a variety of landings for different activity interests: kayaking, interpretive nature walks, and even a mega-adventure-trek up from the beach at Ensenada Grande. The water at our landing site was crystal clear and the approach to the beach was a wonderful turquoise color. Kayakers were treated to close views of many yellow-crowned night herons and brown pelicans; a few guests even caught a fleeting view of two ospreys in a nest upon shuttling to shore. The occasional gust of wind reminded us of the conditions outside of the bay. In the afternoon, we ventured into La Paz for a wonderful series of cultural presentations, followed by a delicious private dinner at a local restaurant.
