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Isla Espiritu Santo

Isla Espiritu Santo

On Friday in La Paz our small group of bloggers took a day trip to Isla Espiritu Santo. Isla Espiritu Santo is a mysterious, private, and uninhabited island located just a short boat ride away from La Paz in the crystal clear waters of the Sea of Cortez. What a treat it was to be out on the ocean on this warm and sunny day. We went snorkeling with sea lions, saw sea turtles and manta rays, had lunch on the beach, and on the way home our boat was surrounded by a family of playful dolphins who decided to entertain us.

Isla Espiritu Santo

How gorgeous was this weather! We went out with Fun Baja tours, a travel company in La Paz who offers a variety of fun snorkeling and scuba excursions, as well as day trips and tours to Cabos San Lucas, Todos Santos and Pescadero. How I wish we’d had time to do them all!

Isla Espiritu SantoWith Rachelle, Jenny, Lori, Katie and Katja

I seriously could not get over how turquoise the waters were here!

By the way. Sorry I’m not wearing any pants.

Isla Espiritu Santo

As we got deeper, so did the shade of the water. So blue and beautiful.

Isla Espiritu Santo

And completely crystal clear. You could see straight through it, like glass.

Isla Espiritu Santo

All the way down to the bottom. It would have been fun to have a polarizing filter here!

Isla Espiritu SantoPhoto via Katie

Here’s one of the cute sea lions we saw, taking a little float!

Isla Espiritu Santo

We hopped out of the boat and went snorkeling here. They’re too far away to tell in this photo, but there are sea lions all over those rocks in the background, just sunning themselves.

Isla Espiritu SantoPhoto via Katie

We saw tons of colorful fishies, and they were not shy at all! They swam right up to my goggles a few times, I thought they were going to tap on them!

Isla Espiritu Santo

We stopped for lunch at the beach here, in the little alcove off in the distance.

Isla Espiritu Santo

I think I’d like to have lunch here every day, please.

Isla Espiritu Santo

Need to wash up before lunch? No problem! Here’s a sink.

Isla Espiritu Santo

I could not stop snapping photos here, insanely beautiful!

Isla Espiritu Santo

On the ride back to La Paz, we met up with a playful family of dolphins. See the cute little baby down there?

Isla Espiritu Santo

All they wanted to do was jump and swim in the waves left by the boat.

Isla Espiritu Santo

We all oohed and ahhed, I think they had fun entertaining us!

Isla Espiritu Santo

Here’s a remarkable story our guide told us about these dolphins. He was taking out another group on the boat, and they stopped to swim with the dolphins. When it was time to get back on the boat, there was one young woman who was still in the water. The dolphins were swimming around her, and she said the dolphins would not let her get back on the boat. The guide tried to swim over to her, but the dolphins pushed him away. The captain drove the boat as close to her as he could get, and they both tried to pull her on the boat, but the dolphins kept swimming around her, pushing everyone else away. They would not let anyone get near her. Finally, after almost an hour of unsuccessful attempts, they were able to get her on the boat. The guide immediately urged her to go to the hospital to be checked out, as dolphins have a sixth sense and could be alerting her to some kind of illness she is unaware of. The next day, the guide received a phone call from the young woman. She told him she went to the hospital, and the doctors checked her out, and he was right. They did find something.

She was pregnant!

Thanks so much for looking. I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

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66 Responses
  1. Gina Peterson

    I love your photo stories! You do amazing work capturing the goodness in life! I especially loved the dophin story at the end of this post. So neat!

