We awoke with the sun aboard the MV Sea Lion in the beautiful Bahía Ensenada Grande. We were heading towards Punta Ballena, and our Expedition Leader decided to sail a couple of miles north to marvel for a moment at the frosted look of a group of volcanic rocks called "Los Islotes". These outstanding formations are the habitat of an important colony of California sea lions, and the nesting place for brown boobies, blue-footed boobies, great blue herons and the roosting place for a great number of magnificent frigatebirds.
After sailing southwards along Isla Espiritu Santo, the anchor was dropped in the small bay of Puerto Ballena. While the other Naturalists took their groups on Zodiac cruises through the island, the Undersea Specialist and I took a group of snorkelers to Isla Gallo. From the Zodiac we could appreciate a natural botanical garden designed by mother nature growing on top of the rocks. A variety of cacti, like organ pipe cactus Stenocereus thurberi, sour pitaya Stenocereus gummosus, and the near-endemic cardón Pachycereus pringlei, stood artistically adorning one of the many spectacular places of the Sea of Cortez.
