The Aquarium of the World
Mexico’s Sea of Cortés
Loreto to La Paz Cruise, 7-night / 8-day

Aboard the 22 Guest Safari Quest Yacht

Day 1 Arrive in Loreto, boarding
Welcome to the historic Mission city of Loreto. You'll be met at the airport and taken to the Safari Quest for boarding.

Day 2 The Nature of the Sea of Cortés, Gray Whales
In order to get the maximum benefit from visiting this spectacular area, we'll travel by coach all the way across the Baja Peninsula and the rugged Sierra de la Giganta to the Pacific Coast. Here, an extensive network of lagoons radiates north and south from Bahía Magdalena. These are the winter calving grounds for gray whales, which migrate annually some 10,000 miles from the Bering Sea. A once-in-a-lifetime experience is up-close whale watching from a small outboard boat called a "panga." Gray whale mothers and their calves often approach very close indeed.

Day 3 Bahia Agua Verde Mule Ride and Exploring
This morning we’ll search for whales and dolphins around Isla Carmen. Then we’ll enter Bahia Agua Verde, whose green, clear waters are bordered by craggy peaks. For a true taste of adventure, join your yacht mates on a mule trail ride into the arroyos of the peninsula. Converse with a local Ranchero and his family while you explore canyons, enjoy scenic vistas and experience the breathtaking sights of the “real Baja.”

Day 4 Whale Watching
Today, the focus is on whale watching and other marine mammals. Join the Captain on the bridge as we search for pods of dolphins along with blue, fin, sei, orca and sperm whales as they spout and dive in the surrounding waters. Keep your binoculars close at hand to spot blue-footed boobies, pelicans, cormorants and an array of gulls that make this area their home. En route we’ll pass Puerto El Gato, a picturesque spot, sheltered by sandstone cliffs with ledges of pink, orange and red. We may drop anchor in a remote cove for beachcombing

Day 5 Isla Coyote (Isla San Jose)
We’ll step ashore at the smallest village in the Sea of Cortés today. Enjoy a conversation with a remarkable group of people who make their living as fishermen “in the middle of nowhere.” Then we’ll experience a guided hike among a forest of the world’s tallest cactus, the cardón. To the south, a mangrove-lined lagoon borders gentle, white sand dunes and untracked beaches. Paddle with your Expedition Leader through the narrow lagoon for a closer look at these tenacious trees of the sea. This evening we’ll anchor in a pristine bay.

Days 6 Los Islotes
At Isla San Francisco enjoy a guided hike along a hook-shaped ridge, or perhaps kayak or snorkel in the protected crystalline waters. Just north of Isla Partida we’ll pull close to Los Islotes, a steep rocky outcropping leaping straight from the sea. Observe a sea lion colony from the yacht and launch, or slip into a wetsuit to snorkel with agile young sea lions. Swim through a rock arch where orange fan and white fire coral sway in the current, while high overhead, brown and blue-footed boobies perch on the cliffs. We’ll anchor overnight at Ensenada Grande, a rocky cove on Isla Partida with a lovely crescent beach at its head.

Days 7 Isla Partida and Beach Activities
Ensenada Grande is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Explore the remote coastline by skiff or kayak, enjoy a guided hike amid the exotic desert cacti and succulents, or slip into the water to swim and snorkel. If you’re ready for something adventurous, try windsurfing or sailing a laser sail boat from the yacht. Tonight we will recap our weeklong journey through the Sea of Cortés with our fellow travelers during a special farewell dinner followed by a slideshow of the shared experiences.

Day 8 Disembark La Paz
After breakfast on board we’ll bid you “adios.” A transfer to the airport for connections home is included. You may have time for a stroll along the extensive beachfront promenade here in Baja’s most traditional city.