This is the most comprehensive Baja California and the Sea of Cortez experience possible. Venture into the gray whale birthing lagoons on the Pacific side of the Baja Peninsula to get close to these gentle giants, and then over a week explore the wild islands and waters that teem with a great variety of whales, pods of dolphins, and leaping rays in the Sea of Cortez. On the Pacific side of the Baja Peninsula you’ll share the lagoons with California gray whales pausing during their migrations to birth and nurse their calves. And in the Sea of Cortez you’ll hop among pristine desert islands that are home to a variety of plant and animal species you’ll discover on a hike up desert arroyos and through forests of cacti.
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 the living sea: observe large schools of vibrantly colored fish, swim among playful sea lions, and much more.
With more time for adventure, rely on your expedition leader to take you where wildlife will be at its best—including the remote oceanic island of San Pedro Mártir with clouds of nesting seabirds and crowds of sea lions onshore, and expanses of sea where huge pods of dolphins gather.
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Duration
15 Days
Price
From $11,880 per person
(does not include flight)
Dates
Mar
Special offers
$350 AIR CREDIT ON SELECT DEPARTURES
EARLY BOOKING SAVINGS
COMBINING OFFERS
BRINGING THE KIDS
BACK-TO-BACK SAVINGS
TRAVELING AS A GROUP
FAMILY SAVINGS
Baja California
Embark
San Carlos, Mexico
Disembark
Loreto, Mexico
Embark
Loreto, Mexico
Disembark
San Carlos, Mexico
Special Offers
Join us aboard the March 28, 2022, departure of Baja California: A Remarkable Journey for a specially-designated Photography Expedition. National Geographic photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins and a roster of certified photo instructors will guide you on photo-specific outings and provide help with gear, composition, light, and more.
2/28/2020
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National Geographic Venture
Our trip began windy but ended with incredibly calm waters today in Bahia Almejas, allowing us to experience a variety of flavors of Baja weather. With panga engines off or idling, we could hear exhalations of gray whales surrounding us. The whales were so numerous that we could hardly keep up with what direction to look. Later, as a high and harsh afternoon sun lowered to golden hues, we paddled the coast and walked the desert and shore of Isla Santa Margarita.
2/27/2020
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National Geographic Venture
We are capping off our week with the great whales with gray whales galore on board National Geographic Venture . Starting our explorations off at the northernmost end of the Magdalena Bay lagoon system, guests left from Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos in pangas operated by local whale watchers. Magdalena Bay was the area that brought the first whalers into Mexico in 1845, searching for whale oil to sell by the barrel back at their home port. From Magdalena Bay the whalers expanded north and west, removing populations from the breeding and birthing lagoons found along the Pacific coast of the Baja peninsula as well as mainland Mexico. The most infamous hunting ground for these whalers was the northernmost [and largest] of these areas – Laguna Ojo de Liebre, also known as Scammon’s Lagoon – roughly 250 miles north of where we were today. Because of the incredible energy and anger that the whalers experienced when female whales were separated from their calves, gray whales were historically known as “Devil Fish”. Since Mexico became the first country to create a reserve to protect these animals, the reputation for gray whales to be aggressive with boats has changed to one of a much friendlier nature. Today, we experienced a multitude of breaches and spy hops in unusually calm waters at the entrance of the lagoon. The sight of more than 20 whales spouting, spy-hopping, and breaching all across the horizon is something truly indescribable. Since the highest percentage of gray whale calves are born in early February, some guests even had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to touch a curious whale on the rostrum. These are interactions we cannot control, but are incredibly thankful when the whales enjoy interacting with us as well!
4/11/2019
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National Geographic Venture
Today we explored two very special islands in the midriff region of the Gulf of California. On Isla San Esteban, we walked up arroyos hoping to find the island’s two endemic reptiles: the San Esteban spiny-tailed iguana and the pinto chuckwalla. In the afternoon, we spent a magical hour cruising among an enormous group of long-beaked common dolphins. The ship matched their speed, and we watched from the bow as the dolphins swam energetically all around us. It was an exhilarating and utterly beautiful experience. In the late afternoon, we had Zodiac cruises around Isla Rasa, where thousands of Hermann’s gulls and elegant terns have recently arrived to nest.
4/10/2019
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National Geographic Venture
National Geographic Venture traveled north throughout the night. By morning, the sun’s first rays found her sailing in the Gulf of California’s midriff region, in a deep-water channel known as the Canal de Ballenas. Situated between the Baja peninsula and Ángel de la Guarda Island, this channel brings in some of the largest seawater flows in this area. Resulting from this is an upwelling of tidal current brings key nutrients to the surface, from which come plankton blooms. Subsequently, it is no coincidence that the biggest nesting colonies of seabirds in the Sea of Cortez occupy this space! The presence of this island is an imposing one, idyllic almost, and seems to loom over the region with a certain vigilance. However, it was not only the tidal current that ran strong today: The winds blew with great enthusiasm as well, and we decided to continue sailing throughout the day. Taking advantage of today’s conditions, we caught up on photo-editing, reading, and much needed R&R. Later in the day, we attended lectures and workshops ranging from smartphone photography, to plants and desert creatures, to the plight of the vaquita and the totoaba. A delicious taco buffet at dinner marked the end of true expedition as we coursed our way through the dynamic and beautiful Sea of Cortez.
4/9/2019
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National Geographic Venture
Having visited the Sea of Cortez for all of the last 35 years’ travel, what most keeps me returning year after year are days like this! It began in a not-so-unusual way, with bottlenose dolphin bow riding National Geographic Venture . Before breaking for breakfast, there were short-finned pilot whales spotted in a large pod traveling with ease along the surface. A welcoming start for today’s voyage. With breakfast had and spirit for exploration on the rise, we boarded our Zodiacs positioned for Isla San Marcos. There at shore, groups divided between inland hikes through the Sonoran Desert while others re-boarded the Zodiacs for panoramic views of the island’s stark terrain. After enjoying a myriad of sea birds as well as basking California sea lions, we once again found the same pod of pilot whales—this time they seemed intensely curious about our small inflatable boats! One should never underestimate the curiosity of wildlife. Happening upon these whales a second time means they followed National Geographic Venture from deeper waters of the early morning to the coastal waters off the north shore of Isla San Marcos! Perhaps as many as a hundred of these beautiful cetaceans rolled and frolicked around us. Spouts came up from all angles—completely enveloping us in this moment—and we truly were the object of the whales’ curiosity. Minutes turned to hours, and the hikers ashore were brought out to share this experience. Truly we can say it was a whale of a morning! In the afternoon long-beaked common dolphins escorted the ship to the picturesque town of Santa Rosalia, on the Baja Peninsula. This small Mexican mining town retains the French influence that originally built the community around the land’s large copper reserves. The architecture here is set apart from any other builds across Baja; there is even a church designed by Gustav Eifel in the city center. With experiences as distinct and memorable as Santa Rosalia’s architecture, it is fair to say this day will be one for the books.
