Los Islotes and Ensenada Grande
A colorful sunrise and calm seas greeted us for the first day of 2012. We woke to the sounds of sea lions hauled out on a tiny island called Los Islotes, located at the north end of Isla Partida. This site is also a rookery site for many birds, including the blue and brown-footed boobies. First thing, we were on to the Zodiacs and off for a closer look. We were lucky to spot the red pouch of a male frigatebird and the sea lions provided many fantastic photographic opportunities.
Soon after, we were into our snorkeling gear and out in the water for a more intimate experience. The sea lions seemed excited to see us and playfully tugged at flippers and nosed up to snorkel masks. Below there was a fantastic array of vibrant fish: bi-colored parrotfish, pacific creole fish and large schools of yellow-tailed surgeonfish parted to make way for our underwater explorations.
Naturalist Alberto Montaudon shared amazing footage of his dive with the sea lions as we made our way to Ensenada Grande for our afternoon activities. This long and shallow cove is perfect for kayaking and the gateway to a spectacular hike up an arroyo filled with large boulders. The athleticism of the group became apparent as many guests made it to the cliff face on the opposite side of the island in record time. Down below, others meandered in the small mangrove forest and encountered skittish antelope squirrels.
Pleasant breezes funneled down the arroyos to cool the hikers and beckon us back to the ship. On our final night on board, we shared photos and beautiful poetry from the week together.
