Baja California & Sea of Cortez

The trip down the coast of Baja California visits many important whale habitats. We interacted with grey whales at the San Ignacio lagoon, watched multiple humpbacks breaching, tail slapping and spy hopping at the Gordo Bank, experienced many blue whales lunge feeding, not to mention super pods of dolphins, inquisitive sea lions and rare Guadalupe fur seals. Birders we’re not disappointed, for example we saw two species of albatross while eating breakfast! Our trip was postponed twice due to Covid, each time this was dealt with efficiently by Naturetrek. They answered all queries by email and telephone promptly. When a complex trip like this runs smoothly, it’s easy to forget that there is a large team of people working in the background making it happen.

S.J. Northamptonshire, Feb 23

We travelled from San Diego down the west coast of Baja California into the Sea of Cortez, visiting islands and seeing spectacular wildlife. We spent 2 days in Laguna San Ignacio where we were able to pet grey whales which came up to the boat. We were also able to swim with whale sharks in Bahia la Paz. This allowed me to achieve 2 life ambitions in one trip. There were many other fabulous sightings including 7 blue whales, sealions, seals, and a huge variety of birds. Although the cabins were tiny this did not detract too much from the trip as the crew was fantastic and the food fabulous. Our Naturetrek guide Tom and Searcher guide Rob had the most amazing knowledge between them of all the wildlife we saw.

A.M. Berkshire, Feb 22

A voyage down the Baja Peninsula a Marine Biosphere, and into the Sea of Cortez. We were able to have close encounters with Grey Whales, and have sightings of Blue Whales, and a variety of other marine life, during this adventure. There was also opportunities to learn about the bird life and natural history of the area. The Captain and entire crew were superb, with safety foremost at all times. Both guides were excellent with a wealth of knowledge on a variety of subjects. It was also great fun. Would do it again tomorrow! We had not previously travelled with Naturetrek, but we found them to be very professional, and our trip was well planned regarding itinerary and options available. They were very conscientious and changed our hotel to a different one, as they felt standards had slipped with the original planned accommodation. We were kept well informed of pre departure requirements, passenger locations forms, covid testing, and visas... and help was offered as necessary during the trip.

D.S. Berkshire, Feb 22

The Searcher's crew were great and contributed to the overall good humour and pleasant ambience on board ship. The food was also great and lots of it including drinks of course. My wife was absolutely blown away with swimming with Whale Sharks and Sea Lions. We met some lovely people. We had a fantastic tour leader. However, the last word has to go the memorable Whales, Manta Rays, Dolphins and all the other fabulous wildlife experiences we enjoyed. It truly was a brilliant holiday.

S.D. West Yorkshire, Mar 22

We were able to get the best out of the trip because of the knowledge and expertise of the Captain, crew, and both guides. The way we were instructed to get off the boat and into the pangas, and back again, made us feel safe, and we had complete confidence in them all. The close encounters with the Gray Whales were very special, and our first ever sighting of a Blue Whale, will remain with us always. Together with the flipper flapping of the Humpbacks, and all the lovely birds, we could not have wished for more. The camaraderie of the crew was a joy, and the meals they produced in the galley was quite amazing, including serving them on deck, when we had whale sightings at lunchtime!

D.S. Berkshire, Feb 22

The days were well organised, with a range of activities on most days (whale watching, trips to islands, snorkelling, evening lectures by Rob). The visit to the friendly grey whales of San Ignacio was fantastic, as was seeing 8 blue whales (including a cow and calf), a pod of 2000 common dolphins surrounding the Searcher, humpbacks flipper flapping and breaching and albatrosses following the boat. Tom was very friendly and approachable and an excellent birder. Very responsive to all and always on the lookout for wildlife. Pointed out things that might be missed and knew a great deal about the birds, butterflies and mammals we encountered. The Searcher's naturalist, Rob, was outstanding. Very friendly, with a dry, self deprecating sense of humour, he was a fount of knowledge about every aspect of the wildlife and geography of the area. Everyone loved him! I also have to commend the crew of the Searcher. The captain worked hard to ensure that we were all kept safe and that we always had the best possible views of whales. The cooks were always cheerful and produced the most fantastic meals, catering for vegetarians and vegans as well as the more traditional palates. The crew were so friendly, cheerful and helpful - it was lovely to see them as enthusiastic to see the whales as we were. I was a bit nervous about getting down into the skiffs, etc, but there were always plenty of hands to help and I was never given any cause to worry. All in all we had a fantastic time and I would recommend this trip to anyone.