  2. Stephanie

    Thanks for all the amazing posts. I’ve followed your blog for years and never commented, but I have to tell you, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog! All of your photos are amazing. I’m loving all of your Mexico adventures. My husband went many times as a kid and has always said we need to go, but lately I keep hearing that it’s just not safe. Thanks for posting your experiences and making me feel like it IS safe. Can’t wait to go myself. Love the story about that precious dolphin. And BTW, the others are right, you do look amazing! Would love to know your secret.( ;

  3. Erin {Lavender and Lemon Drops}

    WOW! Again…. I’m jealous! These waters area AMAZING! What an awesome story about the dolphins. They are beautiful creatures and it blows my mind that they are able to connect with humans they way they do. Love the post thanks for sharing :)

  4. DEBBIE ROBINSON

    Looking at your pictures I decided I need a vacation. The watercolor painting of your beautiful dogs, I had in mind to have one of our beautiful JAck. We recieved him as a rescue 5 years ago this week. He was Ten at the time and had a quite a few health issues. But with a little Love we brought him back. We just lost him a few months back but I can’t wait to see him on that Bridge.This would be a great Christmas Present for my husband.

  5. Denise

    These pictures are gorgeous! OMG the color of the water, the sky, the dolphins! And what a story, thanks for sharing! I’d start to panic a bit if they would not let me out of the water, but I know they are gentle and friendly animals.

  6. Melissa

    wow- I knew how much I wanted a vacation, but now thanks to you and these gorgeous, take-me-away images, I know I NEED one! Right there! That just looks so heavenly! And I’m so glad you shared that sweet story. Loved that! :)

  7. Joy

    Such beauty! Our world is such an amazingly lovely place. God planned it that way for our pleasure. Being an artist I can relate to the overwhelming joy He must have experienced creating such beauty.

  8. Sara

    I love the dolphins. I also appreciate how you grasp the colors. It feels like we are there with you. Last year we visited further south in Mexico…and the water was just as blue.

  9. Lynn

    Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos and stories with us! I have always dreamt of being in waters that blue and clear–and to be that close to dolphins in their natural habitat–how wonderful!

    PS: Love your sweet doggies! I have a Boston Terrier mix (Todd) and he is the light of my life!

  10. Caryn

    Hi, I’m Caryn. I’m a quasi new reader and wanted to introduce myself. Wow, those photos are absolutely beautiful! I didn’t even know that place existed! I am completely inspired to do my own trip there now. The beach table reminds me of a corona ad. The dolphins swimming around the boat – is the cutest thing ever. I love seeing dolphins in the wild. That story, completely gave me chills. That 6th sense animals have is just truly amazing. Thanks for sharing!

  11. Lisa

    Amanda, Your photos are amazing! I especially love the one of the dolphins below the front of the boat! That was such an exceptional day!

  12. Amanda @ Click. The Good News

    So amazingly gorgeous! We spent our honeymoon in Cabo & rented a car one day to drive up to La Paz. I guess it wasn’t that beautiful in February- we did snorkel a bit, but it was COLD! That’s crazy about the dolphins- many beautiful shots!

  13. Jane Crawford

    I saw this in my inbox at work yesterday, but wanted to wait to read it until I got home and had no distractions. It is 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday and the house is very quiet–my two mini-doxies asleep, one in my lap. These pictures and story were, for me, like reading a beautiful poem for the first time or seeing a beautiful work of art. I will be thinking of both all day. I really knew nothing of La Paz before this. I would love to go! Thank you for this lovely gift of pictures and words. By the way, if I had legs like yours, I would never wear pants!!!

  14. Megan

    First, love your black flip flops – wherever did you get them?
    Second, never mind the pants, what I’d like to know is how do your thighs look like that when you eat so many scrumptious cupcakes? Seriously… do tell! :)
    And last, but not least, LOVED the dolphin story. Can’t wait to share it with my dolphin-loving 9yr old daughter! :)

  15. Mason

    So, Amanda – I enjoy your blog, and I love your photos and antecdotes, and I’ve watched the AKC Dog Trial video about a dozen times – but please forgive me – what exactly is your job? that different companies are flying you all over the place to report about your visits . . ? Are you a travel blogger/photographer? A food writer/photographer? A combo of both? I get your emails and only occasionally visit your site – I love your kyaking stories/photos – so I don’t really notice if you have a lot of advertisers. I’m guessing you are a photographer . . .
    I know I sound ignorant – but can you reply and let me know, what do you do?

