The Arch at Land’s End and San Jose del Cabo

All night long we had travelled south towards the end of the peninsula of Baja California. Almost at sunrise we were slowly approaching the famous Arch and were the only ones there at that moment. In a few minutes the day became light and suddenly we saw the famous Friar’s Rocks with the arch. If cameras clicked loud like in the olden days, it would have scared the California sea lions that were resting on a flat rock near the arch. Eventually we left, and saw a good number of boats going out to fish marlin, dorado or yellow-fin tuna.

A couple hours later, we had arrived at San Jose del Cabo, the original site of the mission of San Jose. Water runs in a small stream all year round, and a good number of palms and other plants grow there, serving as a refuge for many birds of different species. One group walked along a path paralleling the estero, while others went into town to enjoy the sights of the old mission and the huge Mexican flag. Handicrafts were everywhere, as well as good quality Taxco silver, worked into lovely jewelry.

At midday we were back at our ship. We set sail immediately east towards the Gulf of California, and began seeing humpback whales; they pass the summers feeding off the coasts of British Columbia and the northwestern U.S., and then migrate down to this area to mate and calve.

At the famous Gorda Banks we began seeing more and more whales, as well as dolphins, whose antics we enjoyed. But the most interesting animals were always the humpback whales, which breached and breached…

Eventually, after a good number of hours enjoying these behemoths, we enjoyed a good ceviche prepared by our galley staff, and further enjoyed the afternoon with sun and a cool breeze.

By nighttime we were again en route northwards into the Gulf of California.


William Lopez-Forment, naturalist; photo: David Effron, ship’s physician