Baja: Whale Watching & the Sea of Cortez

Location: North America
Duration: 8 Days
Price: From $4,945
Activity Level: Active

Baja: Whale Watching & the Sea of Cortez

Location: North America
Duration: 8 Days
Price: From $4,945
Activity Level: Active

Overview

Float eye-to-eye with gray whales, swim with sea lions, and explore the sun-kissed beaches of Baja, Mexico! Touch down in Mexico and head to Los Colibris Casitas in the seaside town of Todos Santos. Set high on a hill, this beautiful property offers airy rooms with breathtaking ocean views. Then you’re off to Isla Espiritu Santo, reserved exclusively for AdventureWomen for beachside camping where you’ll stroll the island, kayak the protected blue waters, swim with playful sea lions, and master the stand-up paddleboard. Depart camp for Magdalena Bay and the warm calving waters preferred by gray whales. Enjoy a day of whale watching from boats that sit low in the water to provide an up-close look at these very gentle giants. Return to Todos Santos for a final sunset and exquisite group dinner where you and your new friends can reflect on this amazing trip. 

Main Attractions

Whale Watching in Magdalena Bay

Witness gray whales up close in Magdalena Bay, where they migrate 6,000 miles to mate and give birth. An awe-inspiring, unforgettable encounter with these majestic creatures.

 Get Up Close with Sea Lions

Swim and snorkel with playful sea lions in Baja’s warm waters. Experience their acrobatics and friendly nature up close in this vibrant underwater world.

Active Adventures and Culinary Delights

Enjoy hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling in Baja. Afterward, learn to cook delicious Mexican cuisine using fresh local produce and seafood.

Map of Baja California Sur, Mexico, showing routes between La Paz, Isla Espiritu Santo, Magdalena Bay, Todos Santos, and San José del Cabo with icons for transportation modes.
Two people wearing sunglasses and red life jackets sit on a boat with a coastline in the background.
Two women enjoying food; one holds an empty plate with a chip, the other eats and holds another empty plate. They are standing indoors and wearing aprons.
Two people with sunglasses stand outside a white and blue building, next to a wall lamp and a number 34 sign.
A group of people seated at a table under a canopy on a sandy beach, with tents and camping gear in the background.
People in a boat reach out to touch a gray whale in the water.
Seven colorful surfboards are standing upright on a sandy beach, leaning against a wooden rack, under a clear blue sky.
Two women smiling and standing together, with a scenic ocean sunset in the background. One wears a patterned jacket, and the other a coral cardigan.
Two people relaxing in a tent with twin air mattresses and luggage, set in a rocky outdoor setting.

Itinerary

A group of women by the ocean.

Welcome to Baja!

Your guide will meet you at the San Jose del Cabo airport. Bordered by both the wild Pacific Ocean and the protected Sea of Cortez, Baja is a haven for exotic plants, birds, and animals (both terrestrial and marine) and is home to friendly and welcoming people. Over the next eight days, you’ll learn about the area’s traditions, foods, and wildlife. Please note: The Cabo airport is very busy, but AdventureWomen will make sure you know where you’re going! You’ll receive instructions on the exact meeting location about a month prior to your trip. Once you are settled in, you’ll enjoy a delicious welcome dinner with your fellow travelers to kick off your trip.

Meals dinner
A group of travelers ready to go surfing.

Todos Santos Surf and Savor

Start with a terrific Mexican breakfast prepared by a local chef. Begin your tortilla-making lesson right after breakfast to ensure plenty of tortillas for your cooking class tonight. Take a surfing lesson today. No experience? No problem! Your instructors guarantee that you will stand up – at least for a moment – during your first lesson. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with a female chef, entrepreneur, and artist’s daughter. End the day with a Mexican cooking class, starting with the perfect margarita. Pay attention as you learn from the chef – you are making your own dinner!

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Person in a kayak with a blue vest and hat, paddling in the ocean. Dolphins leap from the water in the background.

Beach Camp Adventure

Drive to La Paz, stopping to try on your wet suit and get your snorkeling gear. From La Paz, board a boat for a 60-minute ride to your exclusive beach camp on Isla Espiritu Santo. Wear your bathing suit this morning, just in case there is a chance to swim along the way. Spend your afternoon kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding, exploring hidden lagoons and desert beaches. Enjoy sunset happy hour with your group as you sip a cold drink and sit with your toes in the sand. This is a perfect time to relax and soak in the beauty of your surroundings.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A diver swims underwater near a sea lion, both surrounded by clear blue water.

