With its pristine coastlines and vivid sea life, Baja California offers spectacular untamed wilderness. Sail aboard our nimble fleet into the biodiverse waters of the Gulf of California, home to more than a third of the world’s marine life. Enjoy thrilling opportunities for up-close encounters with gray whales and their curious calves on panga excursions in birthing lagoons. Spend days discovering vibrant marine life as you snorkel among playful sea lions or watch a pod of dolphins zip by your Zodiac. Then head ashore to hike amid shifting sand dunes and fascinating flora, from lush mesquite trees to monumental cardón cacti. Discover this awe-inspiring region—blissfully remote yet close to home.
Gray whales have the longest migration of any mammal, traveling 6,000 miles to and from Baja California where we encounter them in their birthing lagoons on the outer coast.
Baja California Holiday: A Living Sea and Desert Isles
Duration
8 days
Dec
From
$7,056
Top Highlights
Spend your holiday season in search of large pods of dolphins, blue and humpback whales, and other marine mammals including sea lions and leaping mobula rays
Explore the sculpted desert shoreline by kayak, hike uninhabited beaches, and snorkel among fish and acrobatic sea lions
Take in the stunning hues of a Baja California sunset at a festive, holiday-themed beach barbecue
Experience pristine desert landscapes and abundant wildlife
Board local pangas to 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
Board local pangas to encounter California gray whales and their newborn calves up close in lagoons, and witness breaching humpbacks from the bow of our ship, or on Zodiac excursions
Hike desert islands and sculpted sand dunes, and look for a variety of wildlife
Snorkel with sea lions (conditions permitting) and search for superpods of dolphins amid the pristine coral reefs of Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park
Sail among pristine islands in search of rare endemic creatures. Encounter whales, possibly up close, for an experience that will never leave you. Snorkel with playful sea lions. Hike up arroyos blooming with life and discover medicinal plants. Get a slice of life in rural Baja towns. Kayak, hike, stand-up paddleboard, snorkel, and actively explore this incredible playground of wildness.
One of the most rewarding sights on an expedition is witnessing the gleam of discovery in a child’s eyes, whether they’re hiking desert islands or snorkeling with sea lions. Moments like these are abundant in Baja California—and they’re especially meaningful when complemented with the learning opportunities offered through our exclusive National Geographic Global Explorers Program for kids and teens 18 and under.
Henry David Thoreau called it the "tonic of wildness." It’s what Baja California, with its beauty and wildness intact, gives you—a spirit lift. To compound this healthful effect, add the luxury of comfort to the privilege of being here—with a quality of shipboard life and a philosophy of wellness designed to relax and rejuvenate body, mind, and spirit.
This Epic Baja Cruise Includes Ocean Kayaking, Beach Biking, and Whale Watching
Watching grey whales is an experience of a lifetime—and one of the best places to see them is off the coast of Baja California Sur. Read Travel + Leisure magazine's report from National Geographic Sea Bird in Baja California.
Exploring the Sea of Cortez by water alone would make for an incomplete trip. On land, an equally spectacular sort of enchantment awaits if one knows where to look.
The planet’s largest creatures, whales spend the better part of their lives deeply submersed in their private watery world. But in Baja California, it’s a different story. There, in the warm protected lagoons, gray whales are equally curious about us as we are of them.
Thrilling Encounters: Wild Life in the Sea of Cortez
Lindblad has been taking guests to Baja California, a UNESCO World Heritage Marine Site that Jacques Cousteau called “the world’s aquarium,” for 40 years. Naturalists have deep knowledge of wildlife habits and ship captains have the freedom to position vessels to maximize wildlife viewing.
As one whale spouts in the distance, another spyhops up to take a look around, and yet another might breathe right behind you. You are afraid to turn in another direction because you might miss something. It is immensely exciting because there is so much going on!
See, do, and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades. Go with an expedition leader, naturalists, and more.
Expedition Leader
Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.
Naturalist
Our naturalists, passionate about the geographies they explore (and return to regularly), illuminate each facet through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Our guests consistently cite the expertise and engaging company of our staff as key reasons to repeatedly travel with us.
Undersea Specialist
Undersea specialists are your eyes on the world that lies beneath the waves. Using an array of tools, including a high-definition camera, our Cousteau-like undersea specialist dives frequently during the voyage to show you strikingly clear images of the seldom-seen world beneath the ship.
