Breaching Grey Whale, Mexico

Great Whales of Baja California

  • TAILOR-MADE

Duration

7 Days

Prices Start from

$4,386(ex. flights)

A thrilling sailing voyage around what explorer Jacques Cousteau called “the world’s aquarium”, an exploration of Baja California and the Sea of Cortez is the archetypal adventure for whale-loving wayfarers.

Key Highlights of this Itinerary

Mother and calf humpback whales in Ojo de Liebre Lagoon 1

Mother & Calf Whales

Hide and seek with remarkably friendly mother and calf pairs of California grey whales.

Safari Endeavour, Baja California 2

Expeditionary Boats

Sail aboard small vessels with special access permits in the company of expert guides.

Snorkelling with sea lions 3

The Sea of Cortez

Snorkel with sea lions, bob along on kayaks or swim in nutrient-rich and fish-dense waters.

The Arch at Sunset, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico 4

Unique Landscapes

While travelling around the peninsula’s coastline, photograph the incredible scenery.

Why we like it

Sailing in anything from a quirky 25-passenger fishing boat manned by a remarkably intuitive skipper to a fully stabilized 100-passenger vessel with the latest satellite navigation technology, these expeditionary adventures unveil one of the world’s finest marine destinations. In search of playful mother and calf whales and a plethora of colourful marine life, our small selection of hand-picked whale-watching cruises are some of the most comprehensive in the peninsula.

Explore our suggested itinerary

  • Embark

    San Diego, Loreto or San Jose del Cabo

  • 7, 11 or 14 Nights Sailing

    Baja California & the Sea of Cortez

  • Disembark

    Loreto or San Jose del Cabo

Embark

San Diego, Loreto or San Jose del Cabo

7, 11 or 14 Nights Sailing

Baja California & the Sea of Cortez

Beach, Baja California

Snorkel with sealions, bob along on kayaks or swim in nutrient-rich and fish-dense waters. Play hide and seek with remarkably friendly mother and calf pairs of California gray whales.

Disembark

Loreto or San Jose del Cabo

Our travel experts can tailor this itinerary to suit you.

Whale Fluke, Baja California, Mexico
Whale Fluke, Baja California, Mexico

Hide & Seek with Grey Whales

Every year during their migration, the great grey whales pause to give birth and nurse their calves in the lagoons off Baja California’s west coast. Exploring these lagoons presents truly remarkable opportunities for close encounters with these gentle and curious giants. The whales here seem to be friendlier than they are elsewhere, and it is not unusual for mothers and calves to approach the Pangas and play a sort of hide and seek through the crystalline waters.

Whale Shark in Shallow Waters, Baja California
Whale Shark in Shallow Waters, Baja California

Unpredictable Marine Life

These waters are truly unpredictable, and previous sailings have witnessed the magnificent sight of bottle nose dolphins leaping over sperm whales and the view of hundreds of Humboldt squid illuminated in bow lights. It is also possible to see whale sharks, leaping mobula rays and handsome emerald-tailed lizards. Atop a kayak or in a Panga, sail to uninhabited islands to explore their dense mangrove swamps and red coastlines and, during disembarkations, hike through cacti forests and up striking desert canyons on remote islands.

Snorkelling with sea lions
Snorkelling with sea lions

Snorkel the Sea of Cortez

Snorkel with curious sea lions and king angelfish, look out for bottlenose dolphins and perhaps catch a glimpse of blue whales whilst navigating the Sea of Cortez. Look out for surgeonfish, butterfly fish, damselfish and colourful parrotfish, and perhaps spend extended time simply floating in their cloud of colour or trying to spot a giant sting ray hiding in the sand.

 

Dolphin, Zodiac, Baja California
Dolphin, Zodiac, Baja California

National Geographic Venture

With itineraries that range from 7 to 14 nights, the 100-passenger National Geographic Venture boasts some of the best guides in the world and the highest naturalist to passenger ratio in all of Baja California. Perhaps travelling with a professional photographer, a natural historian, a biochemist or a zoologist, move through the ocean on routes determined by the marine life being tracked on any given day.

Operating a Fund for Exploration and Conservation with National Geographic that focus on minimising environmental impact, the vessel has raised nearly $10 million in the last 10 years for conservation and marine efforts.

Safari Endeavour, Baja California
Safari Endeavour, Baja California

Safari Endeavour

With a 7-night island-hopping navigation through the Sea of Cortez that combines water and land-based adventures with casual whale-watching, the 88-passenger Safari Endeavour offers a more relaxed voyage in Baja California.

With a focus on escapades such as swimming with playful sea lion pups, paddle boarding atop dazzling ocean, mule riding with a local ranchero and exploring secluded coves, this journey dedicates less time to the sole search for marine life and more to a fun-filled discovery of the islands.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California

Why Cruise?

Transport networks on Baja California are limited, and long dusty drives will only take you to some key areas where there are limited accommodation options. With incomparable opportunities to interact with whales and spot other remarkable marine life, sailing allows for a comfortable and varied experience that boasts optimal and extended time with marine life at close proximity. Frequent disembarkations also allows for anything from hiking to mule riding, giving a rounded experience of the peninsula.

Start planning your trip


Send us an enquiry

Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.

Review Contact Form

Name(Required)
Hidden

A note on price

Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.

Why Choose Steppes?

Our knowledge, curiosity and expertise set us apart, driving us to create remarkable holidays and Beautiful Adventures tailored perfectly to you, carefully curated to help protect and conserve our planet.

Are you ready to Discover Extraordinary?


More about Steppes

F L E X I B I L I T Y P R O M I S E B O O K W I T H C O N F I D E N C E

Get in touch

  • By sending your enquiry you are stating that you agree to our T&C

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.