2019 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

MICHAEL NOAH KONRAD WOTHE

PIETRO CANALI

Explore by historic wooden vessel, with exciting days to snorkel, walk trails, sea kayak, and discover Baja’s natural bounty. HEEB CHRISTIAN

Baja: Exploring the Sea of Cortez WHALES, SNORKELING, AND SEA KAYAKING

With brilliant turquoise seas, an abundance of marine life, and remote desert islands, Baja is simply spectacular. On this special adventure, you’ll experience it by land and by sea aboard a historic 86-foot

coastal lagoon where gray whales spend the winter courting, birthing, and rearing their young in Baja’s warm waters. From your beachside hotel, set out by panga (skiff) to look for these gentle giants. The whales often approach the pangas and seek interaction—it’s an incredible thrill to experience them at such close range. Days 4-5 Isla Espiritu Santo / Sea of Cortez Boarding your historic wooden yacht, head out into the azure waters and navigate to enchanting Isla Espiritu Santo, an idyllic island of deserted white-sand beaches and secluded coves. Keeping an eye out for pods of dolphins, you’ll glide by sea kayak amid the mangroves and snorkel with playful sea lions near the uninhabited islands that dot these pristine waters. In the evenings, dine on fantastic sea-to-table cuisine and gaze upon star-filled skies. Days 6-11 Sea of Cortez / Blue Triangle Cruising north, your days are filled with snorkeling above rock reefs teeming with fish, watching schools of mobula rays or dolphins leaping above the water’s surface, walking the ridge lines and palm-lined arroyos of the desert landscape of isolated islands, or paddling kayaks in quiet coves, an ideal way to view wildlife. In the “Blue Triangle,” watch for breaching blue, sperm, and humpback whales. Depart from Loreto on Day 11.

HIGHLIGHTS • Enjoy gourmet sea-to-table cuisine on board, learn about Baja’s ecosystem from your naturalist guides • Sea kayak amid lagoons and remote bays, enjoy the beaches of Isla Espiritu Santo • Snorkel with sea lions, watch pods of dolphins, walk island trails • Two departures visit Baja’s famous gray whale lagoons for up-close 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, 3 nights hotels, 1 night camping (depending on itinerary) • All meals included

“gentleman’s expedition vessel” designed to get you up close to its wonders. Sea kayak along white-sand beaches, snorkel with playful sea lions, and track whales in the “Blue Triangle,” home to wintering blue whales and other cetaceans. One departure will have you swimming with massive whale sharks, the largest fish in the sea; the other two explore

“The magical trip of a lifetime. We sailed on incredible blue-green water, hiked amid huge cactus, and actually touched whales. I will never be the same.” Nina H. Kensington CA

DATES Dec 18-27, 2018* Jan 10-18, 2019*

Feb 19-Mar 1

Mar 12-22

Jan 18-29** Jan 29-Feb 8

Mar 22-Apr 2**

Apr 2-12

Feb 8-19** * 9-day Whale Shark Swim itinerary * * 12-day Gray Whale itinerary TRIP COST FALL 2018 / SPRING 2019 From $5250, depending on itinerary TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nature walks, swimming, snorkeling, sea kayaking, whale watching excursions by panga

the Sea of Cortez and bring you to the great whale-watching lagoons of the Pacific Coast for eye-to-eye encounters with the gray whales who migrate here each year. (11-day La Paz to Loreto Gray Whale itinerary) Days 1-3 La Paz / Bahia Magdalena From La Paz, head to Bahia Magdalena, the protected

QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL LATINAMERICA@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 116