At a glance
- Duration:
- 15 Days
- Start/End:
- Loreto to San Carlos, Mexico
- From:
- $14,516
- Time of Year:
- March
On this 15-day Baja California: A Remarkable Journey cruise aboard the 100-passenger National Geographic Venture, board small boats and venture into the gray whale birthing lagoons on the Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula to get up close with these gentle giants.
Then, spend over a week in the Gulf of California exploring waters teeming with whales, pods of dolphins, and leaping rays. The wild islands here offer the chance to hike desert arroyos through forests of cacti to revel in the beauty of untamed nature. Revel in Mexico’s coastal waters with daily activities that immerse you in the region including Zodiac cruises, kayaking, and snorkeling.
With its pristine coastlines and vivid sea life, Baja California offers spectacular untamed wilderness. Sail aboard the nimble National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet into the biodiverse waters of the Gulf of California, home to more than a third of the world’s marine life. Led by local experts, naturalists and photographers, you’ll have thrilling opportunities for up-close encounters with gray whales and their curious calves on panga excursions in Magdalena Bay. Spend days discovering vibrant marine life as you snorkel among playful sea lions off the island of Los Islotes or watch a pod of dolphins zip by your Zodiac. Then head ashore to hike amid shifting sand dunes and fascinating flora, from lush mesquite trees to monumental cardón cacti. Discover this awe-inspiring region—blissfully remote yet close to home.
Baja California: A Remarkable Journey Highlights
- Experience pristine desert landscapes and abundant wildlife
- Board local pangas to get up-close views of gray whale mothers and their growing calves as they prepare for their journey back to Arctic feeding grounds
- Kayak clear blue waters to search for wildlife, including magnificent frigatebirds, and investigate the intricacies of the shoreline
- Snorkel amid large schools of vibrantly colored fish and swim among playful sea lions
- Visit the island of San Pedro Mártir to witness clouds of nesting seabirds, crowds of lounging sea lions, and expanses of sea where huge pods of dolphins gather
- 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: A Remarkable Journey Details
Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Loreto / Embark Ship
Arrive in Loreto in early afternoon. Transfer to the port and embark National Geographic Venture.
Meals Included: Dinner
Days 2-10: Islands of the Gulf of California
The best areas for whale watching remain consistent—the waters south of Isla del Carmen, Canal de Ballenas up north and near the mouth of Bahía Concepción. Whether on the bridge of the ship, on Zodiacs or kayaks, you’ll be in prime position to observe them all. Cruise past the spectacular Friars Rocks at Land’s End. Those who wish can visit the historic town center of San José del Cabo. Isla San Pedro Mártir, Los Islotes, Isla San Francisco—these are some of the melodious names of islands scattered throughout this beautiful sea. After decades of exploration here, exciting events and new places are still being discovered: Bow-riding bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales near the ship or a pod of fin whales feeding around a convergence zone.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: At Sea
Enjoy the ship’s amenities, attend expert-led talks and watch for a wide variety of marine life, including the largest animal on Earth, the blue whale, as the ship travels north along the Pacific coast of the peninsula.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 12-13: Laguna San Ignacio
Laguna San Ignacio is a large bay and favored haunt of the gray whales in Baja California. The ship anchors at the mouth of this remote and important locale. Explore the lagoon via local pangas with expert local guides.
For some reason, the whales here seem to be friendlier than they are elsewhere. It is not unusual for mothers and calves to approach boats, the calves often playing hide and seek–sometimes even welcoming a touch or a friendly chin scratch.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Bahía Magdalena
Explore the ever-shifting sand dunes of Isla Magdalena on a cross-island walk to one of the most pristine beaches in the Pacific. Bird-watching can be excellent here, with abundant seabirds in action and shorebirds patrolling the beaches as they fatten up and prepare for long journeys to Arctic breeding grounds.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: San Carlos / Disembark Ship / Loreto
After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the Loreto International Airport for flights home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
