Baja California Expeditions

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February 10, 2022

Boca de Soledad, Baja California Sur

25.29° S -112.129° E

Berit Solstad, Naturalist

Starting in 2023, we are pleased to offer complimentary beer & wine aboard National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Sea Bird, and National Geographic Sea Lion. See our new Free Bar Policy under special offers for details.

We're a winner of Conde Nast Traveler's 2022 Readers Choice Awards

Go Remote this Holiday Season

This year skip the Nutcracker in favor of a different kind of ballet. In a place Jacques Cousteau dubbed “the world's aquarium,” you’ll have a front-row seat to an unforgettable performance: pods of bow-riding dolphins, acrobatic sea lions, and graceful mobula rays leaping out of the water. And after each thrilling day there’s one last encore—a spectacular golden hour that lights up the desert landscape, changing colors until the sun slips behind the horizon and a curtain of stars envelops the night sky.

Departing: Dec. 20 & 27, with group and solo savings

Celebrate in the Vermillion Sea

‘Coastal Baja California is a natural paradise largely devoid of development, and the remarkably rich sea teems with life. I first discovered it in 1977 and it’s been a love affair ever since.’ —Sven Lindblad, Founder

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Expedition Highlights

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.

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Life Aboard

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.

Surprising Desert Isles in the Sea of Cortez

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 History & Mystery of Baja’s Gray Whales

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.

Discover Baja California

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!

Kelly Coursey Gray, Naturalist, February 14, 2022

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Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

1.800.397.3348

1.800.397.3348

FAQs

FAQs and key information

From climate conditions to water temperature to packing the right footwear, find answers to the questions Expedition Specialists get most often.

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.

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Daily Expedition Reports

Daily Expedition Reports

4/18/2022

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National Geographic Venture

Baja

Today we woke up at our spectacularly calm anchorage at Mangle Solo, located on the western shores of Isla San Jose. We cruised to our nearby snorkel site off the coast of San Francisco Island. On the way, we spotted bottlenose dolphins riding on the bow of National Geographic Venture . It seemed like the dolphins were demonstrating their love for Bernoulli’s principle, which Lee Moll had just lectured about the day before…good timing! As we neared our snorkel spot, a scouting Zodiac confirmed the safety of the site. The scout also confirmed that there were sufficient California sea lions in the area, called Rocas de La Foca. This means “the seal rocks.” We informed our guests that this is actually a misnomer, as sea lions and seals inhabited the rock. This led to a discussion about the differences between the two species. The guests broke up into two groups to enjoy snorkeling with the sea lions and Zodiac cruising. I had a chance to do both, and I really got a kick out of our snorkelers’ reactions to the sea lions. The sea lions swam up close and personal to guests, did flips and turns, and generally put on an amazing underwater show of acrobatics. In addition, we were treated to schools of yellowtail surgeonfish and sergeant majors patrolling the area. On our Zodiac cruise, we passed the island of El Pardito and talked to the guests about the history of this small fishing village. We toured beaches and rocks to see birds like Brandt’s cormorants and endemic yellow-footed gulls. It was an amazing morning. When we came back to the ship, we enjoyed seared ahi with rice for lunch. Wow, this is paradise! After lunch, we weighed anchor and motored a short distance to the turquoise waters of Half Moon Bay, San Francisco Island. We all went ashore for an afternoon of kayaking, hiking, stand-up paddleboarding, and general relaxing. There was something for everyone. This anchorage is one of our most beautiful in the Sea of Cortez, and it did not disappoint on this calm and dreamy afternoon. Once back onboard, we began our slow journey north to Marina Puerto Escondido. We enjoyed the comradery of our shipmates on our last night together, realizing we had made many new friends over the last week at sea. Photographers: Tim Hatler and Shane Sander

Daily Expedition Reports

4/17/2022

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National Geographic Venture

Puerto Los Gatos

For the past five days, we have explored the theme of contrasts in the Baja peninsula. Hiking through the sparse, arid landscape of the Sonoran Desert to snorkeling in the abundant and diverse waters of the Sea of Cortez. Today, we landed at Puerto Los Gatos for a day of activities to emphasize this theme. Our morning began onshore with guided walks through the arroyos and along the bright red sandstone of the shoreline. As we discussed the geology that makes this place so desolate and otherworldly, a display offshore interrupted us: a megapod of short-beaked common dolphins surrounded the ship. We quickly took to our Zodiacs to play within the megapod and get a closer look at the dolphins. They surfed in our wake and breached out of the water around us. Later, we returned to the beach to continue our exploration of the coastline’s tide pools. We took a look underwater with guided snorkels among the coral heads and reef fish. Such an utterly magical experience between two worlds can only happen in Baja.

Daily Expedition Reports

4/16/2022

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National Geographic Venture

Isla Danzante

Today we woke up to a breathtaking sunrise aboard National Geographic Venture . Cruising through Loreto Bay National Park on glassy calm waters was a real treat. Spirits were high as we boarded the Zodiacs to head to shore for our morning excursions. We spent the morning hiking around the island while some guests went on aerobic, moderate, photo, or beachcombing hikes. This island is incredible, and it offers stunning views from a number of lookout points. Other guests chose to kayak or stand-up paddleboard on the crystal clear waters of Honeymoon Cove. After lunch, we headed to a shallow reef to spend an afternoon of snorkeling and seeing the lush biodiversity that the Sea of Cortez has to offer. Once we were showered and changed, we headed back to the beach where the hotel team set up a beautiful beach BBQ. We enjoyed a delicious meal and cocktails while the sunset exploded across the sky in front of us. Many of us participated in a rock skipping competition while laughter and cheering were heard all around. After dark, our certified photo instructor, Eric Guth, taught a class on photography. Meanwhile, naturalists Shayne Sanders and Carlos Navarro searched for scorpions with UV lights. It was astonishing to see them glow, and it really rounded out an incredible day here in Baja California.

Daily Expedition Reports

4/15/2022

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National Geographic Venture

Isla San Pedro Mártir

Baja California and the Sea of Cortez are known for many things, including spectacular sunrises and the legendary “Green Flash.” This morning was no exception. Guests circled the decks taking photo after photo of the spectacle. National Geographic Venture anchored at Isla San Pedro Mártir. We deployed Zodiacs for tours around the most remote island in the Sea of Cortez. We had a busy and fun time. We spotted two species of boobies, eared grebes, California sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, and many other birds that nest and roost here. In the afternoon, we sailed southward in search of marine life. We observed Craveri’s murrelets, storm petrels, phalaropes, and finally, some fin whales. We recognized the fin whales by their size, prominent fin, and asymmetrical jaw coloring, among other characteristics. We also heard from our National Geographic guest speaker, Greg Marshall, inventor of the Critter Cam.

Daily Expedition Reports

4/14/2022

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National Geographic Venture

Isla San Esteban and Isla Rasa

Today we explored the two extremes of Baja California. On one end of the spectrum, we visited Isla San Esteban, home to two reptiles found nowhere else on earth: the spiny-tailed iguana and the San Esteban chuckwalla. These endemic species are prime examples of how island biogeography in the Sea of Cortez influences biologic diversity and, similarly, small populations of unique animals. On the other extreme was our afternoon destination, Isla Rasa. Over a half million pairs of Heermann’s gulls and elegant terns share close quarters after migrating from wintering grounds to the north and south of Baja, respectively. The huge number of birds we saw this afternoon contrasted wonderfully with our morning search for one of the planet’s most isolated populations.

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.

Sven-Olof Lindblad

1.800.397.3348

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