Mother & Calf Whales
Hide and seek with remarkably friendly mother and calf pairs of California grey whales.
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.
Hide and seek with remarkably friendly mother and calf pairs of California grey whales.
Sail aboard small vessels with special access permits in the company of expert guides.
Snorkel with sea lions, bob along on kayaks or swim in nutrient-rich and fish-dense waters.
While travelling around the peninsula’s coastline, photograph the incredible scenery.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Send us an enquiry
Complete our enquiry form and start your next journey.
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.
Our knowledge and expertise set us apart. So too our curiosity. It is this that drives us to create a journey that is really bespoke to you, all the while ensuring we travel and operate sustainably.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?