Isla San Marcos
Thick fog enveloped the Sea Lion as she motored towards Isla San Marcos, the center of the morning’s activities. By the time the anchor chain clanged to the sea floor, sunshine flooded over the ship and illuminated the multicolored volcanic rock of the island. In no time, kayakers, hikers, and photographers took off to explore. Our sleek, colorful boats launched from the red-pebbled beach and followed the rocky shoreline past hundreds of pelicans and a number of blue-footed boobies perched side by side. One group accompanied by the guest leaders for our photo expedition focused in on senita cactus spines backlit in the morning light and on the myriad of flowers. A narrow canyon led inland, enticing hikers back for close looks of jagged rock formations, lizards, and even a scorpion!
Flat calm seas provided ideal conditions for viewing marine life during the afternoon. Common dolphins accompanied our ship off and on for hours, and seabirds joined them in spectacular feeding frenzies. Blue-footed boobies and brown pelicans plummeted from great heights, while terns, shearwaters, gulls, and jaegers arrived to share in the feast.
Spouts appeared far off on the horizon. Even from a great distance, they could be identified as sperm whales. These creatures are truly bizarre. The blowhole is off-center on the left side. The spout is blown forward and to the animal's left at a 45-degree angle. Throughout much of the afternoon we lingered with this group of cows and their calves. One much larger male rose near the ship as well. These fascinating cetaceans are the whales of storybooks as well as the “Moby Dick” of Melville. Sperm whales provided commercially valuable spermaceti oil held in their bulbous foreheads, so were a prized catch for whalers. The strange head is visible in the calf shown in the photo.
Sun set over the peninsula with dolphins rising in the golden water. After dinner we walked ashore at the quaint town of Santa Rosalia, and then returned to the Sea Lion after a very busy day.
Thick fog enveloped the Sea Lion as she motored towards Isla San Marcos, the center of the morning’s activities. By the time the anchor chain clanged to the sea floor, sunshine flooded over the ship and illuminated the multicolored volcanic rock of the island. In no time, kayakers, hikers, and photographers took off to explore. Our sleek, colorful boats launched from the red-pebbled beach and followed the rocky shoreline past hundreds of pelicans and a number of blue-footed boobies perched side by side. One group accompanied by the guest leaders for our photo expedition focused in on senita cactus spines backlit in the morning light and on the myriad of flowers. A narrow canyon led inland, enticing hikers back for close looks of jagged rock formations, lizards, and even a scorpion!
Flat calm seas provided ideal conditions for viewing marine life during the afternoon. Common dolphins accompanied our ship off and on for hours, and seabirds joined them in spectacular feeding frenzies. Blue-footed boobies and brown pelicans plummeted from great heights, while terns, shearwaters, gulls, and jaegers arrived to share in the feast.
Spouts appeared far off on the horizon. Even from a great distance, they could be identified as sperm whales. These creatures are truly bizarre. The blowhole is off-center on the left side. The spout is blown forward and to the animal's left at a 45-degree angle. Throughout much of the afternoon we lingered with this group of cows and their calves. One much larger male rose near the ship as well. These fascinating cetaceans are the whales of storybooks as well as the “Moby Dick” of Melville. Sperm whales provided commercially valuable spermaceti oil held in their bulbous foreheads, so were a prized catch for whalers. The strange head is visible in the calf shown in the photo.
Sun set over the peninsula with dolphins rising in the golden water. After dinner we walked ashore at the quaint town of Santa Rosalia, and then returned to the Sea Lion after a very busy day.
