mexico’s sea of cortez• watch for whales or whale sharks, mobula rays, dolphins, and birds •...

Mexico’sSeaofCortezWhales,SeaBirds&More!WithNaturalistJourneys&CaligoVentures

NaturalistJourneys,LLC/CaligoVenturesPOBox16545Portal,AZ85632PH:520.558.1146/800.426.7781Fax650.471.7667www.naturalistjourneys.com/[email protected]/

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March25–April1,2017866.900.1146800.426.7781520.558.1146

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orfindusonFacebookatNaturalistJourneys,LLC



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Stockedwithsuppliesandabountifulsenseofadventure,followSteinbeck’swrittenpathinTheLogoftheSeaofCortezwhilecruisingintotheprotectedwatersofCousteau’s“world’saquarium”inMexico’sSeaofCortez.Crystalclearwateraboundsneartheshorelines,fringedbyreddesertbluffs.Sailamongtheislandsonceexploredbyconquistadorssearchingforblackpearls.Learnabouttheimpressivegeologicforcesthatcreatedthesepicturesqueislands.Joinrenownedbirdexpertsonadiscoveryoftheuniquehabitsandcharacteristicsofthewingedcreaturesyouencounter.Explorebykayakandpaddleboard,keepingyoureyespeeledfortheabundantanddiversearrayofsealife,orenjoyleisurelybeachcombingwiththesandbetweenyourtoes.IslandsoftheSeaofCortezaremuchliketheGalapagos,atextbookforthestudyofspeciation,whichweseeinlizards,plantlife,andrightfromthestartatCabo,withsomeofBaja’sendemicbirdsincludingBelding’sYellowthroat,GrayThrasher,andXantus’sHummingbird.ThedesertislandsintheSeashowussignsofvolcanism,sedimentationfromeonsgoneby,andallthecolorsoftherainbowintheseuniquelyexposedformations.Activeexploration,turquoisewaterandsnorkeling,andamenagerieofseabirdsandwildlifeawait!

TourHighlights• Watchforwhalesorwhalesharks,mobula

rays,dolphins,andbirds• WitnesscourtshipritualsofnestingBrown

andBlue-footedBoobies• Hike,kayak,paddleboard,andexploreby

skiff• Burrorideintoarroyoswithlocalrancheros• Searchforgentlewhalesharksandgray

whalesatBahíaMagdalena(seasonal,wewatchactivityandfeaturewhatisbest)

• Snorkelwithsealionpupsandcolorfulreeffish;onlandbedazzledbyXantus’sHummingbird• EnjoytheconvenienceofflyinginandoutofLosCabosInternationalAirport



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TourSummary8-Day/7-NightNaturalistJourneysReunionCruisewithGregSmithStartingat$3375basedonCabinType,fromCaboSanLucasAirportisLosCabosInternational(SJD)

Sat.,Mar.25SanJosédelCabo/LaPaz―EmbarkationWelcometoBaja,Mexico!YouaremettodayuponarrivalattheLosCabosInternationalAirportinSanJosédelCaboandtransferredtoourhospitalityarea.Wearethenjoinedbythecruise’sexpeditionteamforanoverlandorientationtransfertoLaPaz,gettingourgroupacquaintedwiththedramaticallybeautifulBajalandscapeandtheweekofadventurethatliesahead.Asweboardourship,theSafariEndeavor,thecaptainandcrewwelcomeyouaboardwithacocktailbeforeakick-offdinnerwithournewmates.(D)Sun.,Mar.26IslaSanFranciscoTodaywebeginourexplorationsinaplaygroundofsteepredbluffsandsweepingdesertbeach.Whatatreattokickoffourweeklongadventurewithadayofplay―thisisavacation,afterall.Donasnorkelandsomeflippersandgettoknowthecolorfulandbountifulsealife,putonyourwalkingshoesforanexploratoryhikealongtheredbluffs,grabapaddleandexplorebykayak,orjustrelaxonthebeachwiththesandbetweenyourtoes…thechoiceisyours!TheruggedbeautyofIslaSanFranciscomakesitanidealspotforescapades.