S.B. Essex, Feb 22

The tour was excellent and exceeded our (already high) expectations. The ship's crew were great, very skilled and friendly, and the food delicious and plentiful. The Naturetrek tour leader, Peter, was organised but informal, and very knowledgeable. The local guide, Marc, was a real expert on cetaceans and very generous with his knowledge and time. While some aspects of the tour were affected by weather, the captain (with the tour leaders) made other arrangements, and the tour did not suffer in any way - we simply saw other, equally interesting, wildlife. We could not but be wowed by the extensive sightings of whales, including blue whales lunge feeding, and humpbacks breaching around the boat in all directions. Plus being surrounded by hundreds of dolphins at sunset was simply magical.

M.D. & N.M. London, Feb 20

Both guides Peter and Mark, and Louis the trainee shared their excellent knowledge and were always free to answer questions . Peter, in particular, went out of his way to help individuals, particularly on the return journey where he proved to be invaluable for a number of passengers. The chefs made a real effort to make my vegetarian meals tasty and interesting and would often discuss what my options were with me which was a nice, personal touch. All the crew were helpful and attentive, the guides had amazing knowledge and the whole holiday was a fantastic experience. We had some amazing wildlife experiences, thanks to the knowledge of the guides and the captain.

E.P. West Yorkshire, Feb 20

I would like to mention our excellent tour leaders: Peter Dunn (Naturetrek) and Marc Webber. Both were excellent, Peter with his knowledge on birds and Marc with his knowledge on aquatic animals and supervision of snorkelling. Both were kind and patient and gave interesting presentations of the days events each evening. The crew were equally excellent in both steering the ship or guiding the skiffs especially in rough weather. The chefs produced delicious meals and were prepared to pander to individual tastes! All in all, it was a great trip in good company.

M. & C. N. Warwickshire, Feb 20

Exceptional wildlife encounters on this trip. Top class menus and food on the ship, and the crew worked tirelessly in many different ways to make everything work smoothly and safely. An outstanding experience.

D.B. Ireland, Feb 20

The wildlife observation was spectacular. The Gray Whales in the lagoon, feeding Blue Whales and breaching Humpbacks with the large 'wall' of dolphins being the highlights. However, the birds and other wildlife were also wonderful but too many to mention. The guides and the staff were extremely professional and pleasant company and the food on board was excellent.

K.P. Lanarkshire, Feb 20

The best "Sea Mammal " trip in the world. Not sure what I enjoyed the most, I think the whole thing was great........and caters for all Natural History lovers. Great crew, great boat for the job, great food/ great passengers.

A.J. Cheshire, Feb 20

An exciting trip with outstanding wildlife viewing. Very good combination of guides who were both excellent and complemented each other.  

P&M. B. Greater Manchester, Feb 20

Whale watching in Baja, crew aboard The Searcher ensured we had our expectations met, saw Humpback Whales in abundance - we didn't know where to look, they were fin slapping, breaching and generally having 'fun'. Also saw Fin Whales, and Blue Whales. Had wonderful close encounters with Gray whales and their calves. Naturetrek from initial contact to booking the holiday were brilliant. I had problems re booking airline seat online - phoned them and within minutes had sorted things out. Their tour guide was excellent, always around, never intrusive but always there if needed.

L.W. Denbighshire, Feb 19

Boat - immaculately clean and kept that way throughout... friendly and helpful crew who went out of their way to make the holiday memorable... food beyond all expectations. How Dan produced such food in such quantities from such a small galley, borders on the miraculous... The lengths Mike and the crew went to find whales and the skill Mike used to get us close to them when found deserves the highest praise and thanks. Itinerary - brilliant. Whales - beyond our expectations. A privilege to be able to touch Grey Whales and swim with Sea Lions, to name but two of the highlights. Scott - excellent, extremely friendly and knowledgeable.

