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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
6 DAYS
COMFORT
LANGUAGE
RATING
  •  Witness the grand finale of the gray whales’ migration of nearly 6,000 miles from Alaska to Baja with the expert interpretation of our Expedition Leader
  •  Come within arm’s reach of friendly mothers with calves on skiff journeys into San Ignacio Lagoon
  •  Explore the cactus-studded desert wilderness from our exclusive “whale cabanas,” isolated accommodations right on the beach
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Whale Watching
Other: Hiking, Bird Watching
$2995USD
Prices vary by date. Make sure to pick your departure date.
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8 SPOTS AVAILABLE
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ONGOING PROMOTIONS
"Get 5% off when you book with AdventureLink before May 31st, 2012!"
SAVE 5%
Applies to Departures Between:
4/25/2012 and 1/1/2013
Promotion lasts :
From 4/25/2012 To 6/1/2012
TRIP MAP
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The Extraordinary Whales of Baja

The Pacific gray whale migration from Alaska’s Bering Sea to the warm waters of Baja’s lagoons is the longest mammal migration on earth. Nearly hunted to extinction in the past, these gentle leviathans have made a dramatic comeback and today show little fear of humans.
The Pacific gray whale migration from Alaska’s Bering Sea to the warm waters of Baja’s lagoons is the longest mammal migration on earth. Nearly hunted to extinction in the past, these gentle leviathans have made a dramatic comeback and today show little fear of humans. Every spring, hundreds of them return to traditional birthing and breeding grounds at sheltered San Ignacio Lagoon on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Friendly and engaging, they are often intrigued with humans, swimming right up to our boats, and our small groups can frequently approach close enough to touch them during our encounters at sea.

This trip offers the closest of whale encounters and is a must for lovers of marine wildlife. Please be aware when registering for this trip that flights to and from Loreto are often very limited. We strongly advise that travelers sign up for this trip as early as possible to avoid problems with availability and expensive fares. Additionally, airlines tend to alter flight schedules often, so please be aware that we may need to address a schedule change after flights have been booked.

