Baja California and the Sea of Cortez

Day 1: Board Searcher and sail 

The day is at leisure in San Diego with boarding of Searcher starting at 19:00.   

There will be an introduction to the ship, crew, naturalists and a safety drill before the vessel sails at approximately 22:00.  Eleven nights aboard Searcher 

Day 2: Mexican clearance and offshore wildlife viewing 

The day will start with a brief stop in Ensenada, Mexico where we clear Immigration and Customs.  We will then head offshore in search of cetaceans and seabirds and the possibilities could include both Long-beaked and Short-beaked Common Dolphins. 

We may also find our first Grey Whales and there will undoubtedly be plenty of seabirds to enjoy with the possibilities including Black-vented Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Masked Booby, Royal Tern and Bonaparte’s Gull. 

Day 3: Morning on San Benitos Island.  Afternoon at sea 

We will start the day exploring the San Benitos Islands which are an important location for Northern Elephant Seals.  From December to March, all suitable beaches on West San Benitos Island are occupied by breeding seals, with the season initially starting with mothers nursing their pups. 

California Sea Lions and threatened Guadalupe Fur Seals are also often seen and there will be nature walks ashore which provide opportunities for close looks at hundreds of these fascinating animals.   

This archipelago has been isolated from the mainland for tens of thousands of years and, as a result, has a number of endemic plants including San Benito Tarweed which grows profusely in many areas.  

We are likely to land on the largest island, Benito del Oeste, and investigate its unique ecosystem, and for those who wish, there will be a walk to the island’s lighthouse. 

The island is covered in seabird burrows with many of these being Cassin’s Auklets and both Scripp’s and Guadalupe Murrelets.  We are unlikely to see these species ashore, however, as they only transit between the sea and their burrows after dark (to avoid predators), although we may witness the danger of doing this, as some birds occasionally crash into the large cacti and becoming impaled on the thorns.  We will also hope to see the ‘San Benitos Sparrow” which is sometimes regarded as an endemic species rather than a subspecies of Savannah Sparrow. 

Searcher is one of the few vessels which has permits to undertake this fantastic voyage © Team Searcher  

There is likely to also be the option to explore the scenic coast using Searcher’s skiffs which is an opportunity to photograph the sea lions which can be extremely curious. 

We then plan to spend the afternoon at sea looking for cetaceans and seabirds with Blue Whale being one of the species we could see.  Indeed, on our 2019 voyage, we spent over an hour with one of these huge cetaceans.   

This area can also be good for Cassin’s Auklet with over one hundred individuals seen during the afternoon on one of our recent tours along with other possibilities such as Black-footed Albatross. 

Days 4-5: San Ignacio Lagoon 

We will arrive at San Ignacio Lagoon where we have two days to enjoy the “friendly” Grey Whales.  Searcher will be anchored in the lagoon and there will be the opportunity to make several trips in local ‘pangas’ (small boats with experienced local drivers) to see the whales. 

The females and calves will often come right up to us and nudge the side of the pangas and making eye contact with these 12m long cetaceans is an incredible and often very moving experience.  There may well be opportunities to even gently scratch the whales’ heads, as they will often float alongside the boats almost demanding us to interact with them. 

Day 6: Offshore from Magdalena Bay 

We plan to spend the day at sea offshore from Magdalena Bay.  This area is a prime location for cetaceans with chances for Blue, Fin, Bryde’s and Humpback Whales and a range of other cetaceans. 

On occasions, the ‘Blues’ which are the biggest animal that has ever lived on our planet, can be extremely close to the vessel resulting in some simple stunning views.  Indeed, a wide angle lens was needed in 2019 when a mother and calf swam right under the bow of the boat !! 

We can expect to see other marine species with large pods of Long-beaked Common Dolphins a definite possibility along with turtles such as Loggerhead. 

A variety of seabirds are also possible including Black Storm Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird and both Royal and Elegant Terns, with a Nazca Booby seen on one of our recent visits.  

