Baja California Whale Watching & Stargazing Adventure - TravelQuest International
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February 27 - March 4, 2025

Baja California Whale Watching & Stargazing Adventure

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Welcome

  • Dates: Feb 27 - Mar 04, 2025
  • Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
  • Trip Level (1-4):2
  • Arrive: Loreto, Mexico
  • Depart:Loreto, Mexico
  • Priced From: $7,780

This tour departs in

DAYS

Highlights

  • Witness the finale of the gray whales' annual migration from Alaska to Baja, crisscrossing coastal waters by skiff on a half-dozen small-group excursions.
  • Enjoy three nights of solitude, far removed from other Baja visitors, in the private "whale cabanas" of our eco-camp overlooking San Ignacio Lagoon.
  • Experience superb stargazing on a remote coastal beach with our TravelQuest Astronomer.
  • Partake in a special Introduction to Astrophotography workshop hosted by our Trip Astronomer providing you with handy pointers on how to set up your camera and take dramatic pictures of the heavens above.
  • Explore salt flats and arid expanses studded with giant saguaro cacti in the Vizcaino Desert, a UN-protected Biosphere Reserve.

Each winter, hundreds of gray whales return to their traditional breeding and birthing grounds along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Their journey southward from the Bering Sea to the sparkling waters off the Baja Peninsula is the longest mammal migration on Earth. At one point hunted to near extinction, these friendly leviathans have made a dramatic comeback – and you’ll have an unmatched opportunity to encounter them up close on TravelQuest’s Whale Watching & Stargazing Adventure in early 2025.

Gray whales are generally intrigued by humans, so don’t be surprised if a few swim up alongside our open boats in San Ignacio Lagoon. Expect to see plenty of breaching, along with what’s called “spy-hopping,” when whales use their powerful flukes to thrust themselves vertically out of the water for a look around. You’ll also likely observe some mating behavior, as well as mothers showing off their new calves. It’s like having the best moments from a nature documentary unfold right before your eyes!

And then, of course, because this is a TravelQuest trip, there are equally extraordinary sights overhead. As one of our astronomers sums it up: “Baja California is an excellent stargazing locale, thanks to the peninsula’s clean, dry air and its minimal light pollution.” Your adventure includes three nights of scanning the skies with telescopes. And be sure to bring your binoculars, too – for the stars and the whales.

For three incredible nights, your unique vantage point on San Ignacio Lagoon is an eco-camp reserved exclusively for our small group. Featuring thatched-roof cabanas set on platforms by the water’s edge, it’s a secluded retreat designed to ensure you fully experience the purity and peace of the desert wilderness, along with the vastness of the night sky.

Join Gary Seronik in Baja!

An award-winning writer, experienced lecturer, observer, and equipment reviewer, Gary Seronik has been fascinated by the night sky since childhood. He has spent more than three decades sharing his passion for backyard astronomy with the public. From his early work as a show presenter and producer at Vancouver British Columbia’s famed MacMillan Space Centre, to his current positions as Consulting Editor at Sky & Telescope magazine,

Gary has encouraged thousands of people to look up and enjoy the wonders of the universe. He enjoys a wide range of observing pursuits from studying intricate details on the surface of the Moon to seeking out faint fuzzies at the limits of perception. One of Gary’s favorite activities is binocular observing, which he will share with you in Baja!

This tour departs in

DAYS

Highlights

  • Witness the finale of the gray whales' annual migration from Alaska to Baja, crisscrossing coastal waters by skiff on a half-dozen small-group excursions.
  • Enjoy three nights of solitude, far removed from other Baja visitors, in the private "whale cabanas" of our eco-camp overlooking San Ignacio Lagoon.
  • Experience superb stargazing on a remote coastal beach with our TravelQuest Astronomer.
  • Partake in a special Introduction to Astrophotography workshop hosted by our Trip Astronomer providing you with handy pointers on how to set up your camera and take dramatic pictures of the heavens above.
  • Explore salt flats and arid expanses studded with giant saguaro cacti in the Vizcaino Desert, a UN-protected Biosphere Reserve.

Itinerary

We begin our whale watching and stargazing adventure in the small coastal town of Loreto, where your TravelQuest Expedition Leader meets you at the airport and accompanies you on the short transfer to our waterfront hotel. Set on the Sea of Cortez, Loreto is the oldest permanent settlement on the Baja Peninsula, founded as a mission by Spanish Jesuit priests in 1697. The colonial town offers fine beaches, reef snorkeling and plenty of nearby islands to discover – plus excellent hiking in the Sierra de la Giganta range, whose peaks overlook the peaceful central plaza. In the evening, gather for a welcome dinner and a preview of our encounters with the cosmos and Baja’s magnificent gray whales.