Swim with Sea Lions

Explore Espiritu Santo National Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is one of the best marine life viewing destinations in the world, home to whales, dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, and tropical fish. Bird species like Blue-footed Boobies and Great Blue Herons frequent the island. The island itself features towering cliffs, sandy bays, lava rock formations, and ancient rock art. Swimming with sea lions is magical, with unforgettable nose-to-nose encounters. Grab some snorkeling gear and jump in with them. Enjoy a dinner from the camp kitchen and a relaxing night on the beach.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A group of travelers on a hike by the ocean.

Journey to Magdalena Bay

Depart camp by boat for La Paz. Once you arrive in La Paz, drive about five hours to Magdalena Bay, enjoying a picnic lunch along the way. This is a long drive, but Magdalena Bay is the premier place to see gray whales. Enjoy a couple of hours of whale watching on your way to the beach that you’ll call home for the next few nights. This camp will have similar style tents to your last camp, but the tents are a bit more rustic, with cots and sleeping bags, since the location is even more remote! Once you settle in, go on a guided nature walk to explore your surroundings then relax with your group on the beach, and if you’re lucky, observe whales from the shore.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A whale's tail emerges from the ocean, with rocky hills in the background.

Whale Encounters

Head out onto the water for a morning of interacting with whales. Highly experienced staff will ferry you through the waters of Magdalena Bay to whale watch from motorized skiffs, perfect conveyances from which to have a “whale’s eye view” of the great grays. Enjoy lunch and a nature walk after your morning on the water, then head out for another afternoon of whale watching. It is impossible to predict anything with wildlife, but in the past, AdventureWomen guests have seen mother whales bringing their babies up to the boat to say hello and males sidling up and spouting water.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A group of women standing on a beach, holding a banner that reads "Adventure Women." A yellow camper van is parked behind them.

Farewell to Whales

Enjoy another couple of hours of whale watching, spending a little bit more time with these majestic, gentle creatures. Drive about five hours back from Magdalena Bay to Todos Santos. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant along the way. Start your farewell dinner with a mezcal tasting. Reminisce over all of the memories you have made and celebrate the end of an incredible trip with your new AdventureWomen friends!

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A group of people sitting around a wooden table with food and drinks in a casual outdoor setting.

Departure

Say goodbye to your new AdventureWomen friends as you transfer to the airport for your flights home. Reflect on the amazing experiences and memories you’ve made during your time in Baja. This trip is filled with adventure, fun, and learning, all while being surrounded by the stunning beauty of Baja’s landscapes and wildlife.

Meals breakfast
A beach scene with a blue sky, scattered clouds, and people in the ocean near a rocky shoreline. A blue sign is partially visible on the right side.

Accommodations

Please note that all amenities were current when written and are subject to change at any time.

Los Colibris Casitas.

Los Colibris Casitas

Los Colibris – The Hummingbirds – is in Todos Santos, just a ten-minute walk from the area’s beautiful beaches. The property features two big casas (houses), two casitas (little houses), and 5 suites. Each building and room is configured and decorated in a unique way. The accommodations all include a balcony, porch, or patio, lovely views of the Pacific Ocean and lagoon, a small refrigerator, and a ceiling fan. The property has a water filtration system, so you can safely drink from the water from the tap.

AMENITIES: complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, coffee maker, Wi-Fi

Interior of a spacious tent with two beds and a small table under a sky with scattered clouds.

Baja-Style Beach Camping

You will love your base camp on one of the Isla Espiritu Santo’s most beautiful beaches! It features tents with real mattresses, lovely linens, and pillows. There is a kitchen tent where your onsite chef makes wonderful meals for you every day, and there are sun showers and portable toilets in separate cabanas.

AMENITIES: Composting toilet cabanas (not en suite), sun shower cabanas with complimentary toiletries, solar charging station for small devices, campsite is off grid

A beige tent with an open entrance stands on sandy ground. In front, there's a chair with a water bottle and shoes on the ground. A bird sculpture is on the left. The sky is partly cloudy.

Camping in Magdalena Bay

This remote camp has comfortable tents with cots and sleeping bags. There is a washroom tent with a portable toilet, but you should bring biodegradable shower wipes to freshen up, as there is no fresh water available for bathing. The island you’ll stay on is near where the lagoon mouth meets the ocean, and you should be rewarded with whales swimming and playing all around the camp.

