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 stroll through the rolling sand hill interior is like taking a tour of the world. The shore dunes are reminiscent of the barrier islands of the Carolinas, except instead of grass they are laden with unusual flowering succulents. Large swaths of pale green and rust colored low brush resemble--surprisingly--the Alaskan tundra. The giant dunes near the isthmus of the peninsula share similarities with the coast of North Africa. Keep your eyes open for roadrunners skittering from bush to bush. |
 A pod of nearly 50 dolphins takes its daily cruise for fish off the five miles of beach. They converge here because of the extraordinary mangrove wetlands that occupy the southern shore of the land, and provide breeding habitat for large populations of forage fish. Snowy egrets look like slender angels wading the shallows, and an osprey couple soars above the warm coves, in search of a meal for their three chicks. Off the north shore a flock of several dozen pelicans strikes a pose of distinction through the heat of the day. They are morning feeders--up before dawn, whereas the flocks of grebes execute their synchronized diving maneuvers all day long. |
 Thousands of gray whales make their yearly migration from the Bering Sea to the Sea of Cortez, and can be found in the winter months feeding on the rich blooms of plankton in the warm waters. A paddle around the uninhabited islands in snorkel and fins might bring an encounter with the gentle giant whale shark, a friendly sea lion or the graceful manta ray. Coral reefs provide shelter for colorful octopi, neon tropical fish, urchins, starfish and vibrant sea cucumber.
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| If you have never watched a mother gray whale frolic in the water with her newborn calf, it is an experience to be cherished. |
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