After steaming all night from La Paz, we made the first landing of our voyage under stars and moonlight. Punta Colorada on the west side of Isla San Jose is a stunning backdrop for a sunrise, and as the sun rose in the west and the moon set in the east, we captured the daily phenomenon in pixels. This was also our first opportunity to snorkel in the rich, productive waters of the Gulf of California. A highlight of the morning was the moray eel found and filmed by our undersea specialist. For the afternoon we navigated out towards deep water and found about two dozen sperm whales scattered south of Isla Santa Catalina. Their angular blow, blocky heads, and raisin-y skin were distinctive features we could clearly see as they dove nearby the National Geographic Sea Bird. This was a magnificent start to our week of discovery in Baja California.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 01 Apr 2018
Isla San Jose, Punta Colorada, 4/1/2018, National Geographic Sea Bird
- Aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird
- Baja California
Linda Burback, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Born in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Linda and her Air Force family moved extensively throughout the U.S. when she was a child. Linda continues to travel and explore a broader spectrum of the world as a naturalist with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geogr...
Read MoreSarah Culler, Videographer
Sarah was raised on a multi-generational family dairy farm, established circa 1815 in Lucas, Ohio. Consequently, her first paying job was milking cows! Rewarding as it was to get paid for the first time, she found her passion behind the lens of a cam...
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Baja California: A Remarkable Journey
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
3/14/2025
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National Geographic Venture
La Paz
La Paz, the capital city of Baja California Sur, is rich in culture, sights, and beauty. To enjoy our day in this lovely city, we set out for several activities: a tour of the city’s murals and art, a visit to the local eco-park to birdwatch, and a trip to historic El Triunfo. There is much to see in this wonderful region, and we were excited to explore. Our local guide showed us street art and told us stories about the city’s culture. We saw an impressive 47 species of birds on our walk! Lastly, the trip to El Triunfo showed us parts of the rich history of the area.
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National Geographic Venture
San Jose del Cabo
This morning, we visited San Jose del Cabo for a morning of birding, photography, and exploring this lovely town on the southeast coast of Baja. Between the different birding groups, there were over sixty species spotted in the lush estuary on the edge of town. There was also some shopping done during the town visit, and the weather was perfect for both activities! In the afternoon, National Geographic Venture cruised north while looking for wildlife, and we were not disappointed. Humpback whales and a megapod of common dolphins entertained us until the sun was setting and cocktail/recap hour began. It was a great end to a very special day!