Eco Adventures in Baja, California, on The Spirit of Adventure
Take an 11-day, fly-home trip to Cabo San Lucas on board The Spirit of Adventure.
On the first day of our trip, we cruise along Todos Santos Island with its harbor seals and variety of sea and shore birds. On our way south towards San Benito Island, we look for migrating gray whales and dolphins. Most of the second day is spent on San Benitos Island, which is known for its large elephant seal colonies and numerous osprey nesting sites. Depending on the time of the season, you will get a good look at the elephant seals and their pups.
In San Ignacio Lagoon, we will observe gray whales. Earlier in the season we will see adult male and female whales and cow/calf pairs; later on the bulls will already be on their northbound migration. Cow/calf pairs often approach our skiffs. On our journey south, between San Ignacio Lagoon and the Cape, we might see the first blue and humpback whales.
The days in the Sea of Cortez, one of the richest seas in the world, are truly magic. Here we search for blue, humpback, fin, sperm, and killer whales. Daily encounters with large schools of dolphins are a special treat.
A highlight is snorkeling among curious sea lions. We visit different islands with opportunities for bird-watching, beach-combing, hiking, swimming or snorkeling and skiff excursions. Our transition from temperate to tropical waters makes this an extraordinarily rich and varied expedition.
Accommodation, Meals and Crew
The Spirit of Adventure is a small passenger vessel, not a cruise ship. She is 88 feet long and 25 feet wide and provides excellent stability.
Accommodations are provided in 14 small, air-conditioned cabins with limited storage space. Most cabins have upper and lower bunk beds, wall-to-wall carpet, and reading lights.
Four toilets and three freshwater showers are located on the main deck. Meals are prepared fresh daily and all passengers are served in one seating. The galley is equipped with a TV, DVD player and natural history books. Outside seating is available on the main deck as well as on the upper deck. Additionally, there are three aluminum skiffs with outboard motors for the numerous shore excursions.
The Spirit of Adventure is S.O.L.A.S.-rated to travel anywhere in the world. She is equipped with the most modern safety, navigation and communication devices. Her schedule includes not only the Pacific region of the Baja peninsula, but the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) as well.
The crew is led by Mike Keating, the owner and operator with over 25 years of experience in the waters of Baja California, his first mate, three licensed skiff operators, the chef and assistant. An experienced naturalist/wildlife interpreter accompanies every trip to answer your questions. His regular evening programs inform about the next day’s activities and possible sightings. Guests set their own pace and choose the activities in which they like to participate.
All trips depart at 10:00 PM and arrive at the destination between 6:00 and 8:00 AM.
The itinerary will be followed loosely to allow us to take advantage of opportunities and respond to weather conditions in order to maximize your experience.
Dates are subject to change due to Mexican regulations.
