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Explore Baja! with Searcher Natural History Tours
11-day and 12-day itinerary for San Diego to Cabo San Lucas
Day 1: San DiegoTravel to San Diego. Board Searcher at Fisherman's Landing by 8 p.m. for passenger orientation. Depart 11 p.m.
Day 2: Islas Todos Santos
Early morning stop at Ensenada harbor for Mexican Customs and Immigration clearance. Cruise along Todos Santos Islands to view nesting sea birds, rocky reef and cliff life, and harbor seal adults and pups. Afternoon whalewatching for migrating gray whales, dolphins, and sea birds on board Searcher.
Day 3: Islas San Benito
Hike to an old lighthouse and observe elephant seals crowded in each cove. It's breeding season and jousting males, nursing pups, and resting females make for wonderful photography. We'll observe nesting birds, such as osprey and ravens, and enjoy unique desert plants.
Day 4-5: Laguna San Ignacio
Here we anchor among the gray whales! Whalewatch from smaller boats, Mexican pangas, in gray whales' winter destination. See eye-to-eye with gray whales, observe females care for their young, and marvel at the power and grace of breaching and spyhopping whales while we make this famous lagoon our home for two days. Explore pristine beaches for shells, blooming plants, and tidal animals and observe feeding birds in the mangrove channels. Our 12-day itinerary includes a third day in this lagoon with the gray whales.
Day 6: Offshore Bahía Magdalena
Spend the day observing blue and humpback whales, herds of common dolphins, sea turtles, and pelagic seabirds with the peninsula as a truly scenic backdrop for photography.
Day 7: Cabo San Lucas & Los Frailes
This area is famous for the groups of humpback whales that spend time at Gorda Banks. Humpback whales may be the most acrobatic of whales--breaching, spyhopping, and lunging which are spectacular to observe and photograph. We stop at the Los Frailes area for a snorkeling session to observe colorful reef fishes and invertebrates and walk along a beautiful beach.
Day 8: Isla San José
Searcher will arrive at the spectacular red sandstone cliffs of Punta Colorado for photographing at sunrise. We'll take a skiff ride into a cave and along the cliffs for up-close views of nesting brown and blue-footed boobies, pelicans, yellow-footed gulls, osprey and white-throated swifts. Then we'll take a desert plant and bird walk through an arroyo formed by the scenic red cliffs. After our hike, we can enjoy snorkeling to view tropical fish in the reefs and sandy coves underwater. For the afternoon, we'll have plenty of time to whalewatch for blue, fin and sperm whales, as well as the large pods of bottlenose dolphin that frequent this area.
Day 9: Isla Santa Catalina
This island is famous for the 12-foot "wavy" barrel cactus and other desert plants that grow along the canyon, where an early morning walk is an enjoyable option. Birdlife is abundant and we should see and hear cardinals, Gila woodpeckers, ravens, and verdin. Also famous residents are the rare endemic Santa Catalina rattleless rattlesnake and the abundant emerald-tailed lizards. There will be snorkeling opportunities at this island, where the shallow reefs are home to many species of fish, sea stars, sea fans, and more marine life. Again we'll spend time aboard Searcher for the afternoon whalewatching in this productive area.
Day 10: Islas Los Islotes and Espiritu Santo
Los Islotes are two islets and underwater rocky reefs used by sea lions as haul-out sites. Skiff rides around the islets give great views of the sea lions, fishes and invertebrates along the reefs, and nesting boobies and other birds. Espiritu Santo is a larger island nearby with several beautiful coves to anchor in, sandy beaches, easy access swimming, snorkeling and more desert walks.
Day 11: Cabo San Lucas
Disembark Searcher in Cabo San Lucas at 8 a.m. Vans are available for transport to Los Cabos (also called San Jose del Cabo) airport for return flight connections or downtown for hotel stay in Cabo San Lucas on your own.
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast on Day 2 through breakfast on Day 11.
TRAVEL NOT INCLUDED: To San Diego/Fisherman's Landing on Day 1 and return from Cabo San Lucas on Day 11.
Itineraries and schedules subject to change based on weather conditions, captain's discretion, and the uncertainties operating within foreign preserve guidelines.