DATE(S): Thursday, February 27, 2025

MEALS: Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: La Mision Loreto or similar

We start today with a scenic drive across the mountainous spine of narrow Baja California Sur to the Pacific – first following the Sea of Cortez northward, then heading west through a dramatic high desert landscape dotted with saguaro cacti. Reaching the quiet colonial village of San Ignacio, we switch to smaller vans for the balance of our trip down from the mountains, arriving at our eco-camp in time for dinner. Set on a secluded stretch of rocky beach along San Ignacio Lagoon, our private cabanas are sturdy thatched structures, each with two beds and superb views of the bay. The camp’s eco-sensitive shower and toilet facilities are shared, though each cabana features an ensuite toilet for nighttime use. The accommodations are consciously rustic – and they’re the best remote lodgings in the area, enabling you to experience the Vizcaino Desert, a six-million-acre UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, in peace and simple comfort.

Join us this evening as we set up our telescopes on the beach and explore the heavens, weather permitting. In addition to new angles on old favorites like Orion and Taurus, you can look forward to many novel sights along the winter Milky Way, scanning constellations not easily seen from much of North America.

DATE(S): Friday, February 28, 2025

MEALS: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: San Ignacio Whale Cabanas

  

Every fall, Pacific gray whales begin the world's longest mammal migration, traveling up to 12,000 miles from their summer feeding grounds in Alaska's Bering Sea to reach the sheltered lagoons of Baja. There they mate, give birth and raise their calves until spring, when it’s time to swim north again to colder Arctic waters. As your whale watching adventure gets underway, our Expedition Leader and expert local guides are at your side to help sight nearby pods and explain the whales' fascinating range of behaviors. It’s not hard to understand why whales are revered in many cultures – and this opportunity for a close encounter is something most wildlife lovers only dream about.

We make multiple excursions across San Ignacio Lagoon, traveling in motorized open skiffs to enjoy unimpeded viewing. You may see whales breaching, spy-hopping and even gliding up close to our boats to present their backs for a scratch. Each excursion typically lasts for about two hours, and we make two excursions per day for a total of six during your stay. (Under Mexico’s regulations governing wildlife conservation, the frequency of excursions may vary depending on the total number of boats on the water at any given time.)

Historically, many whales frequent this lagoon. While the highly maneuverable skiffs allow us to get incredibly close, we’re naturally sensitive to the whales’ needs. Our drivers are skilled at positioning the boats for ideal proximity without disturbing these magnificent animals or encroaching on their space. Instead, we allow them to approach us, which they often do. We may see males competing for females, young adults playing together – and perhaps the most endearing sight of all, mothers protecting and teaching their calves. Sometimes they even bring their babies within arm’s length of our boats, seemingly asking us to admire them (which is easy to do). Babies, of course, is a relative term. Gray whale calves measure from 14 to 16 feet at birth and gain 50 pounds a day as they grow, eventually reaching 50 to 60 feet in length and weighing 30 to 40 tons at full maturity.

Back onshore, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy, including birdwatching, naturalist-led hikes and exploring the pristine beaches and expansive salt flats on your own, collecting fascinating fossils, bones and shells. If weather and the tides cooperate, we may also venture by boat into the mangrove estuaries along the coast, with their profusion of flora and fauna. And each night after dinner, rejoin our TravelQuest Astronomer for more great stargazing. (The odds of clear skies are very high at this time of year, so keep your fingers crossed and your binoculars at the ready!)

DATE(S): Saturday & Sunday, March 1–2, 2025

MEALS: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: San Ignacio Whale Cabanas

After a final chance this morning to spend time among the whales, we depart San Ignacio and once again cross the rugged Sierra de la Giganta – arriving in Loreto for our farewell dinner and a final evening together in this charming, laidback coastal town.

DATE(S): Monday, March 3, 2025

MEALS: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: La Mision Loreto or similar

As our Baja adventure draws to a close, depart the hotel after breakfast and transfer to Loreto airport for your flight home or travels onward to further adventures.

DATE(S): Tuesday, March 4, 2025

MEALS: Breakfast

ACCOMMODATION: N/A

Optional Add-ons

If you would prefer to arrive a day early for your Baja adventure, TravelQuest is pleased to offer a one-night Loreto pre-tour package, including airport arrival transfer, and overnight February 26th, La Mision Loreto or similar, and breakfast.

