Discover "the world's aquarium", the Sea of Cortez and Mexico's Baja California, on this 5-day trip. Travel to scenic Magdalena Island, on the Pacific coast of the peninsula. Gray whale mothers and calves travel close to shore on their northbound migration, providing excellent viewing opportunities. Visit Espiritu Santo Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to turquoise waters with diverse fish species. Watch as hundreds of resident sea lions bark, play, and sun themselves on the rocks, or you can jump in the water to swim and snorkel alongside them. Learn about the natural history of this region as you explore its dunes and mangroves from the Gulf of California to the Pacific Coast. Enjoy the best that Baja California Sur has to offer!
Highlights
Take a Baja vacation perfect for families, nature lovers, and adventurers
Observe gray whales, known for their curiosity, in Magdalena Bay
Snorkel with sea lions on Espiritu Santo Island, a UNESCO Heritage Site
Feast on freshly caught seafood and relax on postcard white-sand beaches
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive to La Paz and transfer independently to your hotel. Meet your naturalist guide at your hotel and receive a briefing on the adventure ahead. La Paz is the capital of Mexico's Baja California Sur, on the Sea of Cortez. The region is known for its vast marine biodiversity and terrestrial species endemic to the region. Adventure seekers are drawn to the plentiful opportunities to enjoy sea kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, scuba diving, snorkeling, and wildlife watching.
Day 2: Magdalena Bay
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Depart La Paz for Magdalena Bay. Head out on the water at Puerto López Mateos and make your south, exploring mangrove canals, sand dunes, and beaches by skiff. Search for gray whales and observe their complex mating and calving behavior, which occurs primarily in the lagoons of Baja California, Mexico. Gray whales have one of the longest migrations of all mammals, traveling as far north as the Bering and Chukchi Seas to their summer feeding grounds. Seabirds and other marine mammals such as dolphins, sharks, turtles, and manta rays may accompany your travels as you explore the body of water that Costeau called "the world's aquarium". Settle into a waterfront hotel in Magdalena Bay for the evening.
Spend the morning searching for gray whales in Magdalena Bay. This afternoon transfer back to Laz Paz and enjoy time at leisure. Stroll along the waterfront malecón, enjoy delicious restaurants, browse historic museums and local shops, or simply relax on the white-sand beaches.
Early this morning you are transferred to the marina where you board a boat for an 1.5-hour ride to Espiritu Santo Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its scenic cliffs, mangroves, sandy beaches, and diverse wildlife, see why this gem is one of Baja's most amazing destinations.Your first stop is at a sea lion colony, where you can join your guide in swimming and snorkeling with playful sea lions. Next board your boat and navigate to a pristine beach where a delicious meal of fresh seafood awaits (special dietary needs are taken into account upon request). Your guides provide a presentation about the natural history and conservation of Espiritu Santo; the island is the only known habitat of the black jackrabbit! Enjoy swimming, hiking, or relaxing on the beach. Arrive back in La Paz in the early evening.
Day 5: Depart La Paz
1 Breakfast
Enjoy a final relaxing morning in La Paz. Transfer to the airport independently for your return flight home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 25% ($400 min.), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
4 Nights Accommodations
1 Day Locally Hosted Guide Service
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
International Flights
Departure Transfer
Meals not Included - Depending on restaurant of choice, budget $10-15 per person for breakfast, $10-20 per person for lunch, and $35 per person for dinner.
Arrival Transfer - Shared shuttles cost $35 per person each way. Private transfers cost $250 each way in a van with a capacity of up to 10 people.
Gratuities - Recommended: 10-15% of total trip cost
Map
When to Go
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
Typically not offered during this period because of weather conditions.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
1 day ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
3 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
4 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
