Discover inviting isolated isles and an enchanting coast
Migrate alongside humpback whales and numerous seabird species on a unique early Winter journey from Los Angeles to La Paz. Depart Los Angeles for the nearby Channel Islands to witness intact wildness with thriving endemic species. Sail south to Ensenada and discover why everyone is talking about the vineyards of Valle de Guadalupe. Meet the residents of Isla Natividad and learn the inspiring story of their sustainable fishing practices. Continue down the pristine coastline of Baja California, home to a panoply of sea life, untamed desert wilderness, and otherworldly sunsets.
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 Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve; meet the fishermen of Isla Natividad’s model fishing co-op.
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; featuring over 220 species of fish.
Discover the hidden facets of a coast well known on a carefully curated expedition. Armed with a state-of-the-art expedition ship, deep local knowledge formed over 30+ years, and a flexible itinerary, we’ll go where conditions make for the the best encounters with wildlife. Hike desert dunes, snorkel a pristine reef teeming with fish, get a taste of local culture, and search for pods of dolphins and marine mammals.
Arrive in Los Angeles by early afternoon. Transfer to the port to embark National Geographic Venture. (D)
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. (B,L,D)
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. (B,L,D)
Day 4
San Quintin Exploration
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. (B,L,D)
Day 5-7
El Vizcaino 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 Vizcaino 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’ll be 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. (B,L,D)
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 fauna, 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. (B,L,D)
Day 9
Los Cabos and Gorda Banks
Cruise past Friars Rocks and visit the historic town center of San Jóse del Cabo before cruising Gorda Banks seamount or La Fortuna, renowned gathering places for whales, dolphins and other marine life. (B,L,D)
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. (B,L,D)
Day 12
La Paz / Disembark / San Jose del Cabo
Disembark in La Paz and transfer to Los Cabos airport for flights home. (B)
We believe sharing an expedition with your kids or grandkids is a life-enhancing experience. So take $500 off for each child under the age of 18.
$350 AIR CREDIT ON SELECT DATES
Special Offers
Book by April 30, 2023, to receive a $350 air credit per person on select departures. New Bookings only. Subject to availability. Credit will be deducted from cabin fare prior to any additional applicable savings. Call for details.
SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS
Special Offers
Book by April 30, 2023, and we will waive the solo premium on solo cabins on select departures. Valid for new bookings only on select departures, subject to availability, not applicable on extensions, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
BACK-TO-BACK SAVINGS
Special Offers
Save 10% on any consecutive journeys taken on board one of our expedition ships. This savings is applicable on voyage fares only, and are not valid on extensions or airfare.
CELEBRATE LIFE'S MILESTONES
Special Offers
Join us and celebrate your great milestones, including birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, retirements, and more. Beginning in 2023, groups of 8 or more traveling together in celebration receive 5% off and a complimentary group photograph, while the cabin-of-honor receives onboard ship credit, beautiful cake, and more onboard celebrations. Milestone celebration must be communicated at time of booking. Milestone amenity package is one per group, intended for the guest celebrating the Milestone event. Group discount is applicable to cruise portion only, and does not apply towards additional services such as hotels, extensions, airfare, etc. Group cancellation terms also apply. Not combinable with certain offers.
COMBINING OFFERS
Special Offers
Certain offers may be combinable, up to two savings opportunities, except where noted otherwise. For example, travel with a group of 8 or more on back-to-back expeditions, and take advantage of both savings.
FREE BAR POLICY
Special Offers
Enjoy free beer and wine (excluding super-premium brands) on all 2023 departures aboard National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Sea Bird, and National Geographic Sea Lion. Starting in 2024, your full bar tab (excluding super-premium brands) will be included.
TRAVELING AS A GROUP
Special Offers
Save 5% when traveling as a group of 8 or more people. Take advantage of these great savings, while enjoying traveling with your friends and family. This savings is applicable to voyage fares only, and is not valid on extensions or airfare. Deposit, final payments, and cancellation policies for group travel vary from our regular policies.
Extend your stay in La Paz, Mexico, to further explore the rich culture of the area. Learn more about the history of the region with a visit to the La Paz Cathedral. Indulge in the local cuisine with inspiring local lunches and top it all off with an awe-inspiring opportunity to snorkel with the largest fish on the planet; gentle giant whale sharks.
Our final morning aboard the National Geographic Venture begins along the east coast of the Baja Peninsula. We are awe stuck at the jagged cliff sides that are illuminated by the morning pink hues and some of us are fortunate enough to see the green flash at sunrise. Our afternoon comes to a close after sailing through the Gulf of California in search of whales. We are grateful as the sunsets once more along the striking beaches of Isla San Jose.
