After our long, overnight passage from El Choyudo on the mainland of Mexico we were all very happy to finally set foot on terra firma.  Our landing point was an island in the Midriff Chain named Isla San Esteban.  This island lies approximately in the middle of the Sea of Cortez and most of the 1,700 foot tall mountain is sheer cliff dropping straight to the ocean.  It seemed like a great location to take a layover day, catch our breath and stretch our legs. It is also the only place on earth where you can find the San Esteban Chuckwalla, a huge iguana-like lizard, and Wylie had his heart set on gettin’ himself some. We, being the good parents that we are, put his wild ass on a leash so he wouldn’t decimate the population.

The island is littered with these things. Every step you take you walk over tracks and scat, and we were lucky enough to get to see three lives ones. We traversed the one large arroyo of the mountainous island, trying to dodge rattlesnakes, and once again revived our reverie and love for the desert.  It was a great reprieve after 40 solid hours of sailing.

There is also a sea lion colony, and they swam around our boat all day and night, leaving huge streaks of glowing phosphorescence under water in their wake. They are known for their curiosity and playfulness, and they certainly displayed it for us.

P.S. Sauteed in butter, 3-4 minutes per side, and drizzled with a balsamic reduction, San Esteban Chuckwalla is to die for!

Email followers click here to see our photos of the Chuckwallas and sea lions on Isla San Esteban.

%d bloggers like this: