THE GALAPAGOS OF THE NORTH

Unveil the desert of surprises . . .

As the day draws to a close over the Sea of Cortés, you join a handful of people for a gourmet meal to toast an invigorating day of kayaking the aquamarine waters of Bahia Agua Verde, and hiking the rugged desert hills to the west. Aboard 12-guest Safari Quest, the stories you share become the memories of a lifetime. You'll find yourself recounting moments of delight as a school of Moorish idols flashed by your mask, or challenging your yachtmates to recall the name of that particular cactus that grows as high as sixty feet. You'll call on an ever-present crew member to refresh your wine glass before retiring to the deck as a warm night breeze bids you good-night. You eagerly await the days to come, when you'll linger on deck as pods of dolphins leap from the water beside you, and laser sailboats are lowered into the water for your afternoon of leisure.

Baja California, a seemingly sparse, burning desert region, is not what it seems. Here along the Sea of Cortés, the desert becomes an ocean of wonder. Plant species alone number close to 3,000, and bird-life is rich and varied, from migrating terns to comical boobys. You'll marvel at the wealth of marine life like elephant seals, California sea lions, hundreds of fish species, dolphins, and whales. You could never have enough film to capture the vibrant essence of this region. American Safari Cruises offers you an ideal opportunity to explore and encounter the riches of the Sea of Cortés. Whether you're kayaking, sailing, or cruising above water, or swimming and snorkeling below, you will wander and weave your way through one of Mexico's most treasured, unspoiled areas.

Highlights:
Extensive exploration of the Biosphere Reserve. From-the-yacht kayaking, waterskiing, snorkeling, and sailing. Onboard Expedition Leader/Naturalist. Guided nature hikes and beachcombing. Unhurried time to view marine mammals. Included tour city of Loreto. Exceptional cuisine.

Day 1
Arrive in Loreto, boarding
On arrival transfer to the Safari Quest. The Captain will anchor for the night at secluded Honeymoon Cove.

Day 2
Isla Carmen and Whale Watching
We’ll drop anchor at Ballandra Bay where you can enjoy a guided hike into the desert interior, lush with exotic cacti and succulent plants. Beachcombing, skiff rides, swimming and snorkeling are also possibilities. Cruising this afternoon, watch for pods of dolphins along with blue, fin, sei, orca and sperm whales. We’ll anchor at sunset in a peaceful cove.

Day 3
Snorkeling
After an introduction to snorkeling after breakfast, we’ll cruise north to Punta Pulpito. Anchored in sheltered waters, we’ll launch the skiff and sailboat for casual exploration of the rugged shorelines. Snorkel above myriad colorful tropical fish, swim the crystal-clear waters, or soak up the sun’s rays on the beach.

Day 4
Bahía Concepción
Today is another great day for whale watching before we arrive in Bahía Concepción, a sparkling body of water sprinkled with pristine little islets. We’ll anchor in Coyote Bay for an afternoon of beachcombing, snorkeling and exploration by skiff.

Day 5
Mulegé, Isla San Marcos
We’ll explore the mouth of the Mulegé River by skiff, then continue north to Isla San Marcos to enjoy snorkeling over a reef teeming with tropical fish.

Day 6
Santa Rosalía, Cruising toward the Midriff Islands
We’ll tour the historic copper mining town of Santa Rosalía before reboarding the yacht to cruise north. We’ll anchor at Bahía San Francisquito for the night.

Day 7
Midriff Islands
Today’s itinerary in the rarely-visited Midriff Islands is flexible. We may drop anchor off Isla Salsipuedes for a hike, watch for sperm whales feeding in the sealife-rich waters, perhaps even snorkel with sea lions at Little Raza Rock.

Day 8
Exploring the Midriff Islands
We’ll make time today for all manner of water activities – skiff rides, snorkeling, sailing, swimming, beachcombing.

Day 9
San Carlos Area
Having crossed the Sea of Cortés to the eastern shore, today we’ll find remote spots to enjoy skiff exploration and water activities. There is a large colony of sea lions at Isla San Pedro.

Day 10
Disembark San Carlos
A transfer to the airport or your hotel is included.

To check availability or request a brochure on American Safari Cruises, drop us a note, or call.... 800-777-7739