small ship adventure cruises®Baja California
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small ship adventure cruises®
15 day / 14 night —
San Carlos to La Paz, Mexico
From: $12,610
On this 15-day Baja California: A Remarkable Journey cruise aboard the 100-passenger National Geographic Venture, 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.
Each year California gray whales pause during their migrations to birth and nurse their calves in the same lagoons. We are the only foreign company permitted to enter the whale birthing lagoons with our own expedition landing craft, meaning you get more up close encounters with these gentle and curious creatures when you travel with us. We are also the only company that visits lagoons in the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, ensuring more opportunities to see whales.
The desert islands in the Sea of Cortez are home to a variety of plant and animal species. Hike desert arroyos and forests of cacti in search of them. And between islands, keep an eye out for the incredibly diverse population of marine mammals—you may see fin, pilot, Bryde’s, sperm, or even blue whales.
You’ll be able to hike through forests of towering cacti and up striking desert canyons. You’ll take expedition landing craft along the shore to see and shoot photos of plunge-diving pelicans and blue-footed boobies, and each day you’ll have the option to walk or kayak, and to join a different naturalist as you choose: there are no assigned groups.
Explore under the sure guidance of an expedition leader, six veteran naturalists, including two Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructors, an undersea specialist, a National Geographic photographer and a wellness specialist. Their knowledge and passion for Baja California is the key to your once-in-a-lifetime experience.
This is a true expedition, where we plan our day-by-day movements and itinerary according to the conditions that will offer us the best sightings and up close encounters with wildness. After exploring the whale birthing lagoons, our day-by-day itinerary will be flexible in the Sea of Cortez. We’ll take advantage of a sighting of Bryde’s whales or drop our expedition landing craft to get a closer look at a school of dolphins. Extraordinary Baja adventures are a guarantee.
Arrive in Loreto in early afternoon. Transfer to the port and embark National Geographic Venture.
Meals Included: Dinner
Cruise past the spectacular Friars Rocks at Land’s End. For those who wish, we can arrange a visit to 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, we are still discovering new places and experiencing exciting events: Bow-riding bottlenose dolphins, sperm whales near our ship, or a pod of fin whales feeding around a convergence zone. 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, we are in prime position to observe them all.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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 we travel north along the Pacific coast of the peninsula.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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. We 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 our boats, the calves often playing hide and seek–sometimes even welcoming a touch or a friendly chin scratch.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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
Disembark in San Carlos after breakfast and transfer to Loreto. Take the opportunity to visit the first mission in Baja California, as well as the nearby museum to learn more about what makes this town so special. Enjoy free time to explore quaint shops and vibrant side streets. After lunch transfer to Loreto Airport for flights home.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
| Dates | Direction | Cat. 1 | Cat. 2 | Cat. 3 | Cat. 4 | Cat. 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 4, 2024 | San Carlos to Loreto | $13,257 | $15,783 | $16,845 | $18,793 | $20,680 |
| Mar 18, 2024 | Loreto to San Carlos | $13,122 | $15,622 | $16,673 | $18,602 | $20,469 |
| Apr 1, 2024 | San Carlos to Loreto | $12,610 | $14,760 | $15,770 | $17,590 | $19,350 |
The National Geographic Venture is the perfect ship to explore Baja California and beyond. Designed with over 50 years of expedition heritage, National Geographic Venture is able to explore the same remote locations Lindblad Expeditions has sought out for decades while setting a new standard in comfort and style. She features step-out balconies (available in 22 of the 50 spacious cabins), plus 6 sets of connecting cabins for families and groups; a Sun Deck bar, and a designated mudroom for expedition gear.
More information on the National Geographic Venture …
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Tags: Sea of Cortez
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