Isla San Marcos has quite a coarse and interesting environment. It is criss-crossed by faults and covered by a jumbled mass of volcanic rock. Pinks, reds, yellows, and purples intermix as if stirred by a giant spoon while the rocks were still hot and pasty. Fragments of solidified rocks were within this matrix as it cooled to form breccia.
Plants add color as well. Filling the washes and canyons are white-barked palo blanco trees. Brittlebush with its yellow daisy-like flowers and many other colorful plants were in bloom as we made our way up an arroyo. The most interesting canyon on the island's north-east side has an upper section beyond a steep rock face. It presents a few climbing challenges.
Lindblad Expeditions offers a great diversity of activities for the traveler. Our present four naturalists have over 42 seasons of combined guiding time in Baja California in addition to many more years elsewhere. We really use that amount of guiding experience to "pull off" some of our adventures. Today was a good example. Over twenty hikers climbed up and over two steep rock faces. The hand-holds were bomb proof, and most of the ledges were adequate to stand on. Although most guests scrambled up the rock with only a few hesitations, a few knees quivered as their attached feet found tiny footholds. It's always gratifying to accomplish more than you think you can. Possibly the most important part of all is that you don't have to accept the challenge of climbing a steep rock face and exploring the upper canyons if you don't want to.
Other morning options included moderate hikes with desert birds to watch and many plants in bloom. Most of our guests chose to include an exploration of the coastline by Zodiacs. There is one thing for sure, each of us was able to take on the activity that suited our interests and abilities, whether it was from narrow ledges or Zodiac pontoons. This morning was blast!