Allthroughthisjourneyweareonthelookoutforthedifferentwhalespeciesthatcallthisseahome.Fin,Bryde’s,pilot,andspermwhalesaresomeofthelargerwhaleswehopetosee,whilelargenumbers

Itinerary



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ofdifferentdolphinspeciesmaketheirpresenceknown,ridingthebowwaves.Ifyouchoosetogoashore,welookfortheIslaSanFranciscowhiptaillizard,foundnootherplaceintheworld!Tonight,weenjoyadeliciousdinneraswewatchthesunset.(B,L,D)

Mon.,Mar.27BahíaAguaVerdeAtBahíaAguaVerde,stunninglyclearwatersareborderedbysparsecraggymountainshemmedingreen.Todayweexplorethecoastbysmallskiffkeepingoureyespeeledforwildlife,theever-presentOspreynestingonseastacks,anddifferentspeciesofcormorantsandterns.Mobularaysmaybetakingthatleapoffaithastheyrocketoutofthewater,landingbellyfirstbackintothesea.Wethenvisitwithalocalrancheroandhisfamilybeforewetaketothecanyonsandmountainsonamulerideandexperiencethe“realBaja.”Today’sscenicvistas,outstandingexplorationbyboatandbyhoof,excellentbirding,andunmatchedcamaraderiemakeforaperfectday.(B,L,D)



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Tues.,Mar.28Captain’sChoiceWhileit’sunlikelywefindanyblackpearls,todaywesailamongstislandsonceexploredbyearlyconquistadors.Whatfuntoimaginewhattheythoughtofthisstunninglandandsea.Ourboat’sexpeditionteamisat-the-readywithmoreadventurousoptionstochoosefromtoday―kayaking,hiking,paddleboarding,orbeachcombing.WekeepwatchduringourtransitforBrownandBlue-footedBooby,MagnificentFrigatebird,andtheendemicYellow-leggedGull.Discovernature’sdiversityandlearnaboutthegeologicforcesthatformedtheseislands.(B,L,D)

Wed.,Mar.29MarineLifeSearchinBahíadelaPazDependingonrecentmarinelifereports,weexploreBahíadelaPaz(November–mid-January;March;orderofdayschanges)insearchofwhalesharks—thelargestknownspeciesoffish.Thesemassive,dappledcreaturesareknowntofrequentthebay.Wekeepwatchforthewatery“footprints”ofthesegentlegiants,andconditionspermitting,gearupforanunforgettableswimalongsidethiscolossalcreatureorobservefromabove

intheskiff.Thosegoingashorewatchforwinteringneotropicalbirdsasdifferentwarblers,vireos,andsparrowsusetheseislandsaswinterretreats.(B,L,D)Thurs.,Mar.30LosIslotes/IslaPartidaAtLosIslotes,asteepcraggyseamountleapingstraightfromthesea,weobserveasealioncolonyfromtheboatandskiff,orslipintoawetsuitforanearlymorningsnorkelwithcurious,agileyoungsealionpups.Afteralivelymorning,weheaveanchorandsetsailforIslaPartidaforanafternoonofwaterplayorislandhikesalongdesertbeachesorintorockyarroyos.Fri.,Mar.31IslaEspírituSantoTodaywequietlytuckintoasecludedcovesurroundedbylongfingersofredrockandagoldenbeach.Wespendourlastfulldayenjoyingthefeelofwarmsandunderourfeetonabeachwalk,investigatingnooksandcranniesintherocksbykayak,orexploringalittlefurtherafieldonaguidedhike.Weareaccompaniedbytheever-presentfrigatebirdspatrollingtheskies.Watchingthesepiratesoftheairsometimesgivesusanalerttothepresenceofflyingfishormaybeafeedingfrenzyrepletewithdolphins,whales,andseabirds.TheSeaofCortezisoneoftheworld’sbestformarinemammalsandweshouldhaveplentyofphotographicopportunities.Sealionsareabundanthereandsnorkelingwiththeseagileswimmersgivesyouampleandupcloseviewsastheyblastthroughtheirwateryhome.



