Journey deep into the Gulf of California to discover its hidden treasures. This encompassing expedition is the result of years of careful exploration by our veteran naturalists and features the best destinations this rich sea has to offer. It truly captures the exploratory spirit of our earliest days on the peninsula, more than 40 years ago, when Sven Lindblad first introduced intrepid travelers to its wild waters and desert shores.   


Highlights


• Immerse yourself in striking desert landscapes, pristine coastal waters, and extraordinary biodiversity

• Embark on regular marine safaris in search of dolphins, sea lions, up to six species of whales, and—if we're lucky—whale sharks

• Explore the lesser-visited Midriff Islands including Isla Rasa, where half a million nesting sea birds occupy a 150-acre island

• Visit multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites and snorkel in the crystalline waters of protected marine reserves

• Enjoy a rare opportunity to see and photograph one of the strangest plants on earth, the otherworldly Boojum tree

• Kayak and paddleboard clear blue waters to search for wildlife, including magnificent frigatebirds, and investigate the intricacies of the shoreline


Arrive in the charming seaside town of Loreto by early afternoon. If schedules permit, explore on your own by visiting the first mission in Baja California, learning the town’s history at a nearby museum, or sampling local cuisine. Embark National Geographic Venture in the evening and begin our journey along the Gulf of California.

Arrival Time: Arrive before 2:30 p.m. local time. 
Arrival City: Loreto, Mexico 

Meals Included: Dinner


Awake in Bahía Concepción, one of the largest bays of the Baja California peninsula, with over 50 miles of beaches. Take your coffee to the deck to witness the colorful landscapes revealed by the first of many gorgeous sunrises. This biodiversity hotspot is ripe for exploration. Board Zodiacs in search of whales and other marine life, kayak through lush mangrove systems, and snorkel in turquoise waters. On land, join an invigorating hike among towering cacti, or stroll the pristine beaches and learn about the ecology from our naturalists.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


After breakfast, disembark in Santa Rosalía, established as a French copper mining town in 1884. The French influence remains in the architecture—including a steel church designed by Gustave Eiffel—and the mining facilities have been left intact, with old locomotives and machinery visible throughout. Engage with the city’s culture and cuisine as you walk the streets, stopping in at a world-famous French bakery for a sweet or savory treat. Back on board, take in the desert landscapes and search for a variety of whales as we cruise to our next destination.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


Get active this morning with options to hike, kayak, swim, snorkel, or beachcomb within the Bahía de los Ángeles Biosphere Reserve. Board Zodiacs to seek out this protected reserve’s diverse marine population, including endangered species such as fin whales, California sea lions, and five species of sea turtles. Whale sharks have also historically been known to populate these waters. Later, enjoy a rare opportunity to see one of the strangest plants on earth, the Boojum tree. Sacred to indigenous people, and believed to have supernatural powers, this evolutionary oddity takes its name from a Lewis Carroll poem. Capture the experience with help from your Certified Photography Instructor.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


The islands of the Midriff region in the northern Gulf of California are favorites among our naturalists for their remoteness as well as their exceptional wildlife and birdlife. With nature as our guide, we will actively explore these areas by Zodiac, kayak, paddleboard, snorkeling, and hiking. Some of the locations we may visit include:  

Isla San Pedro Mártir 

This 1,000-foot-high guano-covered island is home to the world’s largest nesting colonies of blue-footed and brown boobies. The surrounding waters boast 14 species of marine mammals, including fin whales, Bryde’s whales, and a resident group of sperm whales.  

Isla San Esteban 

Featuring volcanic slopes and cliffs, Isla San Esteban is home to spiny-tailed iguana and chuckwallas, cohabitant lizards with fascinating evolutionary traits. As we hike the broad arroyo, keep an eye out for the spiny-tailed iguana feeding on flowers atop cardon cacti, while the chuckwalla dines on the leaves and fruits of low-lying plants.  

Isla Rasa 

This legendary, uninhabited island is less than 0.21 square miles wide, and yet is crucial to the survival of two species of seabirds. Historically 95% of the world’s Heermann's gulls and elegant terns use the island as their nesting grounds, creating a cacophonous, avian spectacle seen nowhere else on earth.  

Bahía Loreto Marine Park 

One of Mexico’s natural treasures, this protected area offers a variety of pristine landscapes and a plethora of marine life. Search for bottlenose and common dolphins, with the possibility of encountering blue or sperm whales.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


Venture south to discover the gems of the southern Gulf. These islands and surrounding waters are celebrated for their conservation stories, marine life, and the many thrilling experiences on offer. Some of the locations we may visit or enjoy by Zodiac include:  

Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park 

Set out to snorkel the pristine reefs of Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, one of the most successful national marine parks in the world. Chat with locals about their advocacy to protect this unique place, including a cessation of fishing to protect the reef.  

Isla Espíritu Santo 

A national park as well as UNESCO World Heritage site with volcanic rock formations, scenic beaches, and coral reefs. This magical island offers excellent hiking opportunities and crystal-clear waters for snorkeling. It’s a popular destination for researchers monitoring sea turtles.  