AMENITIES: Composting toilet cabanas (not en suite), no showers (we recommend dry shampoo and body wipes), no electricity or charging stations, the campsite is off grid.

What People Are Saying

Swimming with the sea lions and whale watching were absolutely my favorite experiences. The sea lions were so playful and curious, making the swim unforgettable. Watching the majestic whales glide through the water was awe-inspiring and left me in complete wonder. I couldn’t have asked for a better adventure.

What People Are Saying

Glamping on a private island was a dream. Each day, I enjoyed delicious breakfasts and chose from activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, and snorkeling. Paddleboarding at sunset was unforgettable, especially watching the moon rise over the Gulf of Mexico. It was breathtaking and peaceful.

What People Are Saying

Interacting with the gray whales in Magdalena Bay was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Witnessing these majestic creatures up close, knowing they traveled 6,000 miles to mate and give birth, was something I will remember forever.

Dates & Pricing

Start Date End Date Availability Pricing Booking Link
Feb 22 Mar 1
Space Available
$4,945*
Standard Room, Single
$6,245 total, $800 deposit
Standard Room, Double
$4,945 total, $800 deposit

*Additional Pricing Information: 2025 Optional Single Accommodation: $1,300

Arrival: Arrive at San Jose del Cabo Airport (SJD) before 3:00 PM on Day 1

Departure: Depart San Jose del Cabo Airport (SJD) after 12:00 PM on Day 8

What's Included

  • Accommodations as per itinerary based on double occupancy
  • All meals as listed in the itinerary
  • Guided sightseeing and activities as indicated in the itinerary
  • Bi-lingual, naturalist guides throughout the trip
  • All ground transportation
  • One group transfer on arrival and departure
  • Drinking water available in large jugs to refill personal bottles
  • Happy hour on Isla Espiritu Santo
  • Gratuities for drivers, hotel staff, wait staff, and luggage porters

What's Not Included

  • International airfare to and from Baja
  • Optional activities
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Alcoholic beverages (unless otherwise specified)
  • Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, or travel insurance
  • Cost of hospitalization or evacuation
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Gratuities for main guides, island staff, and boat captain

FAQs

Absolutely! We happily welcome all women regardless of race, creed, or sexual preference, as long as you are physically capable of doing the activities on your chosen trip. Our guests range from 18-85+! It is important to us to talk to each guest to make sure each woman chooses the right trip for her physical ability and interest.

You can process your registration on our online booking system or over the phone. Most deposits are $800. In many cases, and unless otherwise indicated, your deposit is transferable if you notify us in writing 120 before your trip departs.

Be sure to check the ‘What’s Included’ section of the trip you are interested in. Once you get to the departure city and meet the group, we often include most meals, all accommodations, all activities (although there might be an optional activity at an additional cost), transportation while on the adventure, qualified local guide(s) and some trips also include an AdventureWomen Ambassador. Our trips do not include airfare to/from the arrival and departure cities. However, internal flights are included in some itineraries so please read the itinerary carefully.

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it! Many of the women who travel with AdventureWomen come solo. For those that do not choose a single supplement, we pair you with a roommate. Usually, when we change accommodations on a trip, we will change roommates if we can, so you get a chance to know others in our group. A limited number of single supplements may be available for an additional charge.

That depends entirely on the trip! AdventureWomen adventure travel trips are rated according to the physical fitness level demanded by the included activities.

  • Moderate: These adventures exercise your mind more than your body and are designed for women who prefer a leisurely, less rigorous experience. For example, you could walk up to 2 miles per day through cities and villages, stand in museums for a few hours, relax on a boat, or view wildlife from a vehicle.
  • Active: Adventures that get you on your feet! You should be in good physical condition where you are comfortable walking on uneven surfaces, such as cobblestone streets, biking manicured nature trails or kayaking calm waters.
  • High Energy: These adventures are designed for women who enjoy a physical challenge and crave being on the go! You should be prepared for itineraries that include (but are not limited to): a full day of biking on a rolling terrain, hiking 5-8 miles on moderate to steep trails, being active at high altitudes, whitewater rafting, or skiing.
  • Challenging: Adventures that get your heart rate pumping, these are demanding yet deeply rewarding and designed for seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. You should be in excellent physical condition, and be able to hike up to 10 miles, in steeper, more rugged terrain.