Day 7: Entering the Sea of Cortez 

We will round the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, passing the small town of Cabo San Lucas and are likely to spend the afternoon exploring the Gorda Banks.   

Once again, there are some great opportunities for whale watching with this area often being especially good for Humpback Whales which gather here.  Our skilful skipper will aim to carefully approach them and we have previously enjoyed some exceptional views off the bow of our ship. 

Later in the day, we may make a landing where options could include snorkelling or going on a bird walk.  Fish which have been seen here previously include Angelfish, Rainbow Wrasse and Spotted Eagle Ray, whilst the birds could include Crested Caracara, Cactus Wren, Gila Woodpecker, California Gnatcatcher, Pyrrhuloxia and both Scott’s and Hooded Orioles. 

Days 8-11: Exploring the Sea of Cortez 

We have four days to explore the Sea of Cortez and the programme will deliberately be kept flexible to maximise on the overall experience.  There is likely to be a mix of watching marine wildlife from Searcher, going ashore for land-based exploration and birdwatching, and potentially further use of local pangas. 

In recent years, the number of Whale Sharks which gather in the region has increased markedly as these huge fish are now protected and there can sometimes be as many as one hundred individuals which migrate here to feed on the rich plankton soup.  If the ship’s team know that where these are present, there is likely to be an opportunity to swim with them which can be an extremely memorable experience.  (Please note there may be an additional charge payable locally for pangas). 

Previous trips have also enjoyed multiple encounters with Blue Whales and occasionally these have even been seen lunge feeding close to the boat.  Fin and Humpback Whale are also possible, and we are likely to see various dolphin species as well as rays. 

There will also chances to go ashore and enjoy the extraordinary landscapes, plants (including some huge cacti) and birds and to snorkel with tropical reef fish. 

Day 12: Disembark in Cabo San Lucas 

Our expedition will end after breakfast in Cabo San Lucas. 

THE SHIP

We have previously used Spirit of Adventure for our Baja and Sea of Cortez voyages, but this vessel is now no longer operating whale watching trips.  We are, therefore, now using Searcher which we chartered some years ago for our highly successful “Mexican Pelagic” voyage. The team on Searcher are highly experienced and have been operating whale watching trips in this region for many years and we believe this is a perfect replacement for Spirit of Adventure. 

Searcher is an 95-foot long, air-conditioned, U.S registered vessel.  Most of the cabins are twin (possible triple on request) cabins with almost all having upper and lower berths. Washbasin (filtered water) and bedside reading lights. Cabins are small (for sleeping and changing), with only limited storage space, however, for viewing wildlife, the boat is an ideal option.  

There are four toilets, two hot freshwater showers and a spacious salon for relaxing, socialising and eating.  The vessel has 3 metal-hulled skiffs.  All meals and beverages aboard Searcher include beer, wine or soft drinks. 

Sturdy Mexican pangas operated by local fishermen are used for close encounters with the Grey Whales in San Ignacio Lagoon, with the Searcher’s skiffs used at all other times.   

CABIN OPTIONS AND PRICES

Twin Cabin – £5,695 per person 

Deposit: £1,425 (twin cabin per person)

Cost includes

• Accommodation, meals and most beverages aboard Searcher from breakfast on day 2 through to breakfast on day 12  
• Panga rides in the San Ignacio Lagoon 
• Mexican tourist card, permits and fees 
• All shore excursions 
• Services of Searcher’s naturalist team 
• WildWings/Limosa checklist of birds and mammals and pre-tour information pack 

Cost excludes

Flights, visa fees, insurance, drinks, airport meals/snacks, any hotels or meals ashore before or after the cruise (ie in San Diego or Cabo San Lucas), transfers at beginning and end of the cruise (although it is only a 10 minute walk from our recommended hotel in San Diego to the wharf), crew gratuities, panga driver gratuities, fees and cost of pangas for swimming with Whale Sharks, laundry and other items of a personal nature.