Whale watching in Baja California, Mexico - Mark Carwardine
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Whale watching in Baja California, Mexico
2020 & 2021
Baja California, the 1,200km-long peninsula on the west coast of Mexico, is the top
whale-watching destination on Earth. Whale expert and zoologist
Mark Carwardine is the perfect tour leader to show it to you.
About our trip humpback whales. many other bright and beautiful birds. And
Rounding the tip of Baja, we enter the we’ll even find time to marvel at
Baja California is one of the best places in Sea of Cortez and spend the next days bioluminescent seas and spectacular
the world (if not the best) for whale and cruising its sub-tropical waters. We head night skies.
dolphin watching. During this superb for the best areas for blue, fin, humpback,
holiday, we hope to see as many as 10-15 Bryde’s and sperm whales and along the Highlights
different cetacean species – as well as a way expect to encounter short-finned pilot
host of other wildlife – and are likely to whales and enormous herds of dolphins • Fabulous whale watching with a good
have life-changing encounters with some (long-beaked and short-beaked common variety of whales and dolphins and life-
of the largest and most inquisitive animals and bottlenose among them). We could changing close encounters with some of
on the planet. also see killer whales, dwarf sperm whales, the largest animals on the planet
Travelling aboard one of the few vessels rare beaked whales, whale sharks, Risso’s • Good chance of seeing blue, humpback,
with a special permit from the Mexican dolphins, and more. It’s one of those fin, grey and sperm whales, among others
Government, we cruise along the entire places where almost anything can happen. • Explore off-the-beaten-track on both
800-mile-long Pacific coast of Baja We’ll take nature walks on remote sides of Baja California
California and then explore the island- tropical islands, explore spectacular cactus • An exclusively chartered boat with a
studded waters of the Sea of Cortez. forests, look for endemic hummingbirds, highly experienced crew
Travelling down the Pacific coast we visit snorkel with colourful fish and California • Wide variety of other wildlife includes
the remote islands of Todos Santos, with sea lions, and visit an outlying colony of California sea lions and Guadalupe fur
their many harbour seals, and San Benitos, rare Guadalupe fur seals. We’ll watch blue- seals, northern elephant seals, whale
to observe a large rookery of northern footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, sharks, mobula rays, blue-footed boobies,
elephant seals. We spend two days in San red-billed tropicbirds, brown pelicans, and layson albatrosses, black-footed
Ignacio Lagoon – a magical place beside albatrosses, magnificent frigatebirds,
the desert where literally hundreds of grey hummingbirds and rattlesnakes
whales gather to breed. Local fishermen • Shore walks and snorkelling
meet us at the entrance to the lagoon,
and all our whale encounters are from Dates
their 3 pangas (10-person, 22-foot-long TRIP 1: 8 - 20 February
boats), which are amazingly stable and TRIP 2: 23 February - 6 March [2020 Leap
superb for close-up photography. Year]; 23 February - 7 March [2021]
February, March and TRIP 3: 10 - 22 March
April are the perfect TRIP 4: 9 - 21 April
times to see
everything, and we I t i n e r a r y (exact day-to-day itinerary
hope to meet courting may change according to weather and
whales, females with whale sightings)
their calves and some
of the world famous Day 1: Fly from the UK to San Diego and
‘friendlies’, which will literally nudge the transfer to hotel ,which is a 15-minute taxi
sides of our small boats. We then drive from the airport, and 15-minute walk
continue our marine safari south to an from H&M Landing, which is the marina
area off Magdalena Bay where we hope ` where H&M Landing, which is the marina
to find feeding blue and courting
where our boat, the Spirit of Adventure, San Lucas before transferring by coach 30
is moored. miles northeast to Los Cabos (San José del
Cabo) airport to arrive about 11am.
Day 2: Welcome breakfast at 9.00am to
meet the rest of the group and for a full [Day 14: Arrive back in the UK if flying
briefing. Day at leisure in San Diego. We will straight home.]
re-meet at about 6pm to walk to the Spirit
of Adventure, heading south down the Differences between
Pacific after supper. our trips
Days 3 - 4: We spend two days cruising All four trips are always utterly fabulous and,
down the Pacific coast of Baja California, if Mark had to choose just one date, he
whale watching in the daytime and travelling honestly wouldn't know which to go for.
overnight. We make two stops en route. Here are a few typical differences (but
The first is at Todos Santos to view resting please bear in mind that nothing is fixed in
harbour seals and a variety of seabirds. The stone when it comes to wildlife watching
second is at San Benitos: a tiny archipelago and every trip is different):
comprising three small islands, which have
a substantial colony of northern elephant • NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEALS
seals. We will land on West Benitos and In February, the huge males are defending
explore on foot, watching rookeries of their territories with vigour, clashing on the
Guadalupe fur seals, California sea lions beaches of San Benitos. By March, most
and northern elephant seals, ospreys, males have gone to sea, but females and
ravens, and more. pups are still there. By April all the males
have usually gone to sea, but there are still
Days 5 - 6: We have two full days in San females (returned to moult) and pups.
