Baja California
With its pristine coastlines and vivid sea life, Baja California offers spectacular untamed wilderness. Sail aboard the nimble National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet into the biodiverse waters of the Gulf of California, home to more than a third of the world’s marine life. Led by local experts, naturalists and photographers, you’ll have thrilling opportunities for up-close encounters with gray whales and their curious calves on panga excursions in Magdalena Bay. Spend days discovering vibrant marine life as you snorkel among playful sea lions off the island of Los Islotes or watch a pod of dolphins zip by your Zodiac. Then head ashore to hike amid shifting sand dunes and fascinating flora, from lush mesquite trees to monumental cardón cacti. Discover this awe-inspiring region—blissfully remote yet close to home.
“I can't recommend it enough…an unforgettable experience that I'd book again in a heartbeat.”
Why National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions?
Baja California Expeditions
Baja California Expedition Ships
National Geographic Venture
GUESTS 100
CABINS 50
DECKS 4
American-flagged, she is ideal for discovering domestic waters. Her design innovations were informed by 50+ years of expedition expertise to ensure extraordinary discoveries.
National Geographic Sea Bird
GUESTS 62
CABINS 31
DECKS 3
National Geographic Sea Bird accommodates just 62 guests in 31 outside cabins. With a shallow draft and small size, she can easily reach places inaccessible to larger ships.
National Geographic Sea Lion
GUESTS 62
CABINS 31
DECKS 3
National Geographic Sea Lion accommodates just 62 guests in 31 outside cabins. With a shallow draft and small size, she can easily reach places inaccessible to larger ships.
Expedition Team in Baja California
Every member of the expedition team—from your naturalists and photographers to your expedition leaders—is committed to ensuring you have an unforgettable experience. Most have worked in the region for years, and many live locally and conduct research here. They possess a wealth of firsthand knowledge and a deep passion for the wonders in their backyards. Exploring in small groups, you’ll hear different perspectives each day of your voyage, and because there are no assigned groups you can gravitate toward the experts who share your interests and inspire your curiosity.
Your knowledgeable and passionate expedition team is complemented by your dedicated hotel team who strives to ensure that your time on board is as comfortable and rewarding as your time on shore.
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
San Ignacio Lagoon
Guests whale watching as a California gray whale surfaces close to their boat in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
San Esteban Island
A guest photographs in sunrise light on San Esteban Island, with the ship National Geographic Sea Lion anchored in the Gulf of California, Mexico.
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
Los Islotes, Gulf of California
Curious young California sea lion with snorkelers underwater at Los Islotes, Gulf of California, Mexico.
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
Gulf of California
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
Puerto Los Gatos
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
Punta Lengua
Kayaking among mangroves in Punta Lengua, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
San Evaristo
Guests stand-up paddleboarding in San Evaristo from the ship National Geographic Venture, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
San Ignacio Lagoon
A gray whale calf breaching in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
Baja California Sur
A young guest collects plankton as part of the National Geographic Explorers-in-Training program, Gulf of California.
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
Isla San José
Guests exploring by Zodiac in Punta Colorada, Isla San José, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
Baja California
Guests enjoy an up-close encounter with a dolphin while exploring via Zodiac, Baja California, Mexico.
Photo Gallery: Highlights from Baja California
Baja California
Gray whale spy-hopping in calving lagoons along the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico.
"I took my teens on a whale-watching cruise. They spent less time on their phones and left with a newfound appreciation for the planet."
When she took her teens on our Baja California: Among the Great Whales expedition in January 2024, Business Insider correspondent Terri Peters found that seeing the world through their eyes was an enlightening experience.
Read More
Latest Video
Expedition Spotlight - The Gray Whales of Baja California
- Oct 2023
Gray whales have the longest migration of any mammal, traveling 6,000 miles to and from Baja California where you can encounter them in their birthing lagoons on the outer coast. In these protected waters, mother whales fortify their young and prepare them for the lengthy journey back to the Arctic. In this episode of Expedition Spotlight, naturalist Marylou Blakeslee shares more about these special cetaceans and the unique privilege of spending time in their realm.
