We’ve spent the last week in possibly the coolest place I have ever been — Isla Isabel, a tiny island 40 miles off the Pacific Mexico coast. A national park and bird sanctuary, Isabel brings new meaning to the expression “teeming with life”.
I think the pictures will do the best job of giving you an idea of what it’s like, but let me just say this — the anchorage is an “anchor eater” (meaning super rocky with bad holding), there’s a continuous swell that rolls your boat and tosses you around all night long, and I don’t even like birds that much… but I whole-heartedly loved this place, and would love to go back again.
![A boobie bird on her nest with eggs A boobie bird on her nest with eggs](https://i1.wp.com/withbrio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1000385-450x338.jpg?resize=450%2C338)
A boobie bird sitting on her eggs -- these creatures make their nests in the ground, and will let you get about 3 feet away... any closer and they start a soft whistling sound which quickly turns into a louder shrieking. Helps you not step on them!
![Angel fish underwater snorkelling Angel fish underwater snorkelling](https://i2.wp.com/withbrio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1000428-450x293.jpg?resize=450%2C293)
Life is not just on land though -- underwater was amazing too! A pair of angel fish we spotted while snorkelling
![Whale headed for Brio at anchor Whale headed for Brio at anchor](https://i1.wp.com/withbrio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Screen-shot-2012-01-17-at-8.44.16-AM-450x248.jpg?resize=450%2C248)
One of the many humpback whales we saw, headed *directly* for Brio (at anchor). I was freaking out at this point, wondering if this might be the last photo taken aboard Brio! But the whale dove deep and came up behind the stern of the boat. Phewf 🙂
![Yellow fin tuna caught in Brio's dinghy Yellow fin tuna caught in Brio's dinghy](https://i2.wp.com/withbrio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/P1000418-299x450.jpg?resize=299%2C450)
With all the life surrounding us, it was bound to happen! Jon's huge yellow-fin tuna, caught in the dinghy just off of Isla Isabel
I have about 1000 more pictures of our week in Isabel, but the internet here is forcing me to be choosy. My family is coming to visit us in Puerto Vallarta in 3 weeks, so we have a nice chunk of time to slowly continue exploring this coast. Until then!
Leah 🙂