Baja California Expeditions

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February 10, 2022

Boca de Soledad, Baja California Sur

25.29° S -112.129° E

Berit Solstad, Naturalist

Book June 8-23, 2023 to save 25% deducted from cabin fare prior to any additional applicable savings. Plus receive an additional $1000 credit per person. Valid for new bookings only, on select expeditions as indicated, on Categories 1 & 2 on all ships, or Category SU on National Geographic Islander II, and select solo cabin categories SA, 1S, SO, and 2S. Savings applicable on cabin fares for featured departures only, not valid on land extensions or airfare, are subject to availability at the time of booking, and cannot be combined with other offers. Call for details.

Go Remote Next Holiday Season

This year skip the Nutcracker in favor of a different kind of ballet. In a place Jacques Cousteau dubbed “the world's aquarium,” you’ll have a front-row seat to an unforgettable performance: pods of bow-riding dolphins, acrobatic sea lions, and graceful mobula rays leaping out of the water. And after each thrilling day there’s one last encore—a spectacular golden hour that lights up the desert landscape, changing colors until the sun slips behind the horizon and a curtain of stars envelops the night sky.

Departing Dec. 20 & 27, 2023. Get there with airfare, solo, or group savings.

Celebrate in the Vermillion Sea

‘Coastal Baja California is a natural paradise largely devoid of development, and the remarkably rich sea teems with life. I first discovered it in 1977 and it’s been a love affair ever since.’ —Sven Lindblad, Founder

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Baja California

California Coast

A Southern Migration: From the Channel Islands to Baja California

Special Offers

Duration

12 days

Dec

From

$8,330

Prices are per person

Special Offers (3)

Highlights

Baja California

California Coast

A Southern Migration: From the Channel Islands to Baja California

Duration

12 days

Dec

From

$8,330

Top Highlights

Discover the incredible biodiversity of Channel Islands National Park, home to over 2,000 species including 145 endemics.
Go behind the scenes and enjoy a private lunch at a boutique vineyard in the world-renowned Valle de Guadalupe.
Explore the waters and experience the wildlife of peninsular Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve; meet the fishermen of Isla Natividad’s model fishing co-op.
Observe breaching humpbacks and acrobatic dolphins from the bow of a small ship.
Snorkel in Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, the only hard coral reef in North America; featuring over 220 species of fish.

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Special Offers

FREE BAR POLICY
SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS
$600 AIR CREDIT

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Baja California

Baja California Holiday Voyage: A Living Sea and Desert Isles

Special Offers

Duration

8 days

Apr
Dec

From

$7,240

Prices are per person

Special Offers (1)

Highlights

Baja California

Baja California Holiday Voyage: A Living Sea and Desert Isles

Duration

8 days

Apr
Dec

From

$7,240

Top Highlights

Search for large pods of dolphins and a variety of marine wildlife including sea lions and, with luck, leaping mobula rays, which flap for a moment before belly-flopping back in the water
Explore water-level caves by kayak, hike uninhabited beaches, and snorkel among fish and acrobatic sea lions
Photograph the landscape as the light changes and the golden hour approaches, with its deep red hues that seem to engulf the desert environment
Conditions permitting, visit Isla Rasa. Composed of Pleistocene and Holocene basalt lava flows, this is where 90 percent of the world’s Heermann’s gulls and a large population of elegant terns come to breed
Visit the old mining town of Santa Rosalia, with its wooden homes and historic steel church, designed by Gustave Eiffel

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Special Offers

SOLO TRAVELER SAVINGS

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Baja California

Baja California: A Remarkable Journey

Special Offers

Duration

15 days

Mar
Apr

From

$12,610

Prices are per person

Special Offers (1)

Highlights

Baja California

Baja California: A Remarkable Journey

Duration

15 days

Mar
Apr

From

$12,610

Top Highlights

Get up-close views of gray whale mothers and their growing calves as they prepare for their journey back to Arctic feeding grounds.
Kayak clear blue waters to search for wildlife, including magnificent frigatebirds, and investigate the intricacies of the shoreline.
Snorkel the living sea: observe large schools of vibrantly colored fish, swim among playful sea lions, and much more.
With more time for adventure, rely on your expedition leader to take you where wildlife will be at its best—including the remote oceanic island of San Pedro Mártir with clouds of nesting seabirds and crowds of sea lions onshore, and expanses of sea where huge pods of dolphins gather.

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Special Offers

FREE BAR POLICY

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Baja California

Baja California: Among the Great Whales

Special Offers

Duration

8 days

Jan
Feb
Mar

From

$6,930

Prices are per person

Special Offers (1)

Highlights

Baja California

Baja California: Among the Great Whales

Duration

8 days

Jan
Feb
Mar

From

$6,930

Top Highlights

See Gray whales and their newborn calves up close in lagoons, and witness breaching humpbacks from the bow of our ship, or on Zodiac excursions
Snorkel amidst the vibrant sea life and pristine coral reefs of Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, a conservation success story
Hike desert islands and sculpted sand dunes, and witness a variety of desert flora and fauna
Conditions permitting, swim with playful sea lions at Los Islotes
Get steeped in culture walking the quaint maze of streets and sun-drenched promenades in lively La Paz

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Special Offers

FREE BAR POLICY

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Baja California

Wild Baja California Escape: The Whales of Magdalena Bay

Special Offers

Duration

6 days

Jan
Feb
Mar

From

$4,040

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)

Highlights

Baja California

Wild Baja California Escape: The Whales of Magdalena Bay

Duration

6 days

Jan
Feb
Mar

From

$4,040

Top Highlights

Live among gigantic gray whale mothers and their calves in the nursery waters of Bahía Magdalena. See them from the ship and local pangas, delighting in up-close encounters
Kayak and paddleboard stunning mangroves, or beachcomb along endless beaches
Explore diverse landscapes; fat-tire bike along desert island terrain
Scan the skies for bird species, from diving pelicans to magnificent frigatebirds

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Special Offers

$500 AIR CREDIT
COMPLIMENTARY PRE-VOYAGE HOTEL STAY

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Expedition Highlights

Sail among pristine islands in search of rare endemic creatures. Encounter whales, possibly up close, for an experience that will never leave you. Snorkel with playful sea lions. Hike up arroyos blooming with life and discover medicinal plants. Get a slice of life in rural Baja towns. Kayak, hike, stand-up paddleboard, snorkel, and actively explore this incredible playground of wildness.

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National Geographic Global Explorers Program

One of the most rewarding sights on an expedition is witnessing the gleam of discovery in a child’s eyes, whether they’re hiking desert islands or snorkeling with sea lions. Moments like these are abundant in Baja California—and they’re especially meaningful when complemented with the learning opportunities offered through our exclusive National Geographic Global Explorers Program for kids and teens 18 and under.

Life Aboard

Henry David Thoreau called it the "tonic of wildness." It’s what Baja California, with its beauty and wildness intact, gives you—a spirit lift. To compound this healthful effect, add the luxury of comfort to the privilege of being here—with a quality of shipboard life and a philosophy of wellness designed to relax and rejuvenate body, mind, and spirit.

This Epic Baja Cruise Includes Ocean Kayaking, Beach Biking, and Whale Watching

Watching grey whales is an experience of a lifetime—and one of the best places to see them is off the coast of Baja California Sur. Read Travel + Leisure magazine's report from National Geographic Sea Bird in Baja California.

Surprising Desert Isles in the Sea of Cortez

Exploring the Sea of Cortez by water alone would make for an incomplete trip. On land, an equally spectacular sort of enchantment awaits if one knows where to look.

The History & Mystery of Baja’s Gray Whales

The planet’s largest creatures, whales spend the better part of their lives deeply submersed in their private watery world. But in Baja California, it’s a different story. There, in the warm protected lagoons, gray whales are equally curious about us as we are of them.

Thrilling Encounters: Wild Life in the Sea of Cortez

Lindblad has been taking guests to Baja California, a UNESCO World Heritage Marine Site that Jacques Cousteau called “the world’s aquarium,” for 40 years. Naturalists have deep knowledge of wildlife habits and ship captains have the freedom to position vessels to maximize wildlife viewing.

Discover

Discover Baja California

As one whale spouts in the distance, another spyhops up to take a look around, and yet another might breathe right behind you. You are afraid to turn in another direction because you might miss something. It is immensely exciting because there is so much going on!

Kelly Coursey Gray, Naturalist, February 14, 2022

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Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

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FAQs

FAQs and key information

From climate conditions to water temperature to packing the right footwear, find answers to the questions Expedition Specialists get most often.

Expedition Leader

Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.

Naturalist

Our naturalists, passionate about the geographies they explore (and return to regularly), illuminate each facet through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Our guests consistently cite the expertise and engaging company of our staff as key reasons to repeatedly travel with us.

Undersea Specialist

Undersea specialists are your eyes on the world that lies beneath the waves. Using an array of tools, including a high-definition camera, our Cousteau-like undersea specialist dives frequently during the voyage to show you strikingly clear images of the seldom-seen world beneath the ship.

Certified Photo Instructor

Every expedition aboard a ship in our National Geographic-flagged fleet offers an exclusive service—a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to offer assistance with camera settings, the basics of composition, and more tools and tips to help you become a better, more confident photographer.

The whale sightings were fantastic. Touching the gray whales was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Connie C.

Making a Difference

Lindblad Expeditions supports stewardship efforts in the places we explore, and one way we do that is through the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund. Traveler contributions to the LEX-NG Fund in Baja California currently support the Gulf of California Conservation Fund in its efforts to facilitate conservation and research projects across the region.

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Daily Expedition Reports

Daily Expedition Reports

4/16/2023

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National Geographic Venture

Espiritu Santo Archipelago

We sailed to the northernmost area of our voyage, the Espiritu Santo Archipelago, home of one of the most important California sea lion reproduction colonies in the south of the Gulf of California. It was declared a National Park by presidential decree in 2007, and it is more than 48,000 square hectares long. Guests and staff snorkeled in crystal clear waters with dozens of juvenile sea lions. We admired diverse schools of tropical fish and cruised around fascinating rock formations. Once back aboard, we encountered a few blue whales on our way to Puerto Escondido, Loreto as we prepared for a farewell dinner and for disembarkation tomorrow morning.