R.D. Cumbria

This was a fantastic trip, excellent views and photo opportunities. The Spirit of Adventure was a wonderful boat with a great crew and splendid food. The naturalist Scott Anderson was excellent.

C.G. Lancashire

The food was excellent - much appreciated. Crew were very good - helpful, good sense of humour etc. Local naturalist and guide, very good.

B.M. Norfolk

A fantastic experience which we thoroughly enjoyed. Hope to be back one day. Thank you to all the guides and crew for helping make this such a special holiday.

M.B. & A.K. Berkshire

Quite simply the best two weeks of my life so far!

R.H. Devon

Excellent trip all round. Both Tim and Scott were great tour leaders at all times imparting excellent commentary backed up with sound knowledge of the flora and fauna. The Captain and crew of the Spirit of Adventure were faultless in their care and our needs. Congratulations and many thanks to all. Well done.

T. & J.F. Rutland

This was a truly outstanding experience. We had it all! Exceptional viewings of 7 species of whale, generally calm seas, blue skies & sunshine, enthusiastic & knowledgeable guides, superb food, brilliant birdwatching, special experiences snorkelling, a friendly funny and helpful crew, good company and amenable group and don’t forget the dolphins...thank you!

R.A. Bristol

This trip was excellent value for money. We both had a holiday of a lifetime. The 'Searcher' team were brilliant. Art is a skilful Captain & wildlife watcher. His crew were all polite, helpful, knowledgeable, interesting and fun to be with. Lee, was knowledgeable & willing to help with camera & photography problems. It was very noticeable how he went out of his way to give everyone on the trip personal time & often helped with serving drinks and food to ensure the smooth running of mealtimes. We would definitely recommend this trip to our friends, and any trip that Lee was guiding.

T.Y. Hertfordshire

A wonderful trip, one of the best we've ever done. I don't see how it can be improved. The crew of Search couldn't be more helpful and cheerful, every one of them. The leaders knowledgeable, enthusiastic and hard-working. I would recommend this holiday to anyone.

D.W. Lancashire

The holiday delivered all it promised - touching Grey Whales, seeing Blue Whales, snorkelling with sea lions and so much more. Captain Art and his crew could not have done more. The food was very good; they were very helpful & knowledgeable and their organisation was superb. To be truthful, I have almost run out of superlatives regarding this holiday. Well Done Naturetrek!.

E.B. Lancashire

Just a note to say how much we all enjoyed our recent Baja California holiday aboard the Spirit of Adventure. It really was a tremendous trip with each day bringing fresh delights, from the humbling experience of the personal contact with the grey whales in San Ignacio to the sheer exhilaration of swimming with the sea lions at Los Islotes. We are left with so many wonderful memories (as well as innumerable photos and videos …) it would be almost impossible to pick one thing as the highlight of the trip. We can’t commend enough Tim and Scott. Apart from their excellent company, their contribution to the trip through their sheer enthusiasm for what they were doing and fantastic knowledge was invaluable. When you add in the crew of the good ship Spirit of Adventure, whose attentiveness and unfailing good humour really were the icing on the cake, it all added up to a tremendous holiday which we would have had no hesitation in recommending to others. Only one word of complaint, diet sheets should be issued at the end of the trip to help get rid of the excess pounds we put on due to Dan and Dean’s great cooking! Our thanks to everyone involved in making this trip possible.

I.B. Bedfordshire

Being on a boat, travelling around the Baja Peninsula looking at whales close up and personal is a tour that would be hard to beat. I've been many places and have had many grand experiences and there are many places left in the world to explore. That said, I may just have to fit this trip in again.

P.B. USA

In Baja California and the sea of Cortez we saw a huge variety of whales and other cetaceans and had the chance to stroke/pet grey whales and their calves in the San Ignacio Lagoon which was delightful and very moving, the chance to swim with a whale shark - beautiful and very exciting. Not just cetaceans but elephant seals, sea lions, turtles, rays, sea birds, a great variety of fish and on the desert walks, there were lots of birds and interesting cacti and other plants. It was an amazing experience and we still find it hard to believe all we saw!

