This morning we woke up to a flat, calm sea, and an impressive green flash was the start to our day. We experienced amazingly calm seas throughout last night's sailing, and from early on, we were ready to enjoy our second day in the Gulf of California.
The morning destination was Los Islotes. These volcanic rocks that emerge from the sea, just north of Isla Partida, are a sea lion haul-out and breeding colony. Here we had the opportunity to snorkel and circumnavigate the islets by boat.
It was a special day, since the conditions could not have been better. There was hardly any breeze, and the sea was as flat as a mirror. With such good conditions, the sea lions were quite calm, and we could slowly cruise around, enjoying the wildlife.
After leaving Los Islotes behind, we headed south towards Punta Dispensa. This is the southernmost point of Isla Espiritu Santo. Here we could enjoy the desert and the sea one more time. Several walks were offered to enjoy and learn more about the Sonoran desert environment. The giant cardon cacti combined with the jumping choya and the torchwood trees give this place a calm feeling, similar to that of visiting a well-designed botanical garden, where plants are well taken care of and are evenly spaced out.
Kayakers could explore the entire bay, and from the kayaks, coral heads could be seen as well as several colorful fish. We also saw brown pelicans and magnificent frigate birds catching the dynamic lift of the breeze bouncing against the mountains.
To end the day, our galley prepared an amazing dinner ashore, and we enjoyed sunset from the beach, listening to stories and looking forward to another amazing day in the Gulf of California.
