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March 13, 2018

Baja by Boat: Exploring the Sea of Cortez

By WT Adventurer Calvin Jones
Latin America North America Small Ship Cruising Wildlife & Natural History

From whale encounters to wonderful sunsets, Baja sets the scene for an active journey full of adventure.

Set aboard a classic 86-foot wooden yacht, Baja: Exploring the Sea of Cortez combines the draw of a boat journey—whale-watching, phenomenal snorkeling and kayaking, and unbelievably fresh seafood—with on-land excursions on isolated islands and desert arroyos. Please enjoy these photos by Calvin Jones, who made the trip in February of this year.

A large boat floats on calm water at sunset, with a mountainous shoreline in the background. The sky is partly cloudy, and the sun is low on the horizon, creating a serene scene perfect for boat exploring in Baja's stunning Sea of Cortez.

After years of investigating options, we finally found the ideal way to visit the remarkable ecology of Baja California Sur. Wilderness Travel helped us find a tour on a truly exclusive ship, with just four staterooms and a superb crew led by a charming and expert captain, Bill Bailey; an accomplished naturalist and guide, Carlos Bermudez; and the most talented chef to ever set foot on a marine craft, Tracie Triolo.

The ship and crew led us to truly unspoiled, naturally wild places, shared their deep knowledge of the marine and terrestrial wildlife (and every form of plant species), and organized exciting walks, kayaking, snorkeling, and even a late-night beach party that included s’mores! Their dedication and insights made every moment of the trip a delight, and gave us a greater appreciation this remarkable region. Here are some of the many photos I took, in no particular order.

A brown pelican flies low over the rippling blue water of the Sea of Cortez.
A brown pelican soars just above the water’s surface. A fantastic welcome to the region.
A manta ray is seen leaping out of the water near a rocky shoreline in the Sea of Cortez, close to Baja.
A mobula ray jumps out of the water near La Ballena.
Two people leaning from a boat in the Sea of Cortez are close to a whale surfacing in the water. One holds a camera, poised to take a picture during their Baja boat exploration.
During a visit to the Santuario De La Ballena Gris at Adolfo Lopez Mateos, a gray whale calf approaches our panga under the close oversight of its mother. Our trip companion is ready to capture a “close-up.”
Three people wearing life jackets on a boat in Baja observe and photograph a gray whale surfacing nearby in the water.
In the waters off Lopez Mateos, the mother of the gray whale calf also wants to interact with her visitors.
A whale's tail emerges from the choppy waters of the Sea of Cortez, with water streaming off its flukes.
We pass near a pair of sperm whales in the Gulf between Isla Santa Cruz and Isla Monserrate. Their flukes are typically displayed prior to a deep dive.
A male frigatebird with an inflated red throat pouch flies against a clear blue sky, a common sight while exploring the Sea of Cortez by boat.
A male frigatebird displays his inflated gular pouch while flying around the nesting colony.
Two frigatebirds tend to their nest with greenery around, while another bird sleeps in the background. They spend their time together near the Sea of Cortez, perhaps watching a boat exploring the waters of Baja.
A female frigatebird and her new chick at a large nesting colony in a mangrove-lined tidal lagoon on Isla Espirito Santo.
A gray heron with a white head and long orange beak stands on a rocky shore near the Sea of Cortez, with a body of water and cloudy sky in the background.
On our Zodiac tour of the lagoons at the southern end of Isla San Jose, a great blue heron poses for his portrait.
Two white ibises with red bills and legs perched on branches in a leafy green tree, much like the vibrant sights one might encounter while exploring Baja by boat.
A pair of white ibis rest in the mangrove forest at the southern tip of Isla San Jose.
Two black oystercatchers with bright red beaks stand on a rocky beach, facing slightly to the right. The background consists of scattered small rocks and shells, evoking the rugged coastline of Baja.
A pair of American oystercatchers combs the rocky shore of Isla San Francisquito in a hunt for food.
A vibrant sunset with a mix of orange, pink, and purple clouds over the calm Sea of Cortez, featuring a silhouetted boat and the distant coastline of Baja by Boat.
A brilliant sunset behind our anchorage at Isla Partida.
A bird flies across a clear blue sky with the moon visible in the background, as the Sea of Cortez sparkles below and a boat gently sails near Baja's rugged coastline.
A brown pelican soars before the afternoon moonlight during a walk at La Ballena.
Exploring a desert landscape with numerous tall green cacti scattered across rocky terrain under a partly cloudy blue sky, one can't help but feel the allure of the nearby Sea of Cortez in the distance.
Many species of cactus add green to the desert landscape at Isla Santa Catalina.
Close-up of a barrel cactus with two blooming flowers, one purple and one brown, surrounded by yellow spines, set against the backdrop of a boat in the shimmering waters of the Sea of Cortez in Baja.
In the mid-day light on Isla Santa Catalina, a barrel cactus displays rare red and purple flowers.

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