The sun rose in pink-colored hues over the tiny fishing village of Los Frailes, just as a squadron of local pangueros rounded the corner from Parque Nacional Cabo Pulmo to welcome us to another day of adventure aboard the National Geographic Venture . A breakfast of salsa roja chilaquiles kickstarted us into our first snorkel of the voyage—and what a place to do it! Cabo Pulmo National Park is a jewel of the global “Marine Protected Area” project, a stunning example of how an aquatic community can rebound and thrive if it is freed from extractive pressures and given the time it needs to heal. Once nearly-barren from decades of overexploitation, this 27-square-mile piece of piscine paradise had been set aside as a no-take marine reserve since 1995, thanks to the dedicated efforts and oversight of Cabo Pulmo’s ocean-minded community of residents and expats. The park—which also oversees the northern-most coral reefs of the Pacific Coast of North America and only reef-building coral community in Baja California—has seen its ecosystem rebound almost beyond comprehension, with a biomass surging over 400% in the past 30 years. We spent the morning snorkeling along these as-near-to-pristine reefs, encountering full “emergen-sea rooms” of yellowtail surgeonfishes, resplendent dent wrasses, parrotfishes, moorish idols, pufferfishes, damselfishes, bennies, hawkfishes, groupers and countless tropically influenced swimmers, all communing around corals, sea fans and sponges. Open-ocean passers-by of green, trevally and blue jacks swam by as pompano and cornetfishes chased closely behind. Though the water was chopped by the wind and relatively cool with the approaching winter, we explored throughout the morning until hands were thoroughly pruned and hot showers were extra-appreciated. Chicken tortas powered us into an afternoon of cruising, whale-watching, and learning from National Geographic Exporter John Francis about sustainable tourism. An evening of presentations about the park featuring dive footage from the day left our memory-bellies full for the tomorrow’s final full day of expedition fun. One could say we had experienced Cabo Pulmo-nary Resuscitation… Onward!
Early light painted the granite steeples of Land’s End in beautiful colors as Captain Andrew Cook nosed the National Geographic Venture e ver closer to these iconic rocks. What a beautiful and abrupt end to the Baja Peninsula, where the land plunges into the sea here at the meeting place of the mighty Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. Cameras clicked and whirred as we all enjoyed the sight and even the sounds of Finnis Tierra . Traveling further to the east and eventually the north we were in the breeding and calving grounds of the Great New Englander, as the scientific name of the humpback whale translates. Humpback whales have been traveling south with us as we migrated from the cooler California waters into the tropics here at the southern end of the peninsula. In the distance we see tail-lobbing, pectoral fin slapping, and even breaching as we make our way along this coastline. In the afternoon we find ourselves in a protected anchorage called Los Frailes (the Friars). Some of us hike to an estuary to look for birdlife, while others walk the beach in search of treasures. The beach walkers encountered several turtle nests that had been recently abandoned, leaving behind the dried-up eggs that the turtle hatchlings erupted from the nest in. A cold and tasty beverage was there upon our return, along with a lovely campfire, all provided by our amazing hotel department!
A warm breeze and sun rise greeted the National Geographic Venture as we cruised into San Carlos port. After breakfast guests were able to stretch their legs on the dock, view numerous brown pelicans plunge diving, and attend snorkeling 101 to get some tips and tricks for later in our voyage. Lunch was served with bright sunny skies and warm temperatures. After lunch guests took a short Zodiac ride to shore to spend the afternoon exploring Isla Magdalena. A walk through the dune systems took guests from the Bahia Magdalena side of the island over to the Pacific side and Sand Dollar Beach. Passing by rattle weed, evening primrose, and Sand Verbina throughout the extensive, ever-changing dune system. Here guests were able to stroll at their own leisurely pace while exploring the beach and all its treasures including sand dollars and a variety of seashells. Once back on board everyone gathered up on the sun deck to enjoy cocktails and view the sun set. The evening wrapped up with recap, delicious dinner, and new friends.
The National Geographic Venture sailed throughout the day and night southbound bound for Bahia Magdalena. Days at sea are special. Everyone enjoys the day at their own pace. The bow is quite popular for those dedicated to search for wildlife. It is also a good place for those who simply enjoy the sea breeze, while surrounded by an interminable landscape of ocean. Early in the morning, a stunning sunrise, painted the sky in orange and pink, drawing patterns with the clouds. Some of us enjoyed our coffee, witnessing the beginning of a new day. It was noticeable that the weather was somewhat warmer, and the sun rose earlier. We also discovered that we could now see species birds. We could see the first brown boobies, red-billed tropicbirds and even masked boobies. Throughout the day, we were visited by groups of both long-beaked and short-beaked common dolphins, which would ride the bow of the ship. Humpback whales were also spotted a couple times. We estimated a total of six humpbacks who were traveling south to their wintering grounds. IMAGE: Humpback whale fluke. Photo by Alberto Montaudon Ferrer
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