At daybreak we were cruising north in the Sea of Cortez along the east shore of Isla San Jose. Our destination was Punta Colorado, a stunning point with peach-colored cliffs, beige rocks, and turquoise water. Erosion has slowly smoothed the uplifted seabed of this cove into elegant, curving landforms. During our walks ashore, we found countless shells, and a 2.5-million-year-old whale vertebra. Hikers explored the arroyo, while snorkelers swam beneath pink cliffs and discovered colorful schools of blue and gold snappers and wrasses.
After enjoying lunch on the ship, we went ashore in the afternoon at Puerto Gato, on the Baja California peninsula. Many of us enjoyed the beautiful scenery while using kayaks and paddleboards, while others observed life beneath the waves. An eared grebe joined us, and was catching tiny fish near the snorkelers. The little water bird was delightful to watch as it dove and surfaced in our midst.
While we finished our afternoon activities, the ship’s hotel department was preparing a delicious dinner on the beach. We sat around the campfire dining on seared tuna as the sun set. Constellations filled the night sky. When we returned to the ship, blue-green flashes of bioluminescent plankton sparkled in the wakes of our small boats.
