California sea lions greeted National Geographic Venture off the island of San Esteban this morning! Their curiosity even compelled them to follow our Zodiacs as we transferred to the island for hikes among the cardon cactus forest. We were thrilled to see how playful the sea lions were in the water.
To explore the island of San Pedro Martir in the afternoon, we again set out in Zodiacs. This was a perfect way to explore this world-class UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The island and its steep cliff walls make it an excellent breeding ground for birds. The island is highly protected to ensure the successful population growth for the blue-footed boobies, red-billed tropic birds, and brown boobies that rely on this site as a nesting and breeding ground.