K.M. London

On this trip, I was able to see all of my target whales and birds. The highlights included seeing a blue whale, our largest living animal, for the first time ever and at very close range. We also saw five other live whale species - fin, humpback, Byrde's, minke and grey - and one dead sperm whale. We watched several of these whales fluking, spy-hopping and breaching, and even kissed a number of grey whales! About 250 common dolphins gave us an amazing display one afternoon, breaching in twos and threes and fives before swimming alongside us for almost three-quarters of an hour. Some of us swam with a whale shark, the world's largest fish, on a beautifully tranquil morning in La Paz Bay; others gazed in awe at it from the safety of a skiff, as it fed with its enormous mouth wide open. Among the stunning birds we saw were a red-billed tropic bird, black-footed albatross, scores of black storm-petrels, one or two least storm-petrels, several nesting ospreys, immaculate egrets, lovely herons, many species of terns, gulls, orioles, flycatchers and woodpeckers, as well as the endemic Baja California grey thrasher. We visited several tiny, desert islands adorned with huge cacti and bursting with birdsong. We also witnessed some spectacular sunrises, moonrises and sunsets, and were completely enthralled one night when the captain switched off all the boat's lights for us to stargaze in near perfect conditions. A fantastic holiday!

B.W. North Yorkshire

If you want to see whales, this is definitely the trip for you. Soon after we boarded the boat in San Diego we began to see a few whales. But when we reached San Ignacio Lagoon we were able to get really close to dozens of grey whales and after that it never stopped! Pods of pilot whales, mother and calf Sperm whales, Humpbacks doing all sorts of acrobatics and the biggest Blue Whales you ever did see. Add to that elephant seals, bow-wave riding bottlenose dolphins and a mega-pod of a 1000-plus common dolphins and we were quite exhausted with all the marine activity. The whole trip from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas was so well-organised and carried out by Naturetrek and the crew of the Searcher that I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in cetaceans.

J.S. Norfolk

Sailed in the MV Searcher down the west coast of the Baja Peninsular. We encountered a variety of seabirds, northern elephant seals and ground-nesting ospreys en-route to Laguna San Ignacio. Here grey whales come to mate and give birth. In an extraordinary encounter some whale cows bring their calves right up to the small boats and both seem to like being touched by humans. Considering either could easily overturn the boat it is a singularly trusting meeting and very much on the whales' terms. Subsequent encounters with breaching humpbacks only a few yards from the ship, huge numbers of dolphins, enormous and beautiful blue whales, some of which show their tails when diving, and the opportunity to dive with sea lions and whale sharks, round off one of the most remarkable wildlife encounters anywhere in the world.

A.G. Leicestershire

This was a trip in the MV Searcher from San Diego down the Mexican coast (Baja California) and eventually around the bottom into the Sea of Cortez. The main focus was on whales but the naturalists on board and indeed the whole crew of the Searcher were alert to the whole of nature: we went ashore for walks on uninhabited islands with interesting flora and fabulous birdlife, we swam and snorkelled in wonderful places and while travelling on Searcher we spotted whales (5 different varieties up close!). The Searcher was well managed by an experienced and very engaged crew, the two naturalists accompanying us were outstanding and our fellow passengers were enthusiastic and committed. The food was excellent!

A.D. Cambridgeshire

The Naturetrek holiday was perfectly organised, used a well run and staffed boat and employed 2 exceptional naturalists. The Searcher, the boat, was comfortable, safe and staffed by an engaging staff for whom nothing was too much trouble. The chef managed to produce a wide variety of tasty food for every meal. Maintaining safety was an obvious concern for the staff and never once did we feel unsafe or uncared for. The naturalists were a source of endless information about everything that we encountered and made our holiday interesting from start to finish. The skill of the skipper meant that we saw all our hoped for animals many times and at close quarters. All in all an excellent holiday.

F.B. Buckinghamshire

The boat we used "The Searcher" was very comfortable albeit smallish cabins but as we were only using them to sleep in perfectly fitted the bill. The Captain and crew were exceedingly helpful to me as I have a slight disability with walking. The tour guide Duncan was very considerate and helpful when I needed his help and was again "nothing was too great to deal with". The trip and food were well organised and when we left the boat on Skiffs the Searcher crew were very considerate of our safety and well being. Luckily the weather was very good and on occasion there was a small swell. For the participants the Whale Shark experience was able to take place as the weather was good and everyone who snorkelled had excellent views of the sharks, albeit I nearly brained one by jumping in the water with it's head only about a foot beneath me.

