At a glance
- Duration:
- 8 Days
- Start/End:
- Round Trip Loreto
- From:
- $6,160
- Time of Year:
- January, November - December
Step aboard the 100-guest National Geographic Venture for an extraordinary 8-day A Living Sea and Desert Isles voyage, where you’ll trade snow and tinsel for Baja California’s sun-drenched shores and a dazzling celebration of wildness.
Here, in one of the most biodiverse marine environments on Earth, every day is a front-row seat to nature’s greatest show. Keep watch for blue, humpback, fin, and sperm whales; marvel as massive pods of dolphins race the bow; witness the acrobatics of leaping mobula rays; and scan the skies for a kaleidoscope of seabirds.
For over five decades, Lindblad Expeditions has set the gold standard for immersive exploration, thanks to a remarkable team of veteran guides and naturalists. Many hold advanced degrees and are celebrated experts in their fields, whether they’re stepping away from academic research to share their passion for the natural world, or leading expeditions to the planet’s farthest frontiers. Guests often say, “Where you’re going, we’re going,” returning year after year to explore alongside these trusted companions.
Baja California Holiday: A Living Sea and Desert Isles Highlights
- Spend your holiday season in search of large pods of dolphins, blue and humpback whales, and other marine mammals including sea lions and leaping mobula rays
- Explore the sculpted desert shoreline by kayak, hike uninhabited beaches, and snorkel among fish and acrobatic sea lions
- Take in the stunning hues of a Baja California sunset at a festive, holiday-themed beach barbecue
- Conditions permitting, visit Isla Rasa, where 90 percent of the world’s Heermann’s gulls come to breed
- Visit the old mining town of Santa Rosalía, with its wooden homes and historic steel church, designed by Gustave Eiffel
- With National Geographic Global Explorers, our exclusive family program, kids and teens will learn about this vibrant part of the world—from migrating gray whales to desert plant species
Baja California Holiday: A Living Sea and Desert Isles Details
Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Home / Loreto, Mexico / Embark Ship
Arrive in Loreto, a picturesque gulfside town dotted with spanish colonial architecture. Transfer to the National Geographic Venture to set sail at sunset.
Arrival Time: Arrive before 2:30 p.m. local time.
Arrival City: Loreto, Mexico
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2-7: Exploring the Gulf of California
Writer and longtime Lindblad naturalist Stewart Aitchison refers to this sliver of the Pacific Ocean as the Vermillion Sea, and notes it is “a romantic name that conjures up visions of fiery sunsets, leaping dolphins and deserted beaches.” It is all this and so much more. Your route is designed with flexibility in mind to maximize opportunities for wildlife sightings. It most likely includes the islands and activities listed below, although the order may vary.
Isla San Esteban and San Pedro Mártir: Walk up a desert wash to search for desert songbirds such as the handsome black-throated sparrow, listen for the cascading song of the canyon wren and search for the endemic pinto chuckwalla—a plump, harmless desert lizard. Later, visit Isla San Pedro Mártir, a 1,000-foot-high guano-covered island that is home to thousands of seabirds: brown pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds, Brandt’s cormorants and blue-footed boobies.
Isla San Marcos: At Isla San Marcos there is a beautiful shoreline for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. In the afternoon you’ll again be in rich waters near the mouth of Bahía Concepción. Be on the lookout for pods of dolphins—common and bottlenose dolphins are the most frequently encountered species. With luck these beautiful animals may follow the ship, riding the bow wave—sometimes twisting and turning, and sometimes leaping from the water.
Isla San José: One of the larger islands in the Gulf of California, San José offers several landing possibilities depending on conditions and the whim of the moment. Photograph the ochre cliffs of the island’s eastern shore, hike an enchanted, cactus-laden arroyo or visit the abandoned salt works to the west. Search for the endemic Xantus’s hummingbird on this desert island.
Bahía Loreto Marine Park: Search for marine life in the waters south of Isla Carmen, an area offering the possibility of encountering fin whales, which researchers have recently concluded may be part of a resident population. Bottlenose and common dolphins are frequently encountered. In the afternoon, visit one of the islands of Bahía Loreto Marine Park, with ample time for kayaking, snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding and possibly hiking. In the evening, enjoy a beach barbecue under the desert sky.
Espíritu Santo Archipelago National Park / Los Islotes: At Los Islotes, don flippers, a mask and snorkel (which are provided) and swim with curious sea lions. Look skyward for yellow-footed gulls, brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies. In the afternoon, explore more of this stunning national park by swimming, kayaking or hiking. Keep an eye out for the endemic Black jackrabbit, and learn about the importance of mangrove habitats.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Loreto / Disembark Ship / Home
After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the Loreto airport for flights home.
Departure Time: Depart after 1:00 p.m. local time.
Departure City: Loreto, Mexico
Meals Included: Breakfast
