Today was the first day of our expedition. With the help of one of our favorite local La Paz vendors, we had an incredible experience here in the Sea of Cortez. We joined FunBaja on two of their vessels and went to a sea lion rookery to go snorkeling for the first time! Along the way, we stopped at a tiny island inhabited entirely of sea birds. After our adventure with FunBaja, we boarded National Geographic Venture and set sail to watch for marine life as we head to our next destination, eager to see what is in store for us tomorrow.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 07 Jan 2020
La Paz, Mexico, 1/7/2020, National Geographic Venture
- Aboard the National Geographic Venture
- Baja California
Alex Joseph, Video Chronicler
Alex was born and raised in Alabama. First living in a state park on the Tennessee River then growing up on Alabama’s white sand beaches, he has always had an affinity for nature and wildlife. Alex started his professional career while studying film ...
Read More
Ashley Karitis, Video Chronicler
Ashley was raised in Central Oregon where she spent her childhood ski racing, riding horses, playing classical piano, and working summer jobs on a dude ranch. She then attended the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California in ...
Read MoreShare Report
A Southern Migration: From the Channel Islands to Baja California
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
12/13/2021
Read
National Geographic Venture
San Jose del Cabo
In nature, borders are fluid and transition zones dynamic, as we are discovering on our voyage along the Pacific Coast. We traveled from the cool temperate waters of the California Coast to the warm, tropical waters of Baja California Sur. We have seen communities of fish, including the orange Garibaldi of the northern kelp forests and the bright reef fishes of the southern coral. As we crossed the Tropic of Cancer this morning, we moved into the tropics. A warm, humid wind welcomed us as we rounded the cape of the Baja Peninsula toward the Sea of Cortez, signaling our official entry into an ecosystem defined by arid desert mountains, lush freshwater oases, and abundant ocean waters. To begin our exploration, we landed in the town of San Jose del Cabo, where guests discovered the natural and cultural history of the peninsula’s southernmost point. Some walked through the estuary, an oasis in the desert to a huge diversity of bird life. Others took a historical tour of the town center with stops at the Catholic mission and an artisan glass blowing factory, both glimpses into a culture that thrives here in the heat of the desert. The tropics provide perfect conditions for marine megafauna; humpback whales migrate over 4,000 miles from summer feeding grounds in Alaska to take advantage of warm ocean waters as they give birth to their young. When we returned to the ship later in the day, we spotted multiple groups of these gentle giants almost immediately. A mother and newborn calf calmly swam along the surface while another group of four adult males tail-slapped and lunged in displays of competition. Simultaneously, bottlenose dolphins swam beneath the ship. All in all, an exciting and dramatic welcome to the warmth of the tropics! We will spend the last two days of the trip breathing it all in.
12/12/2021
Read
National Geographic Venture
Isla Magdalena
Today was our second day in the protected waters of the bay. National Geographic Venture lifted the anchor before sunrise, and sailed from Bahia Almejas to Bahia Magdalena. We sailed along Isla Santa Margarita as the sun started to rise, and by daytime we dropped the anchor near Isla Magdalena. Here we had our morning activities, which included walks across the island towards the Pacific side, into the mangroves for bird watching, or simply time to explore on our own. We landed on the south side of the island, not too far from the tiny town of Puerto Magdalena. The beauty of this place is unique. Today we learned about the myriad of creatures that inhabit the sand dunes, from coyotes and jackrabbits to the tiny beetles, mice and lizards. Once at the beach on the Pacific side of Isla Magdalena, everyone enjoyed their experience in a different way. Some sat down in the sand to contemplate the views, and others walked far along Bahia Santa Maria. The bird watchers found over thirty species of birds, while learning about plants and the dune ecosystem as they explored the mangroves. After a very nice morning on Magdalena Island, we sailed away from the bay into the Pacific Ocean once again, bound for the Los Cabos region. On our way out, before even leaving the bay, a humpback whale and its calf breached several times not too far from the ship. As we kept sailing, we had other encounters with several humpbacks and interesting seabirds.