Baja California Discovery: Exploring Mexico’s Gulf of California

Arrive in Loreto by early afternoon and explore independently. Visit Baja California’s first mission or try local dishes. Board the National Geographic Venture in the evening and start your voyage through the Gulf of California.

Wake up in Bahia Concepcion, a vast bay on the Baja California peninsula with more than 50 miles of beaches. Step onto the deck with your coffee and watch the sunrise over the coastline. Launch Zodiacs to spot whales and marine wildlife, paddle through mangroves, and snorkel in clear waters. Onshore, hike among giant cacti or walk the beaches while learning about the local ecology from naturalists.

After breakfast, disembark in Santa Rosalía, established as a French copper mining town in 1884. The French influence remains in the architecture—including a steel church designed by Gustave Eiffel—and the mining facilities have been left intact, with old locomotives and machinery visible throughout. Engage with the city’s culture and cuisine as you walk the streets, stopping in at a world-famous French bakery for a sweet or savory treat. Back on board, take in the desert landscapes and search for a variety of whales as you cruise to your next destination.

Get active this morning with options to hike, kayak, swim, snorkel or beachcomb within the Bahía de los Ángeles Biosphere Reserve. Board Zodiacs to seek out this protected reserve’s diverse marine population, including endangered species such as fin whales, California sea lions and five species of sea turtles. Whale sharks have also historically been known to populate these waters. Later, enjoy a rare opportunity to see one of the strangest plants on earth, the Boojum tree. Sacred to indigenous people, and believed to have supernatural powers, this evolutionary oddity takes its name from a Lewis Carroll poem. Capture the experience with help from your Certified Photography Instructor.  

The islands of the Midriff region in the northern Gulf of California are favorites among naturalists for their remoteness as well as their exceptional wildlife and birdlife. With nature as your guide, you will actively explore these areas by Zodiac, kayak, paddleboard, snorkeling and hiking. Some of the locations you may visit include:

Isla San Pedro Mártir 
This 1,000-foot-high, guano-covered island is home to the world’s largest nesting colonies of blue-footed and brown boobies. The surrounding waters boast 14 species of marine mammals, including fin whales, Bryde’s whales and a resident group of sperm whales.
  
Isla San Esteban 
Featuring volcanic slopes and cliffs, Isla San Esteban is home to spiny-tailed iguana and chuckwallas, cohabitant lizards with fascinating evolutionary traits. As you hike the broad arroyo, keep an eye out for the spiny-tailed iguana feeding on flowers atop cardon cacti, while the chuckwalla dines on the leaves and fruits of low-lying plants.

Isla Rasa 
This legendary uninhabited island is less than 0.21 square miles wide and yet is crucial to the survival of two species of seabirds. Historically 95% of the world’s Heermann's gulls and elegant terns use the island as their nesting grounds, creating a cacophonous avian spectacle seen nowhere else on earth.
  
Bahía Loreto Marine Park 
One of Mexico’s natural treasures, this protected area offers a variety of pristine landscapes and a plethora of marine life. Search for bottlenose and common dolphins, with the possibility of encountering blue or sperm whales.

Venture south to discover the gems of the southern Gulf. These islands and surrounding waters are celebrated for their conservation stories, marine life and the many thrilling experiences on offer. Some of the locations you may visit or enjoy by Zodiac include:

Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park 
Set out to snorkel the pristine reefs of Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, one of the most successful national marine parks in the world. Chat with locals about their advocacy to protect this unique place, including a cessation of fishing to protect the reef.

Isla Espíritu Santo 
A national park as well as UNESCO World Heritage Site with volcanic rock formations, scenic beaches and coral reefs. This magical island offers excellent hiking opportunities and crystal-clear waters for snorkeling. It’s a popular destination for researchers monitoring sea turtles.

Los Islotes 
Located at the northern tip of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Los Islotes is largely inaccessible to people and home to a large colony of sea lions. Conditions permitting, anchor off the rocky island where you'll don flippers, a mask and snorkel (which are provided) to swim with these curious inhabitants. 

Isla San Jose
One of the larger islands in the Gulf of California, San José offers several landing possibilities depending on conditions and the whim of the moment. Photograph the ochre cliffs of the island’s eastern shore, hike an enchanted, cactus-laden arroyo, or visit the abandoned salt works to the west. Discover rare wildlife among desert islands.  

Disembark in La Paz after breakfast and transfer to Los Cabos airport for flights home. You may opt for a post-voyage extension exploring the region’s culture and cuisine.