Morning brought a gorgeous peach sunrise as we sailed into Santa Elena Bay, a marine management area renown for hosting nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) and over twenty species of rays, including a fan favorite, the spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari). Along the edges of the bay, we spotted common black hawks (Buteogallus anthracinus), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), great blue herons (Ardea herodias), and neotropical cormorants (Nannopterum brasilianum) making for a bird-filled morning. We also had great views of two different cactus species peppering the bay, a fascinating botanical presence to encounter in the tropics.
In the afternoon, we explored Guachipelin via nature walks, swimming, and snorkeling. These excursions provided even more wildlife sightings, including white-nosed coatis (Nasua narica), capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator), and mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata), the latter of which is famous for their resonant howl that can carry a whopping 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) away.
