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north america: baja california

Baja\'s Whale Bounty

Explore Baja California on this small ship cruise with a special focus on whale watching. Just south of California lies an inland sea known as the Gulf of California, Sea of Cortez, or Sea of Cortés. A birders' paradise, this rich archipelago serves as an important bird refuge and migration corridor. It is a place author John Steinbeck found “ferocious with life” and once described by Jacques Cousteau as “the aquarium of the world.” As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and biosphere reserve, it is one of the most biologically diverse marine environments on earth.

Come aboard the 64-guest Safari Voyager and discover a world of breathtaking beauty. Kayak, paddleboard, snorkel and ride a skiff in impossibly brilliant turquoise blue waters. Swim with playful sea lions, watch whales and relax by a bonfire on the beach. Explore wildlife-rich waters and go ashore on islands that are home to both plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. A full day's whale-watching excursion in Magdalena Bay is sure to be a wildlife highlight.

Coastal mangroves and dunes along with desert scrub and red-rock cliffs provide the backdrop on your 7-night island hopping journey. Hike nearby shores, rimmed with white-sand beaches and cactus-clad ridges. Enjoy a desert burro ride and picnic ashore with music and storytelling. To explore this extraordinary place is to know firsthand how small the human presence here truly is. This is a small ship Baja California cruise like no other!

Day 1 - Embark San José del Cabo, Baja California

You will be met at the Los Cabos International Airport and transferred to a San José del Cabo hospitality area prior to boarding the Safari Voyager. The Captain and crew welcome you aboard just in time for a cocktail and dinner with your new mates.

Accommodations: Safari Voyager
Included Meals: dinner

Day 2 - Gordo Banks

Kick off your week’s adventure at Gordo Banks, an underwater mountain, aka Sea Mount, located five miles off Baja’s southern tip. Perfect for all kinds of sea life, humpback whales, mobula and Mantas, tuna, dolphins and hammerhead sharks are all known to frequent this important marine habitat.

Accommodations: Safari Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 - Isla San Francisco

Sailing through islands once pillaged by conquistadors for black pearls, approach a white-sand beach at Isla San Francisco’s aptly named Half Moon Bay. Learn the ropes with a snorkel and kayak orientation from your expedition team, then head out to snorkel along barnacled rocks, kayak amidst hues of blue and take an interpretive walk to the salt chuck or a more strenuous guided hike along a desert rim for spectacular panoramic view. Then there’s the magical possibility of a post-dinner swim in a bay filled with stunning luminescence.

Accommodations: Safari Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Isla Santa Catalina & Bahia Agua Verde

Isla Santa Catalina is ideal for bird watching and seeking endemic wildlife. Here a guided hike takes you among a forest of the world’s tallest cactus, the giant Cardón. At Bahía Agua Verde, clear waters are bordered by sparse, craggy mountains hemmed in green. Explore the coast by small skiff, visit with a local ranchero and his family, and take to the canyons and mountains on a burro ride and experience the “real Baja.” Scenic vistas, outstanding exploration, excellent birding and unmatched camaraderie—the day is done.

Accommodations: Safari Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Magdalena Bay & Marine Mammal Viewing

When the gray whales have arrived near Bahía Magdalena—where they’re known to migrate and calf—dock in Puerto Escondido and head across the peninsula to ride in a panga and observe them in the lagoon. With binoculars in hand, keep your eyes peeled this afternoon for pods of dolphins, blue, fin, sei, orca and sperm whales as they spout and dive in the surrounding waters. Blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, cormorants and gulls also make this area their home. And weather permitting, a sunset bonfire this evening makes time for music and sharing stories ashore.

Accommodations: Safari Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 - Isla Carmen

Enjoy a lingering brunch then it’s off to enjoy the desert sea. Drop anchor in a hidden cove straight out of a movie set and paddle for shore. There are plenty of options today: kayaking, paddl boarding, snorkeling and beachcombing, or a guided hike into an inland sandy valley, perfect for identifying animal tracks. Explore nature’s diversity and learn about the geologic forces that formed the islands.

Accommodations: Safari Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Los Islotes & Ensenada Grande

At Los Islotes—a steep rocky outcropping leaping straight from the sea—observe a sea lion colony from the boat and skiff, or slip into a wetsuit for a pre-breakfast snorkel with agile young sea lions. Swim through a rock arch where orange fan and white fire coral sway in the current. High overhead, sea birds perch on the cliffs. Then heave anchor and set sail for Ensenada Grande for your last day of water play. After tonight’s special Farewell Dinner, your Expedition Leader recaps the journey with a slideshow.

Accommodations: Safari Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Disembark San José del Cabo, Baja California

After breakfast onboard, a transfer to the Los Cabos airport is provided.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast



Extend Your Trip: As either a pre- or post- Sea of Cortes cruise extension, we offer the Intimate Insider exploration of Baja California. This extension is a 7-day land adventure that will treat you like a pampered guest but make you feel like a local.

Itinerary Notes: Read this itinerary as a guide only; the exact route and program varies according to weather conditions - and the wildlife encountered. Flexibility is the key to the success of Baja small ship expeditions like this.

Included: All onboard meals; premium spirits, wine, and beer; exclusive roundtrip transfers and baggage handling between Los Cabos airport and yacht; taxes and port fees; entry fees to national parks/preserves; all from-the-boat adventure activities and equipment; yoga classes and a complimentary massage.

Exclusions: Round-trip airfare from your hometown to San José del Cabo, Mexico; passport and visa expenses; baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (strongly recommended); excess baggage charges and any telecommunications charges; and gratuities.

Room Configurations: Any stateroom (except single) may be sold as a single for 175% of the double-occupancy rate. Triple accommodations are available in the Jr. Commodore Suites. Inquire with AdventureSmith for pricing details.

Families & Children: Families with children under the age of 12 should consider select "Kids in Nature" cruises (marked Family dates) or book a private yacht charter for the whole family. It is the parents' or guardians' responsibility to supervise children at all times. Kids in Nature special departures have additional kid-friendly programs and offer a savings of 25% off the published rate for kids 12 years of age and under in select cabins. Children under 18 years old traveling with a third party of legal age (grandparent, aunt/uncle, etc) require a special consent document by Mexican Migration Law.

Arrival & Departure: The Baja's Whale Bounty cruise begins and ends in San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur. If arriving on departure day, flights into Los Cabos International Airport should arrive no later than 4:30pm. Disembarkation is after breakfast on the last day at 9:00am. Flights out of Los Cabos should depart no earlier than 12:00 noon.

Payment & Cancellation: A deposit of $750 per person is required to secure a reservation. A Reservation Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Cancellations are subject to the following per-person fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
91 days or more - 50% of initial deposit
90 to 61 days - Forfeiture of full deposit
60 to 46 days - 50% of gross fare
45 to 31 days - 75% of gross fare
30 to 0 days - 100% of gross fare

Terms & Conditions: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with travel insurance. Please note that you must purchase your travel insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Click the link below for a selection of policies from our partners at Travelex.



Qualifications: The Baja's Whale Bounty small ship cruise will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health and leads an active life. Daily excursions from the boat will be made in skiffs. Trip members will take excursions to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours round-trip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are "wet," requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist.

Guest Lecturers: On select Baja's Whale Bounty departures, guest speakers offer their expertise in the fields of photography and marine biology.

For additional information and reservations, please contact us:

800-728-2875 | 530-583-1775 | fax 530-583-1711 | travel@AdventureSmithExplorations.com