Los Islotes 

Located at the northern tip of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Los Islotes is largely inaccessible to people and home to a large colony of sea lions. Conditions permitting, we'll anchor off the rocky island where we don flippers, a mask, and snorkel (which we provide) and swim with these curious inhabitants.  

Isla San Jose

One of the larger islands in the Gulf of California, San José offers several landing possibilities depending on conditions and the whim of the moment. Photograph the ochre cliffs of the island’s eastern shore, hike an enchanted, cactus-laden arroyo, or visit the abandoned salt works to the west. Discover rare wildlife among desert islands.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


Disembark in La Paz after breakfast and transfer to Los Cabos airport for flights home, or join a three-day, two-night culture and cuisine extension exploring La Paz, Todos Santos, and San José del Cabo.

Departure Time: After 2:00 p.m., local time 
Departure City: San José del Cabo, Mexico 

Meals Included: Breakfast

Itineraries are subject to change.

More Cabin Categories & Prices Available

Please contact us for more information.

Category 1. From

$14,186 AUD pp
Category 1. From
Cat 1 #301-306 Cabins feature two lower single beds that can convert to a Queen, a writing desk and two portholes. Each cabin has individual climate controls, allowing you to adjust the temperature to your liking. Botanically-inspired shampoo, shower gel, and lotion are all available in cabin bathrooms, as well as an Expedition Essential Kit. Hair dryers are also available in each cabin.

More Cabin Categories & Prices Available

Please contact us for more information.

Category 1. From

$14,186 AUD pp
Category 1. From
Cat 1 #301-306 Cabins feature two lower single beds that can convert to a Queen, a writing desk and two portholes. Each cabin has individual climate controls, allowing you to adjust the temperature to your liking. Botanically-inspired shampoo, shower gel, and lotion are all available in cabin bathrooms, as well as an Expedition Essential Kit. Hair dryers are also available in each cabin.

More Cabin Categories & Prices Available

Please contact us for more information.

Category 1. From

$14,186 AUD pp
Category 1. From
Cat 1 #301-306 Cabins feature two lower single beds that can convert to a Queen, a writing desk and two portholes. Each cabin has individual climate controls, allowing you to adjust the temperature to your liking. Botanically-inspired shampoo, shower gel, and lotion are all available in cabin bathrooms, as well as an Expedition Essential Kit. Hair dryers are also available in each cabin.

More Cabin Categories & Prices Available

Please contact us for more information.

Category 1. From

$14,186 AUD pp
Category 1. From
Cat 1 #301-306 Cabins feature two lower single beds that can convert to a Queen, a writing desk and two portholes. Each cabin has individual climate controls, allowing you to adjust the temperature to your liking. Botanically-inspired shampoo, shower gel, and lotion are all available in cabin bathrooms, as well as an Expedition Essential Kit. Hair dryers are also available in each cabin.

Vessel Type: Expedition Ship

Passenger Capacity: 100

Built: 2017

National Geographic Venture is a purpose-built expedition vessel designed to follow the seasons and uncover the wild beauty of North America’s west coast and Baja California. A sister ship to National Geographic Quest, she was constructed at the renowned Nichols Brothers shipyard in the Pacific Northwest, continuing a legacy of shipbuilding excellence that began with Sea Bird and Sea Lion in the 1970s. Carrying 100 guests in 50 comfortable cabins, Venture offers the perfect balance of modern amenities and expedition-ready design, with a shallow draught that allows for access to hidden coves, narrow inlets, and wildlife-rich waters.

On board, guests enjoy spacious public areas including a lounge with bar and presentation space, a dining room with open seating, a Global Gallery, fitness centre, and a furnished sundeck. A mudroom with lockers keeps expedition gear handy, while the open Bridge invites guests to learn from the Captain and crew. With twin Zodiac platforms for efficient embarkation, Venture is ideally suited for spontaneous wildlife encounters and exploration by paddleboard or kayak. Her design, informed by over 50 years of expedition expertise, ensures an immersive, flexible, and unforgettable experience at sea.

Cabin layout for National Geographic Venture

Inclusions


• All accommodations, meals, and non-alcoholic beverages aboard ships
• Use of snorkeling equipment, wet suits, and kayaks (where available)
• Services of our expert expedition team and guest speakers
• Services of a ship physician on most voyages
• Certain hotels and meals ashore as indicated in the itinerary
• Round-trip transfers based on group flights
• Shore excursions, sightseeing, entrance fees, and special access permits
• Taxes, service charges, and tips (except for ship’s crew, at our guests’ discretion)

Exclusions


• Air transportation (except when we indicated in the itinerary, as included) Extensions
• Passport, visa, and immigration fees
• Travel Protection Plan
• Special and unique excursions such as scuba diving, flightseeing, etc. (where offered)
• Alcoholic beverages (alcohol is included on select ships)
• Items of personal nature
• Phone and Internet Service
• Laundry
• Gratuity for ship’s crew, at our guests’ discretion (crew tips are included on select ships)
11 Days from
$1,290 AUD per day

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0800 945 3327

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1800 107 715

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