This morning we anchor off Punta Marcial, where you can explore the intertidal zone for marine life. Learn safe practices for kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling, and skiffing, all in this historic Steinbeck site. If conditions allow, snorkel at Elephant Rock or in the lee of Isla Catalina, a protected island. Or simply relax and take in the sun.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Spend the morning searching for blue and fin whales that frequent the corridor between Isla Catalina and Santa Rosalia. Your captain will decide the day’s adventure, which may include more time at Isla Smiths, Isla Coronado, or exploring Puerto Refugio further north.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

This rarely visited area offers great snorkeling, beach walks, and interior hikes on the Baja Peninsula. To the north lies Roca el Rasito, an excellent spot for birdlife and for experienced snorkelers. Our guides will highlight areas Steinbeck explored during his journey. If conditions are favorable, longer kayak outings may be offered.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Known as the “Marine Oasis of Baja California,” Bahía de los Ángeles teems with life. Explore by kayak or skiff, hike to Punta Gringa, or visit the local nature museum. This area is also one of the few places where leatherback turtles can be spotted. Swimming with whale sharks may be possible, and for Steinbeck enthusiasts, nearby sites from The Log from the Sea of Cortez await.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

At the northernmost extent of the journey, Puerto Refugio is a tight, scenic anchorage known to yacht captains and fishermen. Spend the day kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and exploring. If weather allows, enjoy a campfire before dinner.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Explore Isla San Esteban on a guided hike up its main arroyo, where you may see pinto chuckwallas and other desert wildlife. Hundreds of sea lions haul out along the shores, while pelicans, boobies, cormorants, and osprey fill the skies. Later, sail through the Canal de Salsipuedes, also called “the Trench,” where sperm whales gather to feed on Humboldt squid. It is one of the most dramatic whale-watching areas in the Sea of Cortez.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today is a Captain’s Choice day. Depending on conditions, we may continue searching for blue, fin, sperm, orca, and pilot whales, or anchor at Playa Punta San Basilio. This calm and protected bay offers excellent opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling. The captain and expedition team will select the best mix of activities to maximize your experience.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Arrive at Isla San Jose and explore its unusual shallow interior lagoon, a prime spot for bird watching and kayaking. Steinbeck found this desert landscape remarkable, and you will too. Outside the lagoon, long beaches invite you to beachcomb or relax. With no ambient light nearby, this is also one of the best stargazing nights of the trip.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Spend the full day exploring Espíritu Santo and nearby Punta Lobos or Bonanza Beach, all within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. All activities are available, from snorkeling and kayaking to hiking. This evening, enjoy the Captain’s Dinner and a slideshow of highlights from your voyage.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast, bid farewell to your crew and fellow travelers. Disembark in La Paz and transfer to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) for your flight home.

Meals included: breakfast