Channel Islands National Park to Baja California

Arrive in Los Angeles by early afternoon. Transfer to the port to embark the National Geographic Venture.

Arrival Time: Arrive before 3:00 p.m. local time.
Arrival City: Los Angeles, California

Home of the famous Hollywood sign and Walk of Fame, Los Angeles is the place to visit for anyone interested in film and television and hoping to get a glimpse at some famous actors and artists. Stroll down the Walk and enjoy the glamorous atmosphere and famous surroundings, or take a break on the Santa Monica pier and watch the sun set on the sea.

Not far from the city lights, these islands are a world away, home to incredibly diverse and endemic flora and fauna. Spend the day kayaking, hiking one of the many trails or simply relaxing ashore. Learn the fascinating prehistory of these islands from your naturalists.

Vineyards and culinary marvels await in one of the world’s hottest up-and-coming wine regions. Arise to a gorgeous sunset and enjoy breakfast before pulling into Ensenada. Discover what the hype is all about on a visit to a sustainable, family-run vineyard with stunning views. Meet the winemaker and owner on a behind-the-scenes tour and tasting. Enjoy a four-course paired meal and a very special music performance.

The Mediterranean-style microclimate of Ensenada, located on the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula, is perfect for the cultivation of grapes, earning the city renown as the capital of Mexican wine. Home to the country’s oldest winery, more than 150 establishments dot the surrounding valleys; collectively, they produce 90% of Mexico’s wines. Though wine has been bottled here for centuries, it has only been in the past couple of decades that the world has developed a taste for this region’s award-winning varieties, with millions of cases being exported annually.

Valle de Guadalupe is Mexico’s premier wine region, located just 90 minutes south of the California border in Baja California. Known as the "Napa of Mexico," it produces the vast majority of Mexican wine and is famous for its farm-to-table Baja Med cuisine, luxury eco-lodges, and more than 100 boutique wineries.

Wake up to a view of the double-coned peak of Isla San Martín, a mile-wide volcanic island flanked by a giant kelp forest. Explore the lush kelp forest by kayaks, paddleboards or Zodiac and observe the antics of abundant harbor seals. Adventurous hikers can explore the volcanic rock to reach the summits of both volcanos 470 feet above the surf. Or opt to walk along the seashore, strewn with bulbous tubes of the rare Pelagophycus elk kelp. As a nightcap this evening, enjoy video of the kelp forests captured by your undersea specialist.

Continue on your southern journey with a stop at the secluded Isla San Benito Oeste, home to thousands of breeding elephant seals. Zodiac to shore at the base of a small fishing village. Opt for a long hike to the peak of the island or explore the village and observe the elephant seal haul out, including many moms and pups. All four of Mexico’s pinniped species can be found in this area, and we’ll seek them out on Zodiacs. Scan the skies for a variety of bird species including blue herons, black turnstones and two species of cormorants. Enjoy a well-timed day to relax on board with stretch classes, talks and whale-watching as you make your way south to Magdalena Bay.

Enjoy a well-timed day to relax on board with stretch classes, talks and whale-watching as you make your way south to Magdalena Bay.

Isla Magdalena and the bay of the same name are irresistible treats for the nature lover. Come to know this island while hiking the ever-shifting, wind-sculpted dunes on a cross-island transit to Sand Dollar Beach. Watch for coyote tracks in the soft dunes and spot migratory shorebirds. Many—including western sandpipers, whimbrels, willets, Wilson’s and black-bellied plovers, and marbled godwits—are concluding their southbound journeys here. Observe astounding flora, like the endemic and sideways-growing creeping devil, a columnar cactus thick with spines packed together to protect against herbivores and the relentless sun. This evening, as you exit the bay, be on the lookout for beaked dolphins and bald eagles.

Magdalena Bay (Bahía Magdalena) is a 31-mile-long protected lagoon system on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It is world-renowned as a primary nursery and breeding ground for gray whales, which migrate thousands of miles from the Arctic every winter to its warm, sheltered waters.

Beyond whale watching, the bay is a biodiverse "hidden oasis" featuring massive mangrove forests, expansive sand dunes, and world-class offshore fishing.

Cruise past Friars Rocks and visit the historic town center of San José del Cabo before cruising Gordo Banks seamount or La Fortuna, renowned gathering places for whales, dolphins, and other marine life.

San José del Cabo is a coastal city located on the Gulf of California coast, near the southern tip of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. San José del Cabo is situated on the edge of a shallow bay, some 32 kilometres (20 mi) northeast of Cabo San Lucas, a city with which it shares the title of Los Cabos. San José del Cabo is the seat of the Los Cabos Municipality. The city had a population of 136,285 at the 2020 census. The two cities are served by Los Cabos International Airport.

Cruise past Friars Rocks and visit the historic town center of San José del Cabo before cruising Gordo Banks seamount or La Fortuna, renowned gathering places for whales, dolphins, and other marine life.

Venture south to discover the gems of the southern Gulf. These islands and surrounding waters are celebrated for their conservation stories, marine life, and the many thrilling experiences on offer. Some of the locations we may visit or enjoy by Zodiac include:

Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park 
Set out to snorkel the pristine reefs of Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, one of the most successful national marine parks in the world. Chat with locals about their advocacy to protect this unique place, including a cessation of fishing to protect the reef.

Isla Espíritu Santo 
A national park as well as UNESCO World Heritage site with volcanic rock formations, scenic beaches, and coral reefs. This magical island offers excellent hiking opportunities and crystal-clear waters for snorkeling. It’s a popular destination for researchers monitoring sea turtles.

