Wilderness-Travel-2017-Catalog

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FOR A DETAILED ITINERARY: 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL 119
Set between the brilliant turquoise waters
of the Pacific Ocean and the exquisite Sea
of Cortez, Baja is a remote realm and the
perfect place for our odyssey. With a classic
86-foot wooden ship as our base, we’ll sea
kayak alongside white-sand beaches, snorkel
with playful sea lions, and track whales in
the “Blue Triangle.” Two of our itineraries
visit ancient cave paintings and track massive
whale sharks, while two others bring you
to the lagoons of the Pacific coast where
we can come within an arm’s length of gray
whales who migrate here every year—an
unforgettable experience!
Days 1-3 11-day La Paz to Loreto Bahia Magdalena
itinerary La Paz / Bahia Magdalena From La
Paz, we head to Bahia Magdalena, a remote
lagoon for birthing and breeding gray whales.
From our beachside hotel, we set out by panga
(skiff) for remarkable up-close encounters with
these gentle giants.
Days 4-5 Isla Espiritu Santo / Sea of Cortez
We embark on our historic wooden motor
yacht in La Paz and navigate to enchanting
Isla Espiritu Santo, with its white-sand beaches,
keeping an eye out for pods of dolphins.
Sea kayak past mangroves brimming with blue
herons, and snorkel with playful sea lions
near the tiny uninhabited islands that dot the
Sea of Cortez.
Days 6-11 Sea of Cortez / Blue Triangle
Exploring along meandering shorelines, we’ll
visit unique island and peninsula sites on land
and in the water. Our intrepid vessel brings us
to the “Blue Triangle,” where we’ll watch for
breaching blue, sperm, and humpback whales
feeding on plankton. We’ll also hike along
the same beaches described by author John
Steinbeck during his travels with legendary
marine biologist Ed Ricketts in 1940. Depart
from Loreto on Day 11.
The Sea of Cortez, called “nature’s aquarium” by Jacques Cousteau, offers phenomenal adventure, and our classic wooden boat is the best way to
explore its wonders. PHOTO: WENDY SHATTIL
MICHAEL S. NOLAN
HIGHLIGHTS
• Active adventures from aboard our classic
wooden boat, with gorgeous sunsets,
delicious sea-to-table cuisine, and the
magic of the starlit desert sky at night
• Sea kayak amid mangrove lagoons and
remote bays, and the beaches of Isla
Espiritu Santo
• Snorkel with sea lions, watch pods of
dolphins, observe nesting frigatebirds,
and hike island trails
• Special departures to the gray whale
breeding and birthing lagoons, with
up-close whale encounters!
DETAILS
• 9-, 11- or 12-day trip begins in La Paz and
ends in Loreto (or reverse, depending on
itinerary)
• 6 nights aboard a historic 86-foot boat
2 nights hotels, 1 night camping
(depending on itinerary)
• All meals included
DATES
Nov 19-27, 2016*Whale Shark Swim
Nov 27-Dec 8, 2016** Cave Paintings
Dec 10-18, 2016* Whale Shark Swim
Dec 18-29, 2016** Cave Paintings
Dec 29, 2016-Jan 6, 2017* Whale Shark Swim
Jan 27-Feb 7, 2017** Gray Whale Watching
Feb 7-17, 2017* Gray Whale Watching
Mar 10-21, 2017** Gray Whale Watching
Mar 21-31, 2017* Gray Whale Watching
Nov 24-Dec 2* Whale Shark Swim
Dec 2-13** Cave Paintings
Dec 13-20* Whale Shark Swim
*La Paz to Loreto
**Loreto to La Paz
TRIP COST
From $5250, depending on itinerary
TRIP LEVEL 1+ 2 3 4 5 6 7
Hiking, swimming, snorkeling, sea kayaking,
and whale watching excursions by skiff