Day 1: Loreto, Mexico
Arrive in Loreto and transfer to our hotel. At one time the capital of California under Mexico’s rule, Loreto was founded in 1697 and is the region’s oldest permanent settlement. On the Sea of Cortez, Loreto boasts fine beaches, reef snorkeling, and excellent hiking in the nearby Sierra de la Giganta Mountains. This evening we gather for dinner and an orientation to the magnificent gray whales of Baja.
Lodging Posada de las Flores
Description The Posada de las Flores is a colonial Mexican style hotel located in the heart of Loreto next to the town’s main square. Each room is tastefully decorated with hand painted murals, ceramics and antiques. The hotel features a rooftop garden area with views of the Sea of Cortez, an excellent restaurant and a glass-bottomed pool.
Day 2: Loreto / San Ignacio Lagoon
We drive across the desert to the Pacific Ocean today, arriving by late afternoon or early evening. Our “whale cabana” accommodations at the edge of San Ignacio Lagoon are a special feature of our trip. Secluded on a quiet stretch of beach, the cabanas are well-built thatched structures, rustic but inviting, each with two beds and a window overlooking the placid bay. Showers and toilets are shared. While basic, these are the best remote lodgings available, with the opportunity to experience the wilderness of the Vizcaino Desert, a UN Biosphere Reserve, in genuine comfort.
Lodging The Whale Cabanas
Description Our accommodations in Baja add to the thrill of our journey. Our ten small and simple, raised, thatched cabanas are set overlooking the lagoon, providing a true desert and beach experience. Each has two beds/cots, a window and shelving for clothes. They are clean and comfortable but not fancy. We consider them a step or two above camping. The bathroom and shower facilities are shared and constructed with the environment in mind. We use solar-heated water and a system of buckets that provide a unique and effective bathing experience.
Days 3-4: Whale Watching
Whales have been revered as mystical creatures by many cultures, and an intimate encounter with them is a dream realized for wildlife lovers. We watch them from skiffs – small motorized boats – that allow us to closely observe their fascinating range of behaviors. We may see them breach, spy-hop or come close to present their backs for a scratch. In general, we spend two hours whale watching per excursion and take two excursions per day (due to conservation regulations, these numbers may vary, depending on the total number of boats on the water at a given time), with a total of six whale-watching excursions during our stay. Our skiff drivers are experts at positioning the boats to maximize our encounters with the whales without disturbing them. Numerous whales enter this particular lagoon, and our small boat allows us to get incredibly close. Naturally, we are very sensitive to the animals’ demeanor before approaching them. We may see males competing for females, young adults playing, and mothers protecting and teaching their calves, perhaps the most endearing of all our encounters. Babies are 14 to 16 feet at birth about them, they often come within arm’s length of our boats. Our Expedition Leader and expert local guides provide interpretation about their remarkable journey and habits. Other activities available while we’re on shore include bird watching and hikes led by naturalists, where we may find fossils, bones and shells. If weather and tides cooperate, we may explore the local mangrove estuaries.
Lodging The Whale Cabanas
Description Our accommodations in Baja add to the thrill of our journey. Our ten small and simple, raised, thatched cabanas are set overlooking the lagoon, providing a true desert and beach experience. Each has two beds/cots, a window and shelving for clothes. They are clean and comfortable but not fancy. We consider them a step or two above camping. The bathroom and shower facilities are shared and constructed with the environment in mind. We use solar-heated water and a system of buckets that provide a unique and effective bathing experience.
Day 5: Whale Watching / San Ignacio to Loreto
After a final chance to visit the whales, we depart San Ignacio by road, returning to Loreto in time for dinner and our final evening together.
Lodging Posada de las Flores
Description The Posada de las Flores is a colonial Mexican style hotel located in the heart of Loreto next to the town’s main square. Each room is tastefully decorated with hand painted murals, ceramics and antiques. The hotel features a rooftop garden area with views of the Sea of Cortez, an excellent restaurant and a glass-bottomed pool.
Day 6: Loreto / Home
Transfer to the airport for flights home or transfer to Conchalito Island for the Sea Turtle Voluntourism Extension. You may also wish to spend an extra day in Loreto to explore this historic town and beautiful, little-developed region.
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M. Lyons
“The whale watching was absolutely the best! We had a fantastic group and fantastic whale experiences. The trip was amazing, a real highlight of my travel experiences.”
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M. McCann
"Your staff and the whales themselves made this trip far exceed our expectations. Our whale encounters were emotionally overwhelming and your guiding staff really went far out of their way to make sure our experience was the best possible."
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B. Gonzalez
"The Natural Habitat staff was wonderful (as expected). The staff at the Kuyima camp was absolutely wonderful -- welcoming, cheerful, helpful and friendly. The camp and facilities were meticulous. The guides knowledge and love of wildlife makes it so enjoyable to be with them. I was amazed at the cleanliness, comfort and delicious meals provided in such a remote setting."
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S. Dierks
"Our family has just returned from the Baja whale watch trip. We all agreed that this was a true adventure, and a most amazing trip. The staff, both from Natural Habitat and from San Ignacio were warm, well-educated in their areas and genuinely professional in the sharing of their skills. Our guides were great companions who seemed to enjoy all the spouting and flukes and "friendlies" as much as we first-timers did. And the whales! You already know that they provide, of their own accord, a most amazing encounter."
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R. Perez
"It was truly life changing for me. I view things in a different light now. It was an unbelievable trip. Everyone did a fantastic job, all the way from the camp staff to Natural Habitat staff. Your office staff did an amazing job, especially in providing excellent customer service. I had a lot of concerns before the departure, but the office staff was always on top of it. Great job!"
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S. Townsend
"Natural Habitat is a great company and I am very excited to travel with you again soon. I have done a lot of wildlife viewing in my life and I think that this was the best wildlife viewing I have ever come across. I mean, the whales came right up to the boat. It doesn't get much better than that."
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E. Ross
"This trip was wonderful -- I especially loved learning, and watching my son learn, from a well-trained field biologist. All the staff was top-notch and having a knowledgeable and personable guide was essential."
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N. Yankoffski
“I would repeat this trip whenever I can – everything worked well – but the highlight, of course, were the whales. I’m a whale enthusiast and being able to scratch a gray whale and look directly in their eye was indescribable – my level of joy was beyond what I had known before!”
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P. Graham
“Our trip to Baja was a wonderful experience. While we were there our weather was perfect. I can’t say enough about our Expedition Leader. Gracious, knowledgeable, helpful, and organized are a few of the adjectives I can think of. Natural Habitat is one of the best. You were so helpful when I decided to change my plans on the tour I wanted to take. Local guides and boat drivers were outstanding. I compliment the country of Mexico for doing the right thing on the Whale Preserve and still keeping the local fishermen in mind as well as the ecology of whales. Thank you for all you do to please your guests.”
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B. Kotek
“It was such a great inspiration to see the balance of community and environment at work – successfully with the plan for continuation and improvement of environmental education and conservation. That thrills me!”
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TRIP INCLUDES
  •  Accommodations, meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 6
  •  services of NHA Expedition Leader and local guides
  •  airport transfers on Day 1 and final day
  •  entrance fees
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  •  Travel to and from start and end point of trip
  •  alcoholic beverages
  •  most gratuities
  •  items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry, etc.)
  •  airport and departure taxes
  •  optional travel insurance
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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