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Tonightwecelebrateourlovelyweekatthisevening’sspecialFarewellDinnerwithanentertainingslideshowbyyourexpeditionteam.Sat.,Apr.1LaPaz/SanJosé―DisembarkAfterbreakfast,it’s“adios”LaPaz,asyoudisembarkthevesselandtransferbacktoSanJosédelCaboforflightshome.

AslongasyouareflyingtoCabo,whynotarriveearlytotreatyourselftooneoftheall-inclusiveresorts,rightnexttosomegreatlocalbirding?PegandGreghavefoundalocalbirdingexperttohostanoutingintothesurroundingdesert,andtheyhaveagreatideaofwheretofindtheBajaendemicspecies.Plus,theplantsaregreat,too!JoinusonthisextensionasearlyasyoucangetthereontheMarch23,andenjoytwoeveningsofthenature,art,andsurroundingsofCaboaheadofourcruise.

Thurs.,Mar.23SanJosédelCaboFlyintoCaboSanLucastodayandgetsettledforthenexttwonightsatourall-inclusiveresortonthetipofBaja.OurhotelborderstheEsteroSanJoséandgivesuseasyaccesstobirdingandwildlifeviewingalongthebeachesandestuaryproper.ItisafineplacetoenjoythesunrisethenextmorningfromthispointontheEastCape.Afterdinner,whynottakethehotelshuttleorataxitheshortdistancetotheartcenterofSanJosédelCabofor

Pre-CruiseExtension:Deserts&BajaEndemicsofCabo



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theThursdaynightartwalkintheGalleryDistrict.Thisisauniquechancetomeetandtalkwiththeartistresponsibleforthegallery’sshows!AccommodationsattheHolidayInnResortLosCabosAllInclusive(D)Fri.,Mar.24EsteroSanJosé/SonoranDesertAfterbreakfastwestartthedaybirdingEsteroSanJoséwithourexcellent,localnaturalist.Herewefindwaders,differentwaterfowl,andanumberofdifferentformsofSavannahSparrow…butitistheBelding’sYellowthroatthatwearelookingfor.ThisendemictosouthernBajahasaverylimitedrangeandisamustseeforbirdersintheLosCabosarea.WeshouldfindtwootherBajaendemicstoday,too:Xantu’sHummingbirdandGrayThrasher.Xantu’sisastunninglymarkedhummingbirdwhichmightbefoundinthehotel’sgardens,whilewebirdEsteroSanJosé,orduringourvisittotheVizcainoDesert.ItslimitedrangeisalittlemoreextensivethantheYellowthroat,sothereshouldbemorethanjustafewoftheseforustosee.TheGrayThrasherisanotherBajaendemicbuthasamuchbroaderrange.FoundthroughoutmostofBaja,thereisonlyoneknownrecordbeyondthissectionofMexico.Weexplorearelativelysmall,disjunctivesectionofthesucculent-richSonoranDesertlookingforthisspeciesandlearningaboutadaptationsoftheplantsandwildlifefoundalongtheway.TheremaininghoursuntilsunsetareyourstoexploreyoursurroundingshereonthetipofBaja.AccommodationsattheHolidayInnResortLosCabosAllInclusive(B,L,D)



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Sat.,Mar.25AllAboard!Afterbreakfastwearemeetupwithstafffromourshipandthosethatdidnotjoinusonthepre-cruiseextensionandmakethetwohourtransfertoLaPaz.HereweembarkandsetsailtoexploretheSeaofCortezwithitsdesertedbeaches,abundantwildlife,andsenseofwilderness.(B)

