Baja
9 Cruises And 2 Offers Available
Baja California: Among The Great WhalesNext Trip
8 Days Cruise Baja California
Trips, Tours & Cruises

Find Wildlife & Adventure on Baja Small Ship Cruises

View All Baja Cruises
9 Cruises
2 Offers

A Baja cruise is the ultimate and often only way to explore the Baja peninsula’s remote coves and beaches that simply cannot be reached by land. Small ships offer a Baja backstage pass with daily activities led by expert naturalist guides focused on learning and exploring off the boat in small groups. Hike among cactus forests, kayak the Sea of Cortez, lock eyes with gray whales in Magdalena Bay, swim alongside whale sharks in La Paz, and snorkel with sea lions at Los Islotes. Baja small ship cruises make it all possible with comfort and ease.

Explore the undeveloped coastline John Steinbeck called “ferocious with life” aboard our selection of Baja cruises and witness incredible wilderness and up-close wildlife found nowhere else on earth. Island hop within the Sea of Cortez, choose a comprehensive route around both sides of the peninsula, or cruise to Baja California down the coastline starting from southern California. Let us help you decipher between our Baja small ship cruises, and prepare to see wild Baja as few ever do.

Baja California is the second-longest peninsula in the world. Extending from the southern U.S. the Baja peninsula borders the Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) on the east. Take a Baja mexico cruise down the breathtaking western coastline to experience some of the most pristine beaches in the Pacific, and most notably, the sheltered lagoons of Magdalena Bay and San Ignacio Lagoon, where gray whales migrate to give birth during winter. Around the southern tip or horn of the peninsula is the Los Cabos region. Find bird sanctuaries, the Cabo Pulmo National Park marine reserve and Land’s End, where the iconic “El Arco” rock formation marks the confluence of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez.

Between Baja California’s eastern coast and Mexico’s mainland is a unique body of water famously known to be crystal-clear and rich with sea life. Often called the “Aquarium of the World,” the Sea of Cortez is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to one-third of Earth’s marine mammal species. Visit the vibrant seaside towns of Loreto and La Paz then a Sea Cortez small ship cruise to some of the 244 islands like Espíritu Santo, Los Islotes and Santa Catalina. Watch dolphins, whales and rays from the bow of a Baja cruise ship, or don a snorkel and mask for even closer aquatic exploration. AdventureSmith’s Baja cruises reveal the hidden gems of this wilderness paradise in our own backyard.

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Baja Small Ship Cruises
with AdventureSmith

From the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean coastline, a Baja cruise with AdventureSmith Explorations will venture off the beaten track, away from crowded resorts, to focus on the incredible diversity of the region. Now more than ever book with the confidence that comes from decades of experience. Here’s more reasons to book your Baja California cruise with us.

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Personalized

Work with your very own Baja cruise specialist every step of the way to research, purchase & prepare for your cruise.

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Selection

Find the largest selection of Baja small ship cruises aboard owner-operated yachts, ranging in size from 8 to 100 guests.

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Experience

Our longstanding relationships with reputable Baja cruise operators translate into seamless sailings.

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Value

Attain this affordable paradise with exclusive Baja cruise perks from a licensed & insured US-based company.

A small Baja cruise ship sails in the Sea of Cortez with a large green cactus in the foreground

Which Baja Cruise To Choose?

After extensive trials, hands-down our favorite way to explore Baja is by water. It is the quickest, easiest, and most comfortable way to island hop through Baja’s famed body of water. But there are more Baja cruises than ever before, so understanding the differences between your options is important. Some Baja cruises focus on education, while others have a more active, intimate or luxury approach. Start with our primer how to choose your Baja cruise for tips on finding the right Baja cruise itinerary and ship. Review our full selection of Baja small ship cruises then contact our experts for a personalized recommendation.

Thrilling Wildlife on Baja Cruises

Known as the Galapagos of the North, Baja California is paradise for marine mammals—and a must-visit for incredible wildlife encounters. Find 9 different whale species and more than 900 fish species, plus other marine life, including rays, dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles and whale sharks. Safe to say that all you have to do is join a Baja California cruise, then the wildlife will come to you.

But perhaps you want to target the height of calving season when gray whale encounters are at their peak, or specifically want to swim with whale sharks. Our month by month guide best time to visit Baja, can help define your initial goals and Baja cruise time-frame. Then for the ultimate planning advice, look to our Baja California cruise specialists who will ultimately match you with the best Baja cruise available based on your interests and wildlife you wish to see.

Planning Baja Mexico Cruises

There’s still time to book Baja cruises 2024. Compared to other exotic destinations where booking up to a year and a half before is a must, Baja cruises can be booked closer to departure. Demand for Sea of Cortez cruises 2024 saw small ship operators respond by extending their 2024 and 2025 Baja cruise seasons through April.

Allow our team to be your efficient and trusted resource throughout the selection, booking and trip preparation process. We are award-winning U.S.-based experts founded by a former Baja naturalist guide with the experience you need to navigate changing and challenging travel logistics.

“Small ship cruising is the best way to explore the remote, primarily road-less Baja California.”

The Best Time to Visit

Baja California Sur

Temperature & Rainfall Averages

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avg. High (F) 80 85 85 90 95 100 100 100 100 95 85 80
Avg. Low (F) 60 65 70 75 80 85 85 85 85 80 70 60
Avg. Water Temp (F) 60 60 65 68 70 73 75 80 80 78 73 65
Avg. Rainfall (Inches) 0.8 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 0.1 1.6 3.1 3.7 1.3 0.4 1.0

Timing A Baja Cruise for Weather & Wildlife

The typical season for Baja small ship cruises begins in December and continues through May. Within this time frame are sub-seasons: December through mid-January is the early season when weather is coolest making hiking pleasant. In April, temperatures grow increasingly warmer with excellent opportunities for snorkeling. If gray whale watching is your goal, consider traveling during the height of their calving season, which begins in mid-January and runs through mid-March. To pin down your perfect Baja cruise departure date, read our month by month guide, the best time to visit Baja.

Want to Learn More About Baja’s Climate?

Find Baja climate tables and information about the peninsula’s different regions to help plan your cruise to Baja Mexico at the perfect time.

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Book with the confidence that comes from experience.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

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