Trip Reports

Dear whalewatchers:

We started our day at Punta Colorado to watch the colors develop on the red sandstone cliffs at Isla San Jose (see photo). We went ashore for a pre-breakfast birding and plant walk to this beautiful desert arroyo. Then we set off for a snorkel session with sea lions and reef fishes at Islas Los Islotes. Everyone really enjoyed our stay there, novice and advanced snorkelers alike.

Tonight is our last night aboard Searcher so we’ll reflect on a wonderful trip with lots of wildlife sightings and new experiences.

Team Searcher

Dear whalewatchers:

We spent the morning at Bahia Agua Verde for a shore excursion and then a snorkel in a beautiful little cove. Snorkelers were treated to large schools of fish, a variety of sea stars, lots of puffer fishes (much to the delight of Searcher mermaid and cook, Geri Sue) and even a few octopuses.

As we left the anchorage, we took a spin around Roca Solitaria to see blue-footed boobies, white-throated swifts, oystercatchers and more (see photo). For the afternoon, we spent some cruising time with bow-riding bottlenose dolphins and belly-flopping mobula rays.

We are heading for a calm anchorage to have a back-deck BBQ and margarita party.

Team Searcher

Dear whalewatchers:

We had a great night at anchor last night and enjoyed sunrise at the beautiful Isla Santa Catalina. We went for a morning hike in the arroyo and found lots of desert iguanas and other reptiles (including the rattleless rattler), singing birds and the wonderful cactus garden present on this remote island. After hiking, several people went snorkeling in a cove on the island and others took a coastal cruise.

After lunch, we set off to find whales. We watched a large herd of common dolphin and a small group of bottlenose dolphins. After a quiet time, we stayed with a small humpback whale who breached and showed flukes regularly.

Today’s photo is that whale, after a close visit to the bow!

We plan to anchor tonight at Bahia Agua Verde.

Team Searcher

Hello whale watchers,

Due to windy conditions we had to deviate from the normal itinerary today.

We started at the south end of Isla San Jose at the mangroves. Everyone
enjoyed the 2 hour trip in the skiffs. There was excellent birdwatching.

We pulled anchor and went over to Isla San Francisco for a beach walk and
a snorkel. The conditions were great with 73 degree clean water and sunny
skies. The snorkelling was great with garden eels being the highlight for
the snorkellers.

After lunch we pulled anchor and went north up the San Jose channell. We
saw a quick glimpse of a larger balleen whale and a brydes whale. Not much
after that with the exception of a tremendous sunset.

I forgot to mention the lunar eclipse last night that was incredible. The
skies were clear and so everyone that woke up had a great view of the
eclipse.

Today’s photo is of the beach at Isla San Francisco. Not a bad alternate
spot.

Team Searcher

Dear whalewatchers:

We had three kinds of excursions today: a mangrove visit for birdwatching, a beachcombing trip onshore, and whalewatching outings too. It was a great day with the whales and all the other wildlife here. Passengers are enjoying a seared ahi dinner and recalling the whale encounters over the last two days. Today’s photo is our naturalist, Rob Nawojchik, offering interpretation to the guests in a panga.

More tomorrow, Team Searcher

Dear whalewatchers:

We arrived in Laguna San Ignacio this morning and were greeted by many gray whale cow-calf pairs. There were several pairs to watch all day long, and many of them wanted to interact with passengers in the pangas. We are so grateful to be here for one more trip, and share this magical place with people from all over the world. Close encounters, seeing eye-to-eye, capturing breaches and spyhops with a camera, watching how cows care for their calves, and enjoying the view from sea level in the pangas and aboard Searcher at anchor filled our day today. More to come tomorrow. Today’s photo is Capt Art with a gray whale.

Team Searcher

Dear whalewatchers:

After a calm night of travel, we arrived at Islas San Benito this morning. Before getting to the island, we had good views of black-footed albatrosses and a cow-calf pair of humpbacks. Our group had a wonderful walk around the island to spend time with elephant seals (returning, molting sub-adults and weaners) and Guadalupe fur seals. The number of fur seals has certainly increased over the season. The plants were very interesting, and the ground-nesting bird burrows were abundant and active. We also saw osprey, one with two large chicks, and side-blotched lizards. We left the island under calm seas and spotted our first herd of long-beaked common dolphin around the boat in clear blue water.

We are looking forward to our visit to Laguna San Ignacio tomorrow,
Team Searcher