Daily Expedition Reports

4/15/2023

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National Geographic Venture

The Sea of Cortes and Puerto Los Gatos, Baja California Peninsula

National Geographic Venture cruised south throughout the night, reaching the vicinity of Isla del Carmen by sunrise. It was another beautiful morning as we searched for marine life from the decks and enjoyed a nice brunch on board. We were delighted by great views of a humpback whale. In the afternoon, there was much activity at Puerto Los Gatos on the Baja California peninsula. Guests had opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, exploring the landscape, and/or relaxing on the beach. A delicious beach barbecue ensued, followed by s’mores, stargazing, night photography, searching for scorpions, and gathering around the bonfire.

Daily Expedition Reports

4/14/2023

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National Geographic Venture

Isla San Marcos and Santa Rosalia, Baja California Sur

We began our day with a stretch class in the early morning light, followed by a delicious breakfast. We then grabbed our backpacks and cameras and headed to beautiful Isla San Marcos. The landing is a picturesque beach covered in shells and surrounded by mountains carved by an arroyo. We split into aerobic, moderate, and casual hiking groups and headed into the arroyo canyon. As we moved farther up the arroyo, the walls grew steeper and closer together, creating a beautiful, shady slot canyon. We got plenty of exercise as we observed several types of cacti, lizards, nests, and birds under a canopy of many desert legumes. We returned to National Geographic Venture for lunch and cruised over to the town of Santa Rosalia on the Baja peninsula. Vestiges of the past strew this historic copper mining town, making for a very interesting landscape of colorful Mexican village life and rusty industrial equipment. We walked through town to visit the church built by Frenchman Gustave Eiffel and an old bakery that has been operating for many decades. We made our way to the Hotel Frances for happy hour with local music group Los Coyotes. We enjoyed cocktails, snacks, and sweeping views of the Sea of Cortez. We returned to the ship for Mexican fiesta night and more music and dancing with Los Coyotes. It was an unforgettable day on National Geographic Venture .

Daily Expedition Reports

4/13/2023

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National Geographic Venture

Isla San Pedro Martir

During our expeditions, we go to some of the most remote and unique places on the planet. Today we visited Isla San Pedro Martir, the most remote island in the Gulf of California. This is one of the jewels of the remarkably productive Midriff Island region; it is home to the largest colonies of blue-footed and brown boobies known to the world. Upon our morning approach, the pre-dawn light showed swirling shadows of birds on the wing as they came to and from the looming island ahead of us. We have looked forward to this day with excitement and anticipation, which only grew as we drew nearer. For the morning, we took to our Zodiacs to circumnavigate the island and surrounding islets. The cliffs of the island stood far overhead, capped with a forest of Cardon cactus and painted white from accumulated guano. Seemingly endless seabirds circled about, dotting every available surface of the island. Many flew close overhead, and others gave us up-close views of their roosts and perches. Getting such intimate looks at these wandering seabirds is truly a special experience. Not to be outdone by the birds, California sea lions vocalized loudly as they displayed on the rocks. The young ones set off in our wake, swimming quickly alongside us and jumping into the air. As if it was a competition, soon thereafter we happened upon a large pod of bottlenose dolphins. These streamlined cetaceans put on an amazing show, porpoising far out of the sea and riding the bow of our Zodiacs. When we thought the wildlife couldn’t possibly get better, a single gray whale showed up, spouting and cruising near the island’s shore. Diving multiple times in our view, it showed its mottled flukes to the delight of all. During the afternoon, we searched for wildlife at sea and listened to presentations about the region. A pair of very active humpback whales put on quite the show for us before dinner. Another gorgeous sunset capped off this phenomenal day and cemented San Pedro Martir in our memories. Tomorrow awaits, and we are prepared to receive it.

Daily Expedition Reports

4/12/2023

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National Geographic Venture

San Esteban and Rasa Islands

National Geographic Venture made it to the narrowest section of the Gulf of California today. The Midriff region is characterized by the presence of two large, two medium, and several small islands that form a barrier to the ocean water. Seawater is squirted in both directions – north and south – creating treacherous currents, swirls, gyres, and intense upwelling. This promotes high productivity. We visited two fantastic islands, San Esteban and Rasa. San Esteban is famous for its endemic reptiles, including the piebald chuckwalla and the spiny-tailed iguana. During our explorations, we sighted many individuals of both species as well as sea lions, lizards, diverse plants with flowers, and small invertebrates. In Rasa, our guests and staff observed thousands of terns and Heermann’s gulls in the breeding process, as well as ospreys, ravens, great blue herons, and playful sea lions.

Baja California is arguably the best place in the world to see whales in good conditions—humpback, gray, fin, blue, pilot—to name the most likely.

Sven-Olof Lindblad

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Baja California 2023-24

Baja California

Baja California 2023-24

2023-2024 Voyages