Los Cabos and Gorda Banks – Day 5

Many of us gathered on the bow with our coffee mugs in hand, and watched about a dozen bottlenose dolphins near a humpback whale mother with her calf. We watched another humpback whale surface and dive several times before turning to the north to the new marina at La Playa.

At 7:30 a.m. we enjoyed breakfast of the usual cold choices plus Chef's Choice Scrambled Eggs, Sweet Crepes and Bacon.

At 9:00 a.m. we disembark in San Jose del Cabo with a choice of Bird watching at the Estero or trading with the natives in town. The same busses that took up to San Carlos on Saturday picked us up for a short ride into town.

We spent the morning exploring San Jose del Cabo, a charming town located about 15 miles east of bustling, busy Cabo San Lucas. Many guests walked along an estuary, where bird watchers spotted nearly 35 species. Others opted to visit the many fine craft shops and galleries in the pretty town of San Jose del Cabo.

One of our naturalist, Sharon Grainger, showed her versatility by leading us to the best shops.

National Geographic Sea Lion at dock and a Tri Hull Sailboat with first mate on the port side.

We returned to the ship for a Lunch of Carrot Ginger Soup, Organic Mixed Green Salad and fill you own tortilla with delicious fillings and salsas and for dessert Mudslides.

About four miles to the southeast of San Jose del Cabo sits Gorda Bank, an underwater mountain that reaches above the sea floor to within about 45 feet of the surface. In the early afternoon we found many humpback whales here.

Several groups of whales were in ‘competitive groups’ - most likely 3 or 4 males competing amongst themselves to mate with a female. They swam rapidly, and occasionally we saw them slap their tail flukes on the surface, or breach. An unusually large group of bottlenose dolphins, 300-400 of them, swam around the whales and our ship, the National Geographic Sea Lion. Using the hydrophone, we heard dolphin whistles and bits of humpback whale vocalizations. We continued watching humpback whales, dolphins, a sea turtle, and even a thresher shark under sunny afternoon skies.

Finally we turned northwards and into the Gulf of California. Off in the distance humpback whales were breaching repeatedly. At least a dozen humpback whales were visible in all directions around us, including a mother and calf. Mobula rays were abundant, and quite easy to see as each jumped several feet out of the water, flipped over, and landed with a splash.

After a couple of hours of whale watching we headed north.

Before dinner we went to the lounge for the recap and more lectures from the staff.

After the very information lectures on Geology of the Baja peninsula, birds of the area and whales drawn by Justin.

Dinner was Jicama, Orange & Avocado Salad, Braised Short Ribs with tomatillos and anchos OR fresh Local Pargo with veracuzana sauce OR Miso Broth with Udon Noodles, vegetables and tofu. Dessert was Coconut Caramel Flan OR Fruit Plates and Ice Cream.

Daytime came to an end much as it had begun for us; sunset over the peninsula, and the golden full moon rising just after dark. What a beautiful day!