Category Archives: Mexico

Cabo Pulmo, snorkeling the east cape of Baja

After five weeks of sun we finally got our first rain in Baja. It is strange how it changes the Baja beach and travel experience so drastically. We spent one night camping in Cabo Pulmo, but left the next day because of the pouring rain. It was the first time we had left a place and really felt we had not experienced it. I felt sad as we were driving away and told Sam I thought we should have stayed and waited out the rain. It was the first time in over a month I felt that we might have “compromised” our plans because we were traveling in a group, but it was my fault for not expressing my thoughts out loud. Sam and I are both scuba divers and we brought all our own snorkel gear with us. The reefs of Cabo Pulmo looked beautiful in pictures and I wanted to dive them. We headed to the town of Los Barilles where we waited out the storm and discussed what we should do next.

We talked to Richard and Ashley about how we wanted to go back to Cabo Pulmo, and they needed to get to the mainland to meet up with some visiting family. So after five weeks of traveling together we parted from Desk to Glory. However, we are planning on spending Christmas with them hopefully. =) It will be strange to be on the road alone again.

Rainbow between the rain.

There are some good parts to the rain….

We just camped on the far end of the beach for the night. No established camping here.

We just camped on the far end of the beach for the night. No established camping here. The XP between rains.

When we returned to Cabo Pulmo a day later, we spent two nights camping at Los Arbolitos beach (60 pesos ) which is the best place to beach snorkel in Cabo Pulmo. It was spectacular!

Los arbolitos beach.

Los Arbolitos beach. I am laying out on the sand all alone. Again, there are no people here.

Our camp spot. Our first night alone without Desk to Glory.

Our camp spot. Our first night alone without Desk to Glory.

Sam on our hike along the beach.

Sam on our hike to Mermaid beach.

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The water was so clear, you could see down 20 feet at least.

Sam looking down into Mermaid beach.

Sam looking down into Mermaid beach.

Here are some pictures of our two days snorkeling Los Arbolitos beach:

You never know what is under the water! I jumped in having no idea that there were all these fish swimming around me.

You never know what is under the water! I jumped in having no idea that there were all these fish swimming around me.

Schools of tropical fish everywhere!

Schools of tropical fish everywhere!

In the deeper water we came across HUGE schools of fish. We have never seen that many even on all our scuba trips.

In the deeper water we came across HUGE schools of fish. We have never seen that many even on all our scuba trips.

Really cool underwater landscape.

Really cool underwater landscape.

More fish around the coral reef.

More fish around the coral reef.

After Los Arbolitos we headed over to Los Frailles beach where we free camped alone for the night in a spectacular bay and did more snorkeling around the coast.

Los Frailles camp spot.

Los Frailles camp spot.

The view of the coral reef of Los Frailes.

The view of the coral reef of Los Frailles.

Me looking at the tourists who just paid $150 to get a snorkel trip to the reef. It would be cheaper to hire a taxi and drive there from the hotels if you had the gear. All the snorkeling can be accessed from the beach.

Me looking at the tourists who just paid to snorkel the reef. The dive shops in town charge for $45 to snorkel, much less than the $100 plus charged by the hotels. All the snorkeling can be accessed from the beach.

We went on a two hour long walk down the beach and turned around because it was getting dark. The beach went for miles.

We went on a two hour long walk down the beach and turned around because it was getting dark. The beach went for miles.

White sand beaches for miles.

White sand beaches just kept going and going……

And my favorite part of Cabo Pulmo, the turtles we kept seeing! Glad there are still some thriving along the coast of Baja.

Turtles!

Turtles!