EXPLORE BAJA!

From San Diego, down the coast of Baja and into the Sea of Cortez

Itinerary:

Day 1: Passengers travel to San Diego on their own. Board Searcher at Fisherman's Landing in the evening. Depart 11 p.m.

Day 2: Islas Todos Santos: Morning at Ensenada harbor for customs clearance. Cruise along Todos Santos Islands for nesting sea bird, reef life, and harbor seal observations. Afternoon whale watching for migrating gray whales on board Searcher.

Day 3: Islas San Benito: Hike to an old lighthouse on one island and observe elephant seals during their breeding season when jousting males, nursing pups, and resting females make for wonderful photography. We'll observe nesting birds, such as osprey, and blooming desert plants also.

Days 4-5-6: Laguna San Ignacio: Whale watch from smaller boats 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 spy hopping 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.

Day 7: Offshore Bahia 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 8: 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, due to the breaching, spy hopping, and lunging behaviors that are spectacular to observe and photograph. We will go ashore at  Los Frailes to walk along a beautiful beach and snorkel among the colorful reef fishes and invertebrates.

Day 9: Isla San Jose: 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. There are palo blanco and torchwood trees, various species of cactus, and flowering plants that attract Costa's hummingbirds and other birds. After our hike, we can enjoy excellent snorkeling to view tropical fish in the reefs and sandy coves underwater. For the afternoon, we'll have plenty of time to whale watch for blue, fin and sperm whales, as well as the large pods of bottlenose dolphin that frequent this area.

Day 10: 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. Bird life is abundant and we should see and hear cardinals, Gila woodpeckers, ravens, and verdin. Also famous are the rare endemic Santa Catalina rattle less rattlesnake and the abundant emerald- tailed lizards. There will be snorkeling opportunities at this island as well, 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 whale watching in this productive area.

Day 11: Nopolo and Islas Los Islotes: Bird watch in the early morning at one of Baja's best locations. Then we travel to Los Islotes, 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. Or dive in for some great snorkeling!

Day 12 Disembark Searcher in Cabo San Lucas. Vans are available for transport to Los Cabo (also called San Jose del Cabo) airport for return flight connections or downtown for hotel stay in Cabo San Lucas (on your own).