Video of Blue Footed Boobies

Click on link below to see Blue Footed Boobies at Isla Isabel.

http://youtu.be/25LjLq_yfGY

A Little Adventure

Yesterday we decided to go to Servin Yacht Service to pay for our new batteries. So we walked up to the main road here in La Cruz and hopped on one of the little buses labeled "Nuevo Vallarta".

Some buses are large like the ones back home, but these little buses are 10 passenger vans and go a little faster. After bouncing along for about 10 miles we got off and took a taxi the rest of the way to Paradise Village Resort, Spa, Marina, and Zoo. Yes, they have two tigers and several parrots to amuse the guests.

This place is amazing; it's like Disneyland or Las Vegas! Not only is it elaborately designed and constructed, but it's impeccably maintained.

And we were going here to buy batteries?! Yes, tucked into a little building on the waterfront, right next to the Harbormaster's office was Servin Yacht Service where we found Jorge. He is wonderfully kind and patient and speaks fluent English.

After finishing our transaction we crossed the harbor in the water taxi and had red snapper for lunch at Ochos Tostadas.

Ochos Tostadas is close to the Dolphin Adventure (where you can swim with the dolphins) and the Sea Lion show. We actually saw one of the sea lions walking down the sidewalk on its way to work.

 

After saying "Adios" to the exotic birds, we took a slightly cleaner version of a little bus home (I don't think they allow the dusty ones near Paradise Village), stopping at the Mega store to get cash from the Scotia Banc that's right next door, and picking up a few groceries as we walked back to the marina. It was a very expensive day, but a very interesting day too.

La Tovara

When we were in San Blas we went on a boat tour to a park called La Tovara. The tour took us through the mangroves and to a natural spring where there is a little restaurant and a place to swim.

Along the way our panga driver/guide stopped and pointed out animals. We saw lots of birds and I got a few good photos; like this Great Egret,

a Great Blue Heron,

a Bare-Throated Tiger Heron,

a Boat-billed Heron,

and a White Ibis.

We also saw turtles and.....

Crocodiles!

After our tour we had lunch at Garza Canela a nice hotel that often arranges birding tours for tourists. (Garza Canela means cinnamon heron, which is what they call the boat-billed heron here in Mexico.)

The food was delicious and reminded us of some of our gourmand dinners back home.

Isla Isabel

On our way to San Blas we stopped at Isla Isabel which is a Unesco Bird Sanctuary. We enjoyed the unspoiled character of the island and the way the birds were unafraid of humans.

By moving slowly we were able to get quite close to these blue footed boobies.

There was a raised patio area where we could observe the frigates on their nest sites from above. This male frigate bird is puffing up his throat to attract a female. It was nesting season, so we noticed many frigates carrying twigs and grass up to the trees to build their nests.

I found a nice website about the island that includes a great video. I hope you enjoy it. Isla Isabel adventure.