Ignacio Lagoon with the friendly grey • GREY WHALES In February, there are
whales. Mexican fishermen meet us at the more adults in San Ignacio and usually
lagoon entrance, and we transfer from the more breaching, spy-hopping and other
Spirit of Adventure to their 10-person, 22- surface activity. In March, there there are
foot pangas, for all whale encounters. The still plenty of adults, and the calves are
fishermen have 3 pangas, which enables all more confident. By April, many of the adults
of us to go out 2 or 3 times a day. There are are on their way back north, but the
literally hundreds of grey whales in San remaining mothers and calves tend to be at
Ignacio at this time of year, so they are hard their most confident and friendlier than
to miss as they spyhop, blow and breach in earlier in the season.
close proximity! This is also the best place • BLUE WHALES It is unusual not to see a
to encounter the well-known ‘friendlies’ – blue whale on any of the trips.
individuals that repeatedly approach and • WHALE SHARKS There is a chance to
nudge the small boats, encouraging us to snorkel with whale sharks on all four trips.
scratch them. • WEATHER This is similar for all the trips.
Rain and fog are possible for the first
Day 7: We have one more day on the couple of days, and there can sometimes
Pacific coast and cruise past the be quite a swell. The average temperature
Magdalena Bay area, which is a major here is about 18ºC (64ºF). Further south the
feeding ground for blue whales and a average temperature rises to about 23ºC
number of other species. (74ºF) and in the Sea of Cortez, it can get
very hot during the day (though cooling sea
Days 8 - 12: We round the tip of Baja, breezes help to make it comfortable).
travelling through an important humpback
whale breeding ground at Gorda Bank and Number of passengers:
enter the Sea of Cortez. We spend the next Maximum is 27, plus two leaders and seven
four days packing in as much whale and crew.
dolphin watching as possible. Fin, Bryde’s,
sperm and short-finned pilot whales are here About the boat: the Spirit of Adventure
year-round, humpback and blue whales visit (right), at 88 feet in length, is perfect for
in winter, and there are many other residents whale watching, with a highly experienced
and visitors. We will make a few shore crew (and fantastic food.
landings to explore the arid terrain, enjoy a While the cabins are small (all twin with
beach walk or perhaps a snorkel. two triples) and they have no en-suite
facilities or portholes, it is a very clean and
Day 13: Our expedition ends at Cabo San comfortable boat – and, of course, part
Lucas, on the southern tip of Baja California of the holiday’s charm is that it isn’t a
(we are likely to disembark at 8am Mexican luxury cruise!
time). We spend a couple of hours in Cabo
`
Price from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas;
2020: £5,395 per person sharing on boat information pack; evening talks/slideshows;
(excluding flights) memory stick of photos and films taken by
2021: £5,595 per person sharing on boat Mark and Rachel during the trip.
(excluding flights)
Price does not include: Flights; taxi
£85 single supplement (San Diego hotel only) transfers between San Diego airport and
hotel; taxi from Cabo San Lucas to airport if
Payment schedule your flight time does not fit with our coach
• Non-refundable deposit on booking: £500pp transfer (about US$80 per taxi); airport
• First-stage payment six months prior to departure taxes; travel insurance; meals on
departure shore (except breakfast); alcoholic drinks,
• Final balance (and single supplement if bottled water [NB the boat’s tap water is fine
applicable) 90 days prior to departure to drink], and canned sodas on board; crew
gratuities aboard vessel (we suggest about
Price includes: Eleven nights' US$25 per day); Panga boatman tips
accommodation in cabin, all meals and (approximately US$20); visa to enter USA
some drinks on Spirit of Adventure; one (ESTA), which is bought online and currently
night's bed and breakfast in hotel with costs $14 (you will be given a link with the
private facilities in San Diego; excursions as full trip information); extra nights in hotel;
described in the itinerary; pangas in San laundry and phone calls, snorkelling with
Ignacio Lagoon; Mexican tourist card; whale sharks (about $65 per person),
Mexican permits and fees; luggage transfer personal items.
from hotel in San Diego to boat (for
passengers this is a 15-minute walk along To book (and for more information)
flat pavements); coach to Los Cabos airport Contact Rachel Ashton:
from Cabo San Lucas at end of trip T +44 (0) 117-904-8934
(depending on your flight time); guide M 07791-058-342
services of Mark Carwardine/Rachel Ashton E rachel@markcarwardine.com
Please note that all money goes
through Wildlife Worldwide Ltd,
who financially protects your
trip, but we organise everything
and are your main contact
throughout the booking
procedure.
AT O L : r e g i s t e r e d
member 10544
A B T O T: r e g i s t e r e d
member 5199
`
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