The morning found us hiking at Isla San Esteban, one of the more dramatic islands of the midriff region of the Sea of Cortez. Reptiles were the first focus of the morning with great views of the endemic pinto chuckwalla and also the spiny tailed iguana. The hike was also great for the diversity of plants. Seri Indians once called this island home and most of us saw signs of their stay.

In the afternoon we were on our way to another very special island - San Pedro Martir, home to thousands of nesting seabirds. Our arrival was delayed by an encounter with a super pod of common dolphins that were feeding in a frenzy with the bird population of brown and blue-footed boobies. The pod was in the thousands and we were dazzled with the poetry of the dolphin motion and the plunge diving of the boobies. It is a tribute to the upwelling of this region that such super pods can exist as neighbors to one of the largest seabird colonies in the northern hemisphere.

After some time with the dolphins we continued to San Pedro Martir for Zodiac cruises along the shoreline with hundreds of sea lions and thousands of birds. It was another perfect day exploring the infinite mysteries of Baja California, and one not soon forgotten.