To provide you with more flexibility, more comfortable transfer arrangements, and a better overall experience, a complimentary full day and night is included at the lovely CostaBaja Resort & Spa, located on the shore of the Sea of Cortez, just south of Espiritu Island, CostaBaja. Upon arrival in San Jose del Cabo, transfer to La Paz and and check in to the CostaBaja Resort & Spa.

This morning is on your own to relax and take advantage of the resort and spa amenities. Check-out in the late morning and depart for lunch at a local restaurant in La Paz. After lunch, transfer to San Carlos and embark the National Geographic Sea Bird.

Explore the ever-shifting sand dunes of Isla Magdalena on a cross-island walk to one of the most pristine beaches in the Pacific. Bird watching here can be excellent — magnificent frigate birds, pelicans, cormorants, terns and great blue herons, ibis, whimbrels and willets are among the species you might see. It's not unusual to see forty species of birds in just one day along these fertile shorelines where they refuel for their destinations ahead. This is Mexico exploration at its finest.

Laguna San Ignacio is a large bay and favored haunt of the gray whales in Baja. The ship lingers in this remote and important locale while you observe the mother and calf pairs — from the ship, and from water level in your Zodiacs and local pangas. For some reason, the whales here seem to be friendlier than they are elsewhere. It’s not unusual for mothers and calves to approach your boats, the calves often playing hide and seek — sometimes even wanting to be petted and scratched.

As you cruise south along the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula, there is a chance of seeing a wide variety of marine life, including the largest animal on earth: the blue whale.

Spend a week in exploration of the Sea of Cortez. Your Mexico cruise takes you past the spectacular Friars Rocks at Land's End. For those who wish, a visit to the historic town center of San Jose del Cabo can be arranged.

Espiritu Santo. Los Islotes. Santa Catalina. Rasa. These are some of the melodious names of these islands scattered throughout this beautiful sea. After over 20 years of exploration