Aboardthisspaciousexpeditionvessel,threedecksofferampleoutsidevantagepointsfortakingindaytimesightsandthesparklingnightskywithnewfriends.Interiorspacesincludingtheintimatelounge,caskwinebar,andcozylibraryprovidecomfortableandrelaxingspacestositbackwithabookandglassofwine,gatherforpresentations,ortoshareexperiencesfromtheday.Thefully-stocked,marble-toppedbarintheloungeisamagnetforactivityandmingling.Readyforadventureatamoment’snotice,theSafariEndeavourisfullyloadedwithadventureequipment:kayaks;paddleboards;inflatableskiffs;hikingpoles;yogamats;andsnorkelgearandwetsuits;plus,ahydrophoneforlisteningtobelow-surfacesoundsandabow-mountedunderwatercamera.Forthosemomentswhenattentionturnstorelaxation,thevesselcomesequippedwithtwohottubs,fitnessequipment,yogamats,andamassagesuite.TherearefivecabincategoriesaboardtheSafariEndeavour:Master;Commander;Captain;Admiral;andCommodoreSuite.Dependingonthecategory,singles,doubles,ortriplescanbeaccommodated.

Commontoallcabinsare:Flat-screenTV/DVD;iPoddockingstation;airconditioning;deskandchair;privatebathwithshower;generousstorage;andclosetspace.

AbouttheSafariEndeavor



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TheSafariEndeavor’sLayout

PLANAHEAD!ProtectyourselfwithAllianzTravelInsurance.OFFSETYOURCARBONFOOTPRINTShowusthereceiptandwe'lltake50%-upto$50.00-ofyourcarbonoffsetfeeoffyourfinalpayment.COSTOFTHEJOURNEYThecostofthemaintouristhatofourcruisecompany,Un-CruiseAdventures,andrangefrom$3375–$6575DBLoccupancy,basedoncabinsizeanddeckplacement,fromCaboSanLucas,Mexico.ThereisalsoaperpersonPortFeewecollectwithfinalpayment.Your cruise price, per person (pp), is based on cabin category: DBLSGLPortFeeCaptain$4275pp$7646pp$220Commander$3775pp$6771pp$220Master$3375pp$4775pp$220

CostoftheJourney



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Forsuitesandothercabins,pleaseinquire.Thetourcostincludes7nightsaboardtheSafariEndeavor,allmealsonboardthevoyageincludingalcoholicbeverages,allexcursionswithprofessionalguides,andmiscellaneousprogramexpenses,transfersandbaggagehandlingbetweenairport/vesselonembark/disembarkdays;entryfeestonationalparks/preserves;allfrom-the-shipadventureactivitiesandequipment;wellnessamenities:fitnessequipment,yogamats,andacomplimentarymassage.Notincludedistheround-tripflighttoCaboSanLucas,Mexico.Thetourcostdoesnotincludeitemsofapersonalnaturesuchastelephonechargesoroptionalactivities.Costofthetwo-nightextension,March23–25,is$595perperson,andincludestwonightsall-inclusiveattheHolidayInnandanall-dayfieldtripforbirdinganddesertexploration,withexpertlocalguides.Werecommendagratuityforlocalguidesandtheshipcrew,whichislefttothediscretionofeachparticipantandguidelineswillbeprovided.TRAVELINFORMATIONForthecruise,plantoarriveSaturday,March25nolaterthan2:30PM.Pleaseplanflightsoutafter1:00PMonSaturday,April1.WeSTRONGLYrecommendyouarrivethenightbefore―youdon’twanttomisstheboat!NaturalistJourneys,LLCisanequalopportunityserviceproviderandcommittedtothegoalofensuringequalopportunityforallinemploymentandprogramdelivery.PhotoCreditsMuleRiders,Un-Cruise;BrownBooby,PegAbbott(PA);Cacti,DolphinandScenic,Un-Cruise;Surfbird,PA;BajaKayak,GregSmith(GS);Iguana,NarcaMoore-Craig(NMC);BrownPelican,PA;Kayakers,PA;Whale,GS;Sunset,SeaLionandCacti,Un-Cruise;Yellow-leggedGull,PA;BeachWalkers,PA;CaboView,NMC;Belding’sYellowthroat,NMC;Xantu’sHummingbird,GS;GrayThrasher,NMC;Blue-footedBooby,GS;Ship,Un-Cruise;ScenicatCabo,NMC;Riders,Un-Cruise;MapofVoyage,Un-Cruise.



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mexico’s sea of cortez• watch for whales or whale sharks, mobula rays, dolphins, and birds •...

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