Los Islotes 
Located at the northern tip of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Los Islotes is largely inaccessible to people and home to a large colony of sea lions. Conditions permitting, we'll anchor off the rocky island where we don flippers, a mask, and snorkel (which we provide) and swim with these curious inhabitants.

Isla San José   
One of the larger islands in the Gulf of California, San José offers several landing possibilities depending on conditions and the whim of the moment. Photograph the ochre cliffs of the island’s eastern shore, hike an enchanted, cactus-laden arroyo, or visit the abandoned salt works to the west. Discover rare wildlife among desert islands.

Cabo Pulmo National Park is a 27-square-mile marine sanctuary on the southeastern coast of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula, famously nicknamed "The Aquarium of the World". Established in 1995, it protects the northernmost coral reef in the eastern Pacific—an ecosystem estimated to be 20,000 years old. Since its protection, the park has become a global model for conservation, seeing a staggering 460% increase in fish biomass.

Venture south to discover the gems of the southern Gulf. These islands and surrounding waters are celebrated for their conservation stories, marine life, and the many thrilling experiences on offer. Some of the locations we may visit or enjoy by Zodiac include:

Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park 
Set out to snorkel the pristine reefs of Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, one of the most successful national marine parks in the world. Chat with locals about their advocacy to protect this unique place, including a cessation of fishing to protect the reef.

Isla Espíritu Santo 
A national park as well as UNESCO World Heritage site with volcanic rock formations, scenic beaches, and coral reefs. This magical island offers excellent hiking opportunities and crystal-clear waters for snorkeling. It’s a popular destination for researchers monitoring sea turtles.

Los Islotes 
Located at the northern tip of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Los Islotes is largely inaccessible to people and home to a large colony of sea lions. Conditions permitting, we'll anchor off the rocky island where we don flippers, a mask, and snorkel (which we provide) and swim with these curious inhabitants.

Isla San José   
One of the larger islands in the Gulf of California, San José offers several landing possibilities depending on conditions and the whim of the moment. Photograph the ochre cliffs of the island’s eastern shore, hike an enchanted, cactus-laden arroyo, or visit the abandoned salt works to the west. Discover rare wildlife among desert islands.

The capital of the state of Baja California Sur, this city is situated on the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California). It is celebrated for its biodiversity and relaxed coastal atmosphere compared to the nearby resort hub of Cabo San Lucas.

Writer and longtime Lindblad naturalist Stewart Aitchison refers to this sliver of the Pacific Ocean as the Vermillion Sea, and notes it is “a romantic name that conjures up visions of fiery sunsets, leaping dolphins and deserted beaches.” It is all this and so much more. Your route is designed with flexibility in mind to maximize opportunities for wildlife sightings. It most likely includes the islands and activities listed below, although the order may vary.

Isla San Esteban and San Pedro Mártir: Walk up a desert wash to search for desert songbirds such as the handsome black-throated sparrow, listen for the cascading song of the canyon wren and search for the endemic pinto chuckwalla—a plump, harmless desert lizard. Later, visit Isla San Pedro Mártir, a 1,000-foot-high guano-covered island that is home to thousands of seabirds: brown pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds, Brandt’s cormorants and blue-footed boobies.

Isla San Marcos: At Isla San Marcos there is a beautiful shoreline for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. In the afternoon you'll again be in rich waters near the mouth of Bahía Concepción. Be on the lookout for pods of dolphins—common and bottlenose dolphins are the most frequently encountered species. With luck these beautiful animals may follow the ship, riding the bow wave—sometimes twisting and turning, and sometimes leaping from the water.

Isla San José: One of the larger islands in the Gulf of California, San José offers several landing possibilities depending on conditions and the whim of the moment. Photograph the ochre cliffs of the island’s eastern shore, hike an enchanted, cactus-laden arroyo or visit the abandoned salt works to the west. Search for the endemic Xantus's hummingbird on this desert island.

Bahía Loreto Marine Park: Search for marine life in the waters south of Isla Carmen, an area offering the possibility of encountering fin whales, which researchers have recently concluded may be part of a resident population. Bottlenose and common dolphins are frequently encountered. In the afternoon, visit one of the islands of Bahía Loreto Marine Park, with ample time for kayaking, snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding and possibly hiking. In the evening, enjoy a beach barbecue under the desert sky.

Espíritu Santo Archipelago National Park / Los Islotes: At Los Islotes, don flippers, a mask and snorkel (which are provided) and swim with curious sea lions. Look skyward for yellow-footed gulls, brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies. In the afternoon, explore more of this stunning national park by swimming, kayaking or hiking. Keep an eye out for the endemic Black jackrabbit, and learn about the importance of mangrove habitats.

After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the Loreto International Airport for flights home.

Departure Time: Depart after 1:00 p.m. local time.  
Departure City: Loreto, Mexico

Loreto is a tranquil coastal town on the eastern shore of Mexico's Baja California Sur, nestled between the rugged Sierra de la Giganta mountains and the crystal-clear Sea of Cortez. Often called "the way Mexico used to be," this designated Pueblo Mágico (Magic Town) is celebrated for its laid-back atmosphere, authentic culture, and world-class marine life. Unlike busier resort hubs, Loreto maintains a quiet, walkable downtown with no major international chains, focusing instead on its colonial heritage and rich biodiversity.