  16. Urban Wife

    I think La Paz has made its’ way up towards the very top of my travel list – WOW, wow, wow! I’m so glad you ladies had such a wonderful time.

  17. dolores weitzman

    such paradise!!! everything is so beautiful!! love all of your photos, they are fantastic!!! love all of your videos and photos, so exceptional, keep them coming and also love your receipes!!!

  18. Amy F.

    Seriously, I’d never apologize for not wearing pants if my legs looked like yours. I’ve read your weight loss story (it’s my own inspiration… down 12lbs so far, thanks!) but how did your thighs get SO small? Do tell… is there something in the cupcakes and goodies you’ve been eating across the country? You look AMAZING!

  19. Cindy Davis

    OK Amanda, you just keep getting thinner and thinner as you are jetting around the country eating very fattening food! What IS your secret? Please spill it. Inquiring minds and hefty thighs want to know. ha!
    -cindy

  20. Rachel

    Those are wonderful pictures Amanda! And I love the dolphin story…they are incredible animals!

    When I was pregnant with my daughter my husband and I had a maternity photo shoot at the La Jolla Shore and in the distance we saw a group of dolphins arching out of the water as they swam by. It was beautfiul and I like to think they were celebrating our impending arrival! :)

  21. Anna Faustini

    What a beautiful place…wish I could go. I love especially the dolphins and the story about the woman who was pregnant made me break down in tears. What truly beautiful and amazing creatures God has given us to enjoy and appreciate. Thank you so much for sharing your adventure with us. God Bless! :)

  22. Maureen Casali

    I’m one of the many people who view your site and never post a comment, though believe me I always leave with happy thoughts! I just have to say thanks for the amazing pictures. Your trip planners were smart because it is totally making me consider a vacation there – only if we follow exactly in your footsteps though so I am taking lots of notes. I live in Florida so I’ve always seen Mexico as a college party place but what you’ve shown has got both really sophisticated accommodations with some really great natural adventures. I can’t wait to see more!

  23. Beth

    How beautiful! Your pictures are gorgeous and I would love to eat lunch there everyday myself! Oh if we only could! :) That is an unbelievable story about the dolphins!! How crazy!!?!! So fun!

  24. Jane Beckwith

    My cousin in Tampa,Florida sent me these pictures. They are all so wonderul. Glad I got to see them. Will have to write her & tell her so.

  25. Dalia

    You lucky ladies! That place is absolutely gorgeous! I didn’t even realize my friend Katja went! I’m glad you got to enjoy your trip there Amanda, your photos are fabulous!

  26. Morgan B.

    I always love seeing your photos…and these are especially beautiful! Looks like you had an amazing time! Thanks for sharing the dolphin story too…that’s incredible!

  27. Cathy

    La Paz looks gorgeous! I am so ready for a vacation and wish I could jump on a plane right now and go there.

    The story of the dolphins and the lady was great. I was worried there was trouble when they wouldn’t let her out; but the ending of the story made the hairs on my arm stand on end. Incredible!

    Thanks for sharing!! You are blessed to be able to have such fun adventures.

  28. Jessica

    STUNNING. Seriously no other word would fit! So beautiful! And what a great photo of you lovely ladies. ;-)

    P.S. Baby Dolphin? Sooo cute! And dolphins protecting that woman? Amazing!

  29. Jamie

    Beautiful pictures- they are making me want to travel. Like right now!
    The first time I swam with Dolphins, I had a similar experience. One of the women in my group was pregnant… and the dolphin ‘told’ the instructor. When the instructor asked the pregnant women if she was in-fact pregnant- she said yes, and started crying. So did I!! How Amazing is that?!

