Grey Whale Watching & Camping in Mag Bay  |
The Great Whales of Baja | Pathways into Viscaino  Bio Reserve

 GREAT WHALES OF THE SEA OF CORTEZ (February-April)

The Sea of Cortez, world renowned by its high productivity, biodiversity and beautiful landscapes is home to some 32 species of marine mammals. Most notably, there are numerous species of great whales, such as Blue, Fin, Humpback, Grey, Bryde's, and others that feed or mate during spring.

Our journey begins at Loreto where we board our vessel in search of massive Blue whales. A guide and whale expert will aid observations and will conduct photo identification and data collection. We will visit remote islands such as Isla de Carmen, Danzante, Santa Catalina, San Jose, Espiritu Santo, and will search for other great whales such as Fin, Brydes, and Grey whales. Near the end of the journey, we will search for the acrobatic Humpback whales at Bahia de Los Frailes near San Jose del Cabo.

This expeditions helps raise funds for some of the whale research done at La Paz Marine Biology University.

The trip includes: 8 days journey aboard a live aboard vessel, first and last night hotel accommodation at Loreto and San Jose del Cabo (5 star hotel), all meals and beverages from trip departure date to last day of trip dinner, guide-naturalist, accommodation at a live aboard vessels and all airport - hotel transfers.

Trip Does Not Include: Air fares, meals on arrival and departure dates, Airport taxes nor tips.

Itinerary:
Day 1. Passengers are transferred to their hotel in Loreto upon arrival by Baja Quest guide for check in and trip briefing. 
Day 2. Pick up time at 8:00 am at hotel lobby and transfer to vessel. Berth designation and boat briefing by guide-naturalist and Captain. Breakfast on board. Our guide naturalist presents a general presentation of the current research objectives and methods. The naturalist gives data collection assignments to each passenger. The journey starts heading towards Isla Carmen. Full day of Blue and Fin whale search, observation and data collection. All meals from this day are cooked and served on board. Cocktails and snacks at evening before dinner. Eight full days of navigation southwards visiting the pristine desert islands in between Loreto and San Jose del Cabo, six different islands and 3 coastal sites are visited (Isla Carmen, Monserrate, Danzante, Catalina, Rancho los Dolores, San Jose, Espiritu Santo, Bahia los Muertos and finish at Los Frailes).

Day 3 - 8. During these days several whale species will very possibly be observed close to our vessel (Blue, Fin, Minkie, Sei, Sperm, Humpback and Orca). Data collecting methods include: flukes and dorsal fin photo identification, behavior observation reports and occasional tissue sampling. The guide-naturalists provide evening seminars every other night. Additional day time activities during the journey include: hikes into the island canyons, desert plant identification, bird watching, snorkeling in the rocky reefs and sea lion colonies, visit to the Rancho los Dolores old mission, El Pardito fishermen settlement, sea kayaking along the coast and island coves, San Jose island old salt mine visit, whale bone fossil observation and identification, evening slide presentations and plenty of evening entertainment with games and movies.

Day 9. The journey finishes in the afternoon at Los Frailes Bay with the acrobatic Humback whales singing farewell to our passengers. All clients disembark the vessel with their belongings and are transferred to their hotels at San Jose del Cabo (one-hour drive). The guide-naturalist provides check in help. Farewell dinner at local restaurant the Mexican way with music and dance.

Day 10. Clients check out hotel and are transported to airport. End of trip.

Retail price per person at double occupancy: $2063 US