Wild Baja California Escape: The Whales of Magdalena Bay

Magdalena Bay, one of three lagoons on Baja California’s Pacific coast, is home to more than 20,000 California gray whales each winter. This extraordinary inland water system is the place to be to view this remarkable gathering. Mid-January until early April is the season for the whales, and our voyage there aboard the National Geographic Sea Bird occurs at peak time for possible encounters with gray whale mothers and their curious calves. On this compact trip, we will explore the bay aboard our nimble expedition ship, and set out in local pangas for up-close encounters. 

Kayak mangrove forests and hike desert islands, look for pelicans and ospreys, and soak up the sun on pristine beaches. Paddle along peaceful coastlines in one of the twelve double or eight single kayaks for a water-level look at stunning scenery. Get up and out on the fleet of stand-up paddleboards for a personal adventure. Cover more ground by roaming the seemingly endless beaches on one of the fat-tire bikes.

• Board the 64-passenger Sea Bird.
• Search for gray whale mothers and their calves aboard local pangas.
• Kayak and paddleboard stunning mangroves, or beachcomb along endless beaches and explore diverse landscapes and ride a fat-tire bike along desert island terrain.
• Learn about desert ecosystems, seabird migrations and whale behavior from our experienced naturalists.

TRIP HIGHLIGHT VIDEO