Baja: A Remarkable Journey - A Photo Expedition

This special photo expedition is one of Lindblad Expeditions most exciting and comprehensive voyages to Baja and offers the unique opportunity to explore — and photograph — the gray whale lagoons along Baja’s Pacific Coast and the richness of the vast Sea of Cortez.

Linger with the grays up close at water level from Zodiacs, then with the luxury of a flexible itinerary you'll island hop across the Sea of Cortez. Baja’s wild shores and desert islands are a photographer’s paradise — a place where awesome wildlife and scenic landscapes meet.

Lindblad's Photo Leaders take an almost personal pride in introducing guests to its uninhabited islands, cactus forests, whales and dolphins, astonishing seabird colonies, expansive sand dunes and some of the world’s most memorable sunsets. Benefit from coaching in the field; back onboard, enjoy an array of presentations on the natural history of Baja and on the creative and technical aspects of capturing its beauty with your camera.

Itinerary:

DAY 1 — Los Angeles/La Paz, Mexico
Fly to La Paz on our special charter flight. Sea Bird guests will travel to San Carlos to embark. Sea Lion* guests will overnight at the Los Acros Hotel and travel to the vessel in San Carlos on Day 2. (D) *Please refer to the last day for disembarkation.

DAY 2 — Embark/Bahia Magdalena
Drive across the Baja Peninsula to San Carlos and embark our ship. In kayaks and Zodiacs we’ll explore the winding canals of the dense mangrove swamps of Bahia Magdalena. Bird watching here can be excellent — magnificent frigate birds, pelicans, cormorants, terns and great blue herons, ibis, whimbrels and willets are among the species we might see. It's not unusual to see forty species of birds in just one day along these fertile shorelines where they refuel for their destinations ahead. (B,L,D)

DAY 3-4 — Laguna San Ignacio
Laguna San Ignacio is a large bay and favored haunt of the gray whales in Baja. The ship will linger in this remote and important locale, while we observe the mother and calf pairs — from the ship, and from water level in our Zodiacs. For some reason, the whales here seem to be friendlier than they are elsewhere. It’s not unusual for mothers and calves to approach our boats, the calves often playing hide and seek — even wanting to be petted and scratched. (B,L,D)

DAY 5 — Sailing South
As we travel south along the Pacific coast of the peninsula, there is a chance of seeing a wide variety of marine life, including the largest animal on earth, the blue whale. (B,L,D)

DAY 6-14 — Islands of the Sea of Cortez
Cruise past the spectacular Friars Rocks at Land's End. For those who wish, we will arrange a visit to the historic town center of San Jose del Cabo.

Espiritu Santo. Los Islotes. Santa Catalina. Rasa. These are some of the melodious names of these islands scattered throughout this beautiful sea. After over 20 years of exploration here, we are still discovering new places and experiencing exciting events: one hundred bottlenose dolphins leaping over sperm whales near our ship; a pod of fin whales feeding around a convergence zone; thousands of Heermann’s gulls and royal terns arriving on the shores of Isla Rasa to begin incubating their eggs; the vision of hundreds of Humboldt squid illuminated in the ship’s bow lights. The best areas for whale watching remain consistent — the waters south of Isla Carmen, Canal de Ballenas up north, and near the mouth of Bahia Concepcion. Whether on the bridge of the ship, on Zodiacs or kayaks, we will be in prime position to observe them all. Almost every anchorag

DAY 15 — La Paz/Disembark/Return U.S.*
Afte a visit to a local mission, we'll have lunch. Then, transfer to the airport for our flight to Los Angeles.(B)

* Sea Lion guests wil be disembarking on Day 16 from Loreto.

What's Included:

All accommodations aboard ships or in hotels per itinerary or similar, all meals and nonalcoholic beverages aboard ship, meals on land as indicated, air transportation where indicated as included, shore excursions, sightseeing and entrance fees, special access permits, transfers to and from group flights, use of snorkeling equipment and wet suits, use of kayaks (where available), tips (except to Egyptologists and ship’s crew), taxes and service charges, services of a ship physician on most voyages, and services of our expedition staff.

What's Not Included:

Air transportation (except where shown as included), extensions, passport, visa, immigration fees, scuba diving (where available), meals not indicated, baggage/accident/travel protection plan, items of a personal nature, such as alcoholic beverages, e-mail, laundry. Gratuities to Egyptologists and ship’s crew at your discretion.

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All rates are per person, double occupancy. Port charges, Government taxes and fees are additional. Limited availability and based on minimum fares for select departure dates. Other dates may be higher. These rates are for new, individual bookings only. Not responsible for last minute changes of price or itinerary by cruise line, or any errors or omissions in the content of this site. Some restrictions and cancellation penalties may apply.