Under a blanket of pastel skies, we set out in our Zodiacs to explore the mangrove ecosystem of Man O’ War Cove. We meandered our way through the mangroves, observing their strategies for living at the edge where the sand meets the saltwater. The tide was falling during our time there, exposing mudflats that attracted a variety of wading birds and shorebirds that live in this rich life zone.

After lunch we went ashore to visit Puerto Magdalena, a small fishing village on the island. Some guests went hiking up the arroyo to enjoy the desert environment, while others explored the shoreline and took a photo walk through the village. We all ended our explorations at Jose Chejo’s restaurant, where we enjoyed fresh ceviche made with local fish from the bay and a round of beverages; we also learned about the history of Puerto Magdalena from Jose Chejo himself.

This fun-filled day ended with a presentation about expedition photography by our photo instructor. We gathered tips for photographing with our smartphones, along with advice on composition and finding the shot.