Our final day in Magdalena Bay took advantage of two amazing aspects of this place, the gray whales and the incredible sand dunes. It was our third day here, and we were becoming comfortable with our surroundings. No matter how much time we spend here, we were still blown away by this place.
Our day began with another trip out in the expedition landing crafts, once again amongst the gray whales. Whales surrounded the National Geographic Sea Bird at our anchorage and throughout the morning in the expedition landing crafts as well. Hours were spent with pairs of mother and calf gray whales, and the interactions between the two were heart warming. Also, some of us got to experience one of the greatest wildlife experiences on the planet. Curious whales approached our boats, looking at us eye to eye. The screams of joy emanating from our boats radiated throughout the bay, and many of were provided with memories that will last a lifetime.
To end our voyage, we made our way to sand dollar beach. Here, we explored the dunes of Magdalena Island. After a short walk through shell middens and lush beds of flowers, we arrived at the Pacific Ocean and a seemingly endless pristine beach. It was nearly impossible to walk without stepping on a sand dollar!
We all wandered back through the dunes at our own pace to the sheltered waters of Magdalena Bay. This time was perfect for reflecting on how much we had experienced and learned in this incredible spot.