Pricing

$185 per person, based on double occupancy; $290 for single occupancy.

TRIP LEVEL

Level 2 – Easy/Moderate: Guests on this trip must be able to walk unassisted for at least a half-mile, walk up and down stairs, wade through shallow water to step into and out of the excursion skiffs, and sit on bench seats for long periods. Depending on weather and sea conditions, excursions to view whales can be rough, bumpy and wet.

At TravelQuest we want to be sure you find the trip that best suits your interests and level of fitness. Please email or call if you have any questions regarding this itinerary.

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Pricing & Terms

Prices are per person in US Dollars based on the number of people in a room.

Double

$7,780

Single

$8,980

Important

  • TravelQuest creates and markets tours many months or years in advance of departure. Tour prices, taxes and airfares quoted in this brochure are based on tariffs, costs and US dollar exchange rates that were in effect at the time of publication. However, due to fluctuations in global oil prices and other services associated with this tour, a surcharge may be applied to your final invoice.
  • TravelQuest, working with our partners, makes every effort to follow the published itinerary. However, please keep in mind that it is subject to change depending on weather and other local conditions.
  • Viewing the stars is particularly weather-dependent; we can therefore offer no guarantees that local conditions will cooperate.

Room Sharing Program

If you’re planning to travel solo, you can realize significant savings by taking advantage of TravelQuest’s Room Sharing Program, which invites guests of the same gender to share twin-bedded accommodations. Please contact us for details.

Includes

  • Five nights’ accommodation
  • Arrival/departure transfers per the dates of the tour
  • All ground transportation
  • Services of your TravelQuest Trip Leader/Astronomer
  • English-speaking Expedition Leaders and local guides throughout your journey
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary, including coffee, tea, water (and beer, soda and juice once at our eco-camp)
  • Gratuities for group meals, hotel housekeeping, porters, airport transfer and shuttle bus drivers, camp staff and boat captains
  • All entrance fees, taxes, permits and service fees

Not Included

  • Air transportation to and from Loreto, Mexico
  • Luggage handling
  • Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary
  • Wine and other alcoholic beverages 
  • Expenses of a personal nature, including laundry, internet, souvenirs, etc.
  • Passport and visa fees if applicable, along with any required immunizations
  • Gratuities for your Expedition Leader(s)
  • Required medical evacuation insurance of at least $250,000
  • Highly recommended travel cancellation insurance

Payments & Terms

  • An advance payment of $1,800 USD per person, along with the completed reservation form, are required to secure your reservation.
  • Final payment, payable by check, bank wire, or credit card (with an additional 3.5% processing fee), is due by October 14, 2024.

Cancellation Terms

  • Cancellations must be made in writing via email, fax or mail.
  • All advance payments, less a $950 USD per person cancellation fee, are refundable until September 2, 2024.
  • All advance payments become non-refundable after September 3, 2024.
  • Airline cancellation terms & conditions are the responsibility of the traveler.

TRAVELER HEALTH

At TravelQuest, we want to be sure you choose a trip that best suits your interests and level of fitness. Prior to making a booking, it is the responsibility of each traveler to thoroughly read the itinerary, and to acquire and understand all pertinent medical advice to determine whether they are in an appropriate state of physical health to undertake the trip. At a minimum, participants must be able to climb into and out of buses, vans and excursion skiffs without assistance, to carry their own luggage and to generally keep up with the pace of the trip. If you have any questions about your trip’s itinerary or its level of difficulty, please contact us prior to booking.

Mandatory Insurance

Since this destination is remote and wild (that's why we go there!), we require that all guests have, at a minimum, medical evacuation insurance for this program. This is for the safety of all guests. We require that your chosen independent insurance plan includes at least $250,000 in medical evacuation coverage.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel insurance protects you from unexpected “what ifs”: What if your bags go missing? What if you must cancel? What if you need medical assistance? TravelQuest highly recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to help secure you and your trip investment against the unexpected. You can purchase this insurance on your own or contact our friends at Travelex, who are familiar with our trips and offer a selection of coverage options to suit your needs. To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, Travelex plans must be purchased within 15 days from the time you make your initial deposit to TravelQuest. ALL Travelex policies must be purchased at least 14 days prior to your departure date.

For more information on these plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex Insurance Services directly at 1-800-228-9792 and reference location number 03-6043.

TravelEx Insurance

 

 

 

 

 

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