Certified Photo Instructor
Every expedition aboard a ship in our National Geographic-flagged fleet offers an exclusive service—a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to offer assistance with camera settings, the basics of composition, and more tools and tips to help you become a better, more confident photographer.
The whale sightings were fantastic. Touching the gray whales was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Connie C.
Making a Difference
Lindblad Expeditions supports stewardship efforts in the places we explore, and one way we do that is through the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund. Traveler contributions to the LEX-NG Fund in Baja California currently support the Gulf of California Conservation Fund in its efforts to facilitate conservation and research projects across the region.
Baja is known for its sunsets and sunrises. Sailing north in the Pacific Ocean, the sky lit orange and the clouds red, as dawn broke. Gulls passed by with a stiff north wind as whales spouted around us. At the entrance to Magdelena Bay, National Geographic Venture steamed on, marking a new leg to our expedition. In the afternoon, we explored Sand Dollar Beach. This is a favorite location of ours, and it’s easy to see why. Rolling sand dunes leading to the massive Pacific, mangroves teeming with bird life, and a gentle bay-side beach all shine beautifully in the afternoon light. With another day celebrated, we look forward to what tomorrow holds.
This morning, we awoke at Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, a protected natural area established in 1995. Some guests hopped in pangas to snorkel the northernmost coral reef in the Americas, observing balloon fish, Moorish idols, damselfish, rays, and more! Others opted for a drier morning to search for whales. Cabo Pulmo is often a place where humpback whale moms birth their calves and a safe place to raise them in their early weeks of life. We were lucky to see mom and calf pairs breaching. However, the real surprise was the huge number of gray whales congregating off Cabo Pulmo. Many adult whales even approached the panga boats within arm’s reach! This was a record-breaking number for National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, not only to see so many gray whales, but especially their friendliness. Even the local panga drivers were in shock at the numbers and behavior! National Geographic Venture was buzzing for the rest of the day after such a special and eventful morning.
We began the day at Boca de Soledad where we spent the morning watching the incredible gray whales. Several mothers with calves and a few curious males approached the boat, offering guests a rare close-up view. The waters and clear skies made for an ideal whale watching experience. In the afternoon, we transited to Hull Canal, with guests on the bow scanning the water, air, and land for wildlife. We observed a variety of seabirds, including frigatebirds and brown pelicans. Dolphins were also spotted swimming gracefully below the bow. The surrounding desert hills added a striking backdrop to the wildlife sightings. The day ended with a stunning sunset, marking another unforgettable day filled with breathtaking wildlife encounters in Baja California Sur.
Early morning greeted us with a stunning sunrise over the tip of the Espiritu Santo Archipelago where we snorkeled around the iconic sea lion colony. Not only that, but we got to experience the beauty of this destination both below and above the water. Playful sea lion pups got close as we swam around the rocks’ contours, while reef fish glistened below the surface. Above the water, blue-footed boobies could be spotted amidst the endemic yellow-footed gulls, turkey vultures, magnificent frigatebirds, and pelicans. On our way from the archipelago to La Paz, we spotted a juvenile humpback whale putting on a show for a small yacht in the bay. It breached several times as we navigated towards the docking port of this culturally rich city. We were greeted by our land staff who showed us the way into the theater to watch some traditional Mexican folk dances, listen to mariachi music, and experience firsthand some charreria mastery. Dinner followed in a beautiful restaurant in the center of the city.
National Geographic Sea Bird remained at anchor throughout the night, ready for today’s exploration of El Barril. This unique mangrove forest is an important habitat for a myriad of species. Red and white mangrove trees create a sheltered and protected area of salt water where tropical fish begin their lives. The leaves of the mangrove shed throughout the year. Settling on the deep soils in the salt water, the detritus is fed upon by fungus and bacteria, changing carbohydrates to proteins and providing food for many species. Birds use the mangroves for roosting and nesting and are great hunters of the many fish in the waters below the trees. Our Zodiacs and kayaks were launched, and our morning was spent exploring the channels of this mangrove forest searching for its many residents. afternoon was spent in the Boca de Soledad investigating the northern regions of Bahia Magdalena. Seven pangas arrived from Lopez Mateos and pangeros, with a minimum of thirty years of experience observing grey whales, brought us to an area known for grey whale mothers and calves. After some searching, we were rewarded with the touching site of a mother grey whale and her baby.
Baja California is arguably the best place in the world to see whales in good conditions—humpback, gray, fin, blue, pilot—to name the most likely.