A.J. Buckinghamshire

This was a whale watching trip on the Searcher, from San Diego down the Baja peninsula and into the Sea of Cortez. The crew were extremely skilled, very courteous and took great care to make sure we saw as much as possible. Whales every day, with extra dolphins, turtles, elephant seals, whale sharks and all kinds of bird life. It was amazing. We saw many kinds of cetaceans, including the rarely spotted Couvier's Beaked Whale and a sighting of three blues. We were treated to tail lobbing and flipper flapping displays from humpbacks and enticed by the baby greys in the San Ignacio lagoon into tickling them. Whales feel, it seems, like bristly wellie boots. I cannot recommend this enough - such care of us, our safety, the environment. Amazing.

H.G. Lincolnshire

Lee Morgan is a star. Always helpful, caring and very knowledgeable about all aspects of the wildlife we encountered. We enjoyed every minute of this holiday and can't think of anything that could be improved.

A.N. Surrey

Art Taylor and his team were first class. They all make for a wonderful experience. Lee Morgan and Rob Nawojchik are superb guides. I have been on several guided trips and this team is by far the best. Both were always available, working hard to search for wish-list species. This was always done at a pace that suited all and ensured that everyone had a memorable trip.

Mr & Mrs S. Leicestershire

Amazing trip of a lifetime. Whale experience awesome. Crew extremely attentive and professional. Catered for our every need. Will certainly recommend this excellent holiday to others.

T.B. Derbyshire

Based on reading your website and trip reports we had great expectations of this trip. I am pleased to say that these were easily exceeded. The tour arrangements, the guides, and the Spirit of Adventure and its crew were great, topped only by our experience of the whales, dolphins and other sea-life. It is hard to imagine how this experience could have been bettered.

Mr & Mrs H. South Humberside

The trip met the description set out in the brochure but exceeded our expectations - we had not anticipated the skill and dedication of the skipper and crew in spotting, tracking and following the whales to maximise our sightings and overall experience and enjoyment of the trip.

S.W. London

This was a wonderful trip from start to finish. The crew were knowledgeable, supportive, friendly, efficient, cheerful and funny. Wonderful encounters with grey whales, amazing sightings of sea creatures and other whales. A lovely atmosphere on the trip.

L.M. Kincardineshire

The holiday was an amazing experience - we saw 9 species of whales and dolphins, 4 pinnipeds and nearly 100 species of bird we had not seen before - and we loved the peace and quiet of the islands we visited. Our guides Lee and Rob were knowledgeable and enthusiastic and added hugely to the experience.

F.J. & J.M. London

Best holiday ever! Never dreamt we would get so close to the whales or see so many species of cetaceans, birds and other animals. The food was some of the best we have had in North America, and the crew were awesome without exception.

B.H. & E.H. Wiltshire

I enjoyed everything on this trip. The variety of prolific wildlife was amazing, not to mention getting so close to all these amazing creatures. The trip leaders and the crew were exceptional. It was such a great trip with a great group of fellow travellers. I keep having to pinch myself as I can't believe I had all the experiences I did - it is like a dream. So much of the trip was magical. We were very blessed to have seen what we did. It was like taking part in our own wildlife programme. I can't single out one experience over another as they were all very special in their own way. When I first read the details of this holiday I thought it sounded too good to be true - I can now say it was even better than the brochure indicated. Definitely a very, very special trip and worth every penny.

L.B. Berkshire

Highlights included: Seeing a blue whale, the largest living animal on our planet, for the very first time and at such close range. Seeing six other whale species as well, including one dead sperm whale. Enjoying an incredible display by 250 or more dolphins one afternoon. Gazing in wonder at a whale shark coming within arm's length of our skiff with its enormous mouth wide open as it fed. Having glorious sightings of a black-footed albatross, a red-billed tropic bird, scores of storm petrels and terns, as well as nesting ospreys, egrets and herons, orioles and frigatebirds. Neither will I forget the spectacular sunrises and sunsets, nor the Milky Way that night when all the boat's lights were switched off. Magic!

I.B. Gwynedd