  30. Donna

    What a wonderful trip! Thank you so much for taking time to share this with us! And, a beautiful story. Dolphins do have a very keen sense and do actually get very protective of those they feel need that protection. What a wonderful surprise for this young woman, who was probably expecting the worst kind of news, and received such a gift!

    Blessings, Donna
    grandma4five

  31. Diane @ Longaberger Lifestyle

    Amanda you do take the most beautiful photos…with or without a polarizing lens!!
    What a touching, yet a bit scary, story about the dolphins. I can only imagine the fun you had watching them. And…gosh girl…how do you keep getting thinner taste testing all those cupcakes? Seriously….we all want to know.
    Thanks for the travel log!

  32. Alice Hanson

    Amanda, such beautiful pictures! I love following you and your adventures.
    Those dolphins are really amazing creatures.
    Smiles, Alice

  33. Brianne

    WOW! I literally got goose bumps after reading the dolphin story, what a magical experience! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful photos, I really want to go here now!!

  34. H. J. Gadiyar

    BEAUTIFUKL, BEAUTIFUL , BEAUTIFUL AND VERY BEAUTIFUL PICTURES. Thanks for sharing them.
    Just a request. Try to get the pictures of LightHouses during your trips.

  35. CAROL STEBNER

    Incredible pictures as usual, Amanda! What a beautiful place, & I loved the story about the dolphins & the young pregnant woman — so sweet.
    :) CAS

  36. Debbie in S. Florida

    Hey, Amanda.
    I’m sorry to say I don’t often take the time to comment on your posts, but I’m going to tell you now how much I enjoy every one of them. Each one is like a little gift I get to open, and they always brighten my day. This was gorgeous! I feel like I live vicariously through you–you always go to the coolest places and do the most amazing things! And by the way, you may not be wearing pants, but my god, girl, you look fabulous! You have legs like crazy! If I had those legs, I might not EVER wear pants! Seriously, I really appreciate everything you share with us, from your beautiful vacations, the scrumptious desserts you find everywhere you go (how DO you stay in such shape??!), the cool things you’ve bought, and even the scrapbooking fonts. Oh, and of course, the always-spectacular photos. It really lets us experience everything right along with you. Have a great week!

  37. Erin @ Brownie Bites

    You weren’t kidding about that water – it’s absolutely beautiful! Sounds like a perfect way to spend a day. That baby dolphin is so precious.

  38. Melissa van Herksen

    I got excited when I read La Paz…I thought you were in La Paz, Bolivia. That is where this faithful blogger reader lives. But then I saw the photos of the water and realized you couldn’t be here. La Paz, Mexico is beautiful!

  39. The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh

    Okay Ms. Legs for Days! *wolf whistle*

    What a beautiful day trip. I felt like I was there and that kind of thing is right up my alley. Sea lions and dolphins make me smile so I can’t imagine how happy I’d be on that tour. Very cool story about the pregnant lady! You’re selling me, Amanda!

  40. MacLeod House

    OH how you’ve made me start daydreaming about a quick trip to Mexico (hah, quick being of course, about 10 hours by plane). What absolutely breathtaking photographs. They were all beautiful, but the 13th one from the top of your post (rocks in the foreground and on the right with the water on the left) quite literally made me say, ‘OH!’ out loud. Which lens did you use for that shot?

  41. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga

    That’s an amazing story about the dolphins/pregnant lady!

    And that water is AMAZING!!! Wow!! I have traveled a lot through Mexico, the Caribbean, Central & South America and the water you just showed is some of the most turquoise, drop dead gorgeous water I’ve ever seen!

    And don’t apologize for your attire :) And you’re way taller than I thought you were! I am almost 5’11” so tall girls unite :)

  42. Dee

    Thanks so much for sharing your gorgeous pics and the amazing dolphin story! I’d better open my blog back up so I can go away too. lol
    I’m glad you had a great time! :)

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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