Los Islotes and Espiritu Santo-Partida Islands
One of the most attractive locations in the Sea of Cortes is Los Islotes, a well isolated rocky islet in which California sea lions and an assortment of sea birds have found breeding or perching sites. Additionally, a plethora of marine creatures live in the rich waters. This morning, it was our destination in our route to La Paz City.
Our first activity of the day was snorkeling among the sea lions. In fact, as the breeding season comes closer, hundreds of these acrobatic animals were present there in their annual seeking for space to give birth, mate or defend a territory. The “lobera,” as it is called in Mexican Spanish, was active, and we were able to see some simulated fights between the young males. Patient resting females and waned yearlings were seen as well as they heated up themselves on the big boulders. Frigatebirds, blue-footed and brown boobies, pelicans and other birds, including the beautiful purple martins, soared above in their daily drama. As the morning progressed, we took Zodiac cruises around the islet to observe the dramatic ash formations and the consequences of erosion and block-faulting. Some of us were experienced enough to scuba-dive, and the divers reported sea urchins, triggerfishes, wrasses, crown-of-thorns sea stars, angelfish, and many other inhabitants of the place.
By early afternoon we relocated the Sea Voyager to a long and beautiful beach and bay known as Punta Dispensa. There we walked on the shore to find paper-nautilus shells and other things. One of the highlights was the discovery of a sea snake of the genus Pelamis, killed probably by a gull. They are rarely seen, but seem to be abundant in these waters. Later, those who hiked enjoyed good sights of desert iguanas, an endemic black jackrabbit and an osprey that just captured a reef coronet fish.
Before sunset we pulled up anchor and sailed to La Paz City, where we walked on its clean and interesting streets and got a piece of the true Mexican warmth and style.
One of the most attractive locations in the Sea of Cortes is Los Islotes, a well isolated rocky islet in which California sea lions and an assortment of sea birds have found breeding or perching sites. Additionally, a plethora of marine creatures live in the rich waters. This morning, it was our destination in our route to La Paz City.
Our first activity of the day was snorkeling among the sea lions. In fact, as the breeding season comes closer, hundreds of these acrobatic animals were present there in their annual seeking for space to give birth, mate or defend a territory. The “lobera,” as it is called in Mexican Spanish, was active, and we were able to see some simulated fights between the young males. Patient resting females and waned yearlings were seen as well as they heated up themselves on the big boulders. Frigatebirds, blue-footed and brown boobies, pelicans and other birds, including the beautiful purple martins, soared above in their daily drama. As the morning progressed, we took Zodiac cruises around the islet to observe the dramatic ash formations and the consequences of erosion and block-faulting. Some of us were experienced enough to scuba-dive, and the divers reported sea urchins, triggerfishes, wrasses, crown-of-thorns sea stars, angelfish, and many other inhabitants of the place.
By early afternoon we relocated the Sea Voyager to a long and beautiful beach and bay known as Punta Dispensa. There we walked on the shore to find paper-nautilus shells and other things. One of the highlights was the discovery of a sea snake of the genus Pelamis, killed probably by a gull. They are rarely seen, but seem to be abundant in these waters. Later, those who hiked enjoyed good sights of desert iguanas, an endemic black jackrabbit and an osprey that just captured a reef coronet fish.
Before sunset we pulled up anchor and sailed to La Paz City, where we walked on its clean and interesting streets and got a piece of the true Mexican warmth and style.
