At a glance
- Duration:
- 12 Days
- Start/End:
- Los Angeles to La Paz
- From:
- $8,330
- Time of Year:
- December
On this 12-day west-coast cruise from the Channel Islands to Baja California, Migrate alongside humpback whales and numerous seabird species on a unique early-winter journey from Los Angeles to La Paz.
Explore the Channel Islands’ intact wildness, thriving with endemic species. Sail to Ensenada and discover Mexico’s Wine Country—the Valle de Guadalupe. Spot a variety of species among the 25,000 birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway. Continue down the pristine coastline of Baja California, home to a panoply of sea life, untamed desert wilderness, and otherworldly sunsets.
Mere miles from the shores of Los Angeles lies wildness that surpasses imagination and a gem of the National Park system: the Channel Islands. Exploring it is akin to entering a time machine. To enter a era when the coast of California was lined with the tallest, oldest trees—those that remain are among the rarest on Earth. Its isolation from the mainland has led to the evolution of wildlife found nowhere else. Few dive into the region’s surprising wildness and biodiversity as Lindblad Expeditions is able to by hiking inland over rivers of pinecones and kayaking along rugged coastlines.
Highlights
- Discover the incredible biodiversity of Channel Islands National Park, home to over 2,000 species including 145 endemics
- Go behind the scenes and enjoy a private lunch at a boutique vineyard in the world-renowned Valle de Guadalupe
- Explore the waters and experience the wildlife of peninsular Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve
- Observe breaching humpbacks and acrobatic dolphins from the bow of a small ship
- Snorkel in Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, the only hard coral reef in North America, with over 220 species of fish
A Southern Migration: From the Channel Islands to Baja California Details
Day 1: Los Angeles, California, U.S. / Embark Ship
Arrive in Los Angeles by early afternoon. Transfer to the port to embark National Geographic Venture.
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2: Channel Islands National Park
Not far from the city lights, these islands are a world away, home to incredibly diverse and endemic flora and fauna. Spend the day kayaking, hiking one of the many trails, or simply relaxing ashore. Join our naturalists for a more strenuous hike out to the base of the Torrey Pines, considered one of the world’s rarest pines, and one of only two naturally occurring groves in the world.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Ensenada and the Valle de Guadalupe
Vineyards and culinary marvels await in one of the world’s hottest up-and-coming wine regions. See what the hype is all about as we visit a family-run vineyard for a private tour, tasting, and lunch.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Bahía de San Quintín
Explore Bahía de San Quintín and surrounding islands—home to 400+ species of plants, animals, and birds, including 23 seabird species. The bay is located along the Pacific Flyway migration route and sees more than 25,000 birds pass through in the winter.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5-7: El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve / Islas San Benito / Isla Natividad / At Sea
Tour the world’s largest salt works in Guerrero Negro and learn about the communities’ efforts to balance booming industry with fragile environments. Explore El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve and its plentiful wildlife, sailing to Islas San Benito, home to thousands of breeding elephant seals, and on to Isla Natividad to learn of the community’s exemplary protection of the fragile ecosystems of the reserve. We are at sea the following day searching for a wide variety of marine life, including the largest animal on Earth, the blue whale, listening to naturalist talks, and learning photography tips and tricks.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Bahia Magdalena
Isla Magdalena and the bay of the same name are irresistible treats for the nature lover. Come to know this island while hiking the ever-shifting, wind-sculpted dunes on our cross-island transit to Sand Dollar Beach. Watch for coyote tracks in the soft dunes and spot migratory shorebirds. Many—including western sandpipers, whimbrels, willets, Wilson’s and black-bellied plovers, and marbled godwits—are concluding their southbound journeys here. Observe astounding flora, like the endemic and sideways-growing creeping devil, a columnar cactus thick with spines packed together to protect against herbivores and the relentless sun. This evening, as we exit the bay, be on the lookout for beaked dolphins and, with luck, a humpback whale.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Los Cabos and Gorda Banks
Cruise past Friars Rocks and visit the historic town center of San José del Cabo before cruising Gorda Banks seamount or La Fortuna, renowned gathering places for whales, dolphins, and other marine life.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10-11: Cabo Pulmo/Los Islotes
Snorkel the pristine reefs of Cabo Pulmo National Park and chat with locals about their advocacy to protect this unique place. With luck, swim with sea lions before relaxing ashore.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: La Paz / Disembark Ship / San José del Cabo
Disembark in La Paz and transfer to Los Cabos airport for flights home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
| Dates | Ships | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2, 2024 | NG Venture | $8,580 | $9,950 | $11,100 | $12,350 | $13,740 |
Dates and rates are effective the date the information was updated on this site. Dates and rates may have changed by the cruise line prior to an update here. Contact Sunstone Tours & Cruises for the latest dates & rates.
