Day 1 - Los Angeles/La Paz, Mexico
Fly to La Paz on our special charter flight, drive across the Baja
Peninsula to San Carlos and embark the ship.
Day 2 - Bahia Magdalena
Bahia Magdalena is one of the main breeding and calving areas for the
California gray whale. Each winter, the whales make the longest
migration of any mammal — moving south from their Arctic feeding grounds
to breed and raise their calves in these sheltered waters. During our
days in this otherworldly place, we'll have the opportunity to not only
observe these enormous yet gentle animals from the ship, but also at
water level from our Zodiacs. Because of our experience and knowledge of
Baja's waters, we have enjoyed consistent success in achieving "friendly
encounters" with gray mother and calf pairs. While we would never
presume to predict Nature's behavior, it is highly likely that you will
have the privilege of an up-close and personal sighting.
Our whale watching takes place in an exceptional context: Bahia
Magdalena is on the Pacific side of Baja, a vast wilderness of sculpted
sand dunes, mangrove channels and protected waters. On its western side
lies Isla Magdalena or Magdalena Island, a narrow, 60-mile long island
comprised of enormous dunes. Although we have seen dunes and beaches
before, the particular way these sweeping desert sands meet the
shoreline is unforgettable.
Dense mangrove swamps are another, enticing environment. We'll take our
kayaks and Zodiacs through the winding canals to discover the riches
within. Bird watching in the mangroves can be excellent — magnificent
frigatebirds, pelicans, cormorants, terns and great blue herons, ibis,
whimbrels and willets are among the species we might see. On mud flats,
we'll often see migrating species at rest. Our practiced and observant
naturalists will make sure we won't miss any of these world travelers,
that can cover up to 8,000 miles of coastline during their migrations.
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.
Days 3 & 4 - Laguna San Ignacio
Laguna San Ignacio is a large bay and another 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.
Day 5 - Bahia Magdalena
As we travel south along the Pacific coast of the Baja Peninsula we stop
again at Bahia Magdalena. Along the way there is a chance of seeing a
wide variety of marine life, including the largest animal of them all,
the blue whale. The wonders of the natural world somehow never seem to
cease in Baja. But if your preference is to simply relax and take it all
in, there’s no more beautiful place since beaches and sand dunes of
incomparable beauty, clear water and bright blue skies surround us.
Days 6-13 - Islands of the Sea of Cortez
With a morning stop in the busy town of Cabo San Lucas, we’ll get a
brief dose of all the amenities needed to support a major tourist
destination — shops, restaurants and entertainments of all sorts. We
happily say good bye to that after our brief visit, and head out to
spend a blissful seven days exploring the islands of the Sea of Cortez
and the remote bays and coves of the Baja Peninsula.
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 natural events. Here are a few
highlights from one of our voyages: 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; and
one evening, 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 anchorage offers good swimming, snorkeling, and perhaps
kayaking.
One morning, you may find yourself aboard a Zodiac, wearing a wetsuit,
ready to enter another world — to swim with acrobatic sea lions and
through clouds of brilliantly colored fish. Bahia Bonanza is a large bay
at the south end of Espiritu Santo with a beach that goes on virtually
forever, with the world’s softest sand underfoot. Whether in a kayak or
Zodiac, swimming, snorkeling or on a walk with our naturalists, these
islands will reveal facets of their beauty and mystery. Exploring them
in a small ship that enables us to rove freely in the immense,
uncluttered, natural splendor of Baja — to be spontaneous, to move
smoothly from ship to Zodiac to landfall and off again — begins to feel
like one of the great luxuries in this otherwise crowded, scheduled and
regulated world.
Day 14 - Guaymas/Disembark Ship/Hermosillo/Return U.S.
After breakfast aboard the ship, disembark in Guaymas at 8:30 a.m. If
you’re flying out of Hermosillo, you’ll leave after breakfast for the
two-hour drive to the airport where most flights leave midday. If you’re
leaving from Guaymas, the flights are later in the day so we’ll stop at
the pearl cultivation farm at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudies
Superiores de Monterrey, learning about the mysterious creation of these
objects of beauty. After visiting the Instituto, we’ll drive to the
airport in Guaymas for flights to the U.S.
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Departure Dates (see below for family & photo expeditions)
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2006: |
March
25 |
Photo Expeditions |
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2006: |
March
25 |
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| Please note if you
are traveling on the Sea Lion the program will be one day longer
which includes an over night stay in La Paz, Mexico prior to
embarkation on March 26, 2006. |
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Sea Bird |
Per Person Double Occupancy |
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Sole Occupancy |
| Category 01 |
$4,390 |
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$5,490 |
Main Deck #300, 301,
302, 303
Conveniently positioned between the dining room and lounge, these
cabins feature twin lower beds, and a large view window.
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| Category 02 |
$4,980 |
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$6,210 |
Upper Deck #200-212,
215; Bridge Deck #100-104, 108
These well-located cabins include twin lower beds and a large view
window.
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| Category 03 |
$5,890 |
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Upper Deck #214,
216-219, 221; Bridge Deck #105, 106, 107, 110
These large cabins feature a seating arrangement with table and two
view windows. Certain cabins include twin lower beds. Ask for
details.
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Cost Includes:
Accommodations, all meals, Aeromexico charter flight from Los Angeles to
La Paz.
Not Included: Return flight from Guaymas or Hermosillo.
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| Sea Bird Deck Plans |
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