Trip Highlights: Whales, Flexible
Itinerary, Bahia Magdalena, Laguna San Ignacio, Memorable Sunsets
Rates: $5,850 - $7,430
Single rate from $6,850
Child rates: $500 off (under 18)
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Ship Name: M/V Sea Lion / Sea Bird
Expedition Ship
This special photographer's journey offers
the unique opportunity to explore -- and photograph -- both the gray whale
lagoons along Baja's Pacific Coast and the richness of the vast Sea of Cortez!
Introduction
This is one of our most exciting voyages
in Baja California and the Sea of Cortez. There will be time for whale watching
and to linger with gray whales in their winter nursery lagoons up close
at water level from Zodiacs. And there are languid days to explore the treasures
of the rich Sea of Cortez, a place with a large variety of whales, seabirds,
desert vegetation and some of the world's most memorable sunsets. Our flexible
itinerary allows us to take full advantage of the unpredictability of nature
and the wildlife we may encounter.
Itinerary
Day 1: Los Angeles/La Paz, Mexico
Fly to La Paz on our special charter flight, drive across the Baja Peninsula
to San Carlos and embark the ship.
Day 2: Bahia Magdalena
Bahia Magdalena is one of the main breeding and calving areas for the California
gray whale. Each winter, the whales make the longest migration of any mammal
— moving south from their Arctic feeding grounds to breed and raise their
calves in these sheltered waters. During our days in this otherworldly place,
we'll have the opportunity to not only observe these enormous yet gentle
animals from the ship, but also at water level from our Zodiacs. Because
of our experience and knowledge of Baja's waters, we have enjoyed consistent
success in achieving "friendly encounters" with gray mother and calf pairs.
While we would never presume to predict Nature's behavior, it is highly
likely that you will have the privilege of an up-close and personal sighting.
Our whale watching takes place in an exceptional context: Bahia Magdalena
is on the Pacific side of Baja, a vast wilderness of sculpted sand dunes,
mangrove channels and protected waters. On its western side lies Isla Magdalena
or Magdalena Island, a narrow, 60-mile long island comprised of enormous
dunes. Although we have seen dunes and beaches before, the particular way
these sweeping desert sands meet the shoreline is unforgettable.
Dense mangrove swamps are another, enticing environment. We'll take our
kayaks and Zodiacs through the winding canals to discover the riches within.
Bird watching in the mangroves can be excellent — magnificent frigatebirds,
pelicans, cormorants, terns and great blue herons, ibis, whimbrels and willets
are among the species we might see. On mud flats, we'll often see migrating
species at rest. Our practiced and observant naturalists will make sure
we won't miss any of these world travelers, that can cover up to 8,000 miles
of coastline during their migrations. It's not unusual to see forty species
of birds in just one day along these fertile shorelines where they refuel
for their destinations ahead.
Days 3-4: Laguna San Ignacio
Laguna San Ignacio is a large bay and another favored haunt of the gray
whales in Baja. The ship will linger in this remote and important locale,
while we observe the mother and calf pairs — from the ship, and from water
level in our Zodiacs. For some reason, the whales here seem to be friendlier
than they are elsewhere. It's not unusual for mothers and calves to approach
our boats, the calves often playing hide and seek — even wanting to be petted
and scratched.
Day 6: Bahia Magdalena
As you travel south along the Pacific coast of the Baja Peninsula there
is a chance of seeing a wide variety of marine life, including the largest
animal of them all, the blue whale. There will also be time to explore more
of vast Bahia Magdalena before continuing on towards Cabo San Lucas.
Days 7-13: Islands of the Sea of Cortez
With a morning stop in the busy town of Cabo San Lucas, we'll get a brief
dose of all the amenities needed to support a major tourist destination
— shops, restaurants and entertainments of all sorts. We happily say good
bye to that after our brief visit, and head out to spend a blissful seven
days exploring the islands of the Sea of Cortez and the remote bays and
coves of the Baja Peninsula.
Espiritu Santo. Los Islotes. Santa Catalina. Rasa. These are some of the
melodious names of these islands scattered throughout this beautiful sea.
After over 20 years of exploration here, we are still discovering new places
and experiencing exciting natural events. Here are a few highlights from
one of our voyages: one hundred bottlenose dolphins leaping over sperm whales
near our ship; a pod of fin whales feeding around a convergence zone; thousands
of Heermann's gulls and royal terns arriving on the shores of Isla Rasa
to begin incubating their eggs; and one evening, the vision of hundreds
of Humboldt squid illuminated in the ship's bow lights. The best areas for
whale watching remain consistent — the waters south of Isla Carmen, Canal
de Ballenas up north, and near the mouth of Bahia Concepcion. Whether on
the bridge of the ship, on Zodiacs or kayaks, we will be in prime position
to observe them all. Almost every anchorage offers good swimming, snorkelling,
and perhaps kayaking.
One morning, you may find yourself aboard a Zodiac, wearing a wetsuit, ready
to enter another world — to swim with acrobatic sea lions and through clouds
of brilliantly colored fish. Bahia Bonanza is a large bay at the south end
of Espiritu Santo with a beach that goes on virtually forever, with the
world's softest sand underfoot. Whether in a kayak or Zodiac, swimming,
snorkeling or on a walk with our naturalists, these islands will reveal
facets of their beauty and mystery. Exploring them in a small ship that
enables us to rove freely in the immense, uncluttered, natural splendor
of Baja — to be spontaneous, to move smoothly from ship to Zodiac to landfall
and off again — begins to feel like one of the great luxuries in this otherwise
crowded, scheduled and regulated world.
Day 14: Guaymas/Disembark Ship/Hermosillo/Return
U.S.
After breakfast aboard the ship, disembark in Guaymas at 8:30 a.m. If
you're flying out of Hermosillo, you'll leave after breakfast for the two-hour
drive to the airport where most flights leave midday. If you're leaving
from Guaymas, the flights are later in the day so we'll stop at the pearl
cultivation farm at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudies Superiores de
Monterrey, learning about the mysterious creation of these objects of beauty.
After visiting the Instituto, we'll drive to the airport in Guaymas for
flights to the U.S.
Notes: Rates per person, double occupancy.
Included:
One hotel night in La Paz prior to embarkation; All accommodations; all
meals; Aeromexico charter flight from Los Angeles to La Paz; shore
excursions; use of snorkeling equipment; use of sea kayaks; tips (except
to ship's crew), taxes and service charges at the hotel and during the
voyage; services of ship's physician and natural history staff.
Not Included:
Return flight from Guaymas or Hermosillo; baggage/accident/cancellation
insurance; items of a personal nature; gratuities to ship's crew at your
discretion.