Prices are per person, double occupancy
Prices subject to change
Included
Inclusive pricing means real value
We include just about everything you have the opportunity to do as part of your expedition aboard ship and ashore. The value of what we include, combined with the quality of our service and the excellence of our expedition staff, adds up to considerable value—especially compared to the impact of cost for excursions and other add-on charges to the so-called savings other travel companies offer.
What we offer is not inexpensive. But our guests find that when you look at the alternatives and add up the costs, our expeditions are really an extremely good value. The cost of your voyage includes basically everything you have the opportunity to do as part of your expedition with us, both on board and on shore. The only things not included are those of a personal nature–alcohol (on certain ships), airfare to and from, an occasional meal ashore where we feel you might like to have the option, tips to crew (on certain ships), spa treatments, and certain specialized events or activities–that may interest only a limited number of people. You could literally go on our voyages with not a dollar in your pocket and have a perfectly excellent experience taking advantage of everything we offer.
Aboard ship
- All meals and non-alcoholic beverages*
- Your bar tab and all crew gratuities are included in the voyage price on all National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Endurance, and National Geographic Orion voyages. Please call for details.
- Your bar tab and WiFi** are included in the voyage price on all National Geographic Islander or National Geographic Endeavour II voyages. Please call for details.
- Cappuccinos, lattes & filtered water
- 24-hour coffee, tea & soda on demand (soda not included on Lord of the Glens)
- Hors d’oeuvres & snacks during Recap
- Fitness center or exercise equipment, depending on the ship
- Fully stocked library, and other gracious public spaces
- The guidance and company of our expedition staff
- The services of a physician on certain ships/destinations
Ashore
- Hotels ashore as indicated in itinerary
- Meals on land, as indicated in itinerary
- Sightseeing & entrance fees
- Special access permits, park fees, port taxes
- Transfers to and from group flights
- The expertise of our expedition staff
Activities
- All excursions
- Zodiac & kayak explorations
- Snorkeling, including wetsuits, masks, fins & snorkel where relevant
- Presentations and guest speakers in the lounge
*Alcoholic beverages are included on the National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Orion, National Geographic Endurance, Sea Cloud, and Lord of the Glens; certain super-premium brands are not included.
** Travel aboard any National Geographic Islander or National Geographic Endeavour II voyage and we will cover your bar tab; certain premium brands not included. Free WiFi, up to one hour a day per person aboard any National Geographic Islander and National Geographic Endeavour II departure.
Unused services or items included in our programs are non-refundable.
Not Included
Find out what is not included in the cost of your expedition
While aboard ship nearly everything is included in the cost of your expedition, but getting to and from our ships is not included. International airfare and internal airfare are not included in the price of the expedition. Our air department is more than happy to help make your travel arrangements, and often, our guests choose to pay for their flights using miles.
Airfare
- International and internal airfare
Pre- and post-expedition
- Additional hotel nights
- Private transfers
- Travel Protection Plan
- Passport, visa, and immigration fees
- Expedition extensions
- Gratuities
Aboard ship
- Alcoholic beverages (except aboard Sea Cloud, Lord of the Glens, National Geographic Orion, National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Islander and National Geographic Endeavour II); certain super-premium brands not included
- Spa treatments
- Gratuities (except aboard Sea Cloud, National Geographic Orion, National Geographic Endurance & National Geographic Explorer)
- Scuba diving
- Laundry
- Internet and phone
- Gift shop items and any other items of personal nature
- Cappuccinos and lattes are not available on the Delfin II
National Geographic Venture
The 100-passenger National Geographic Venture is the perfect ship to explore the same remote locations Lindblad Expeditions has sought out for decades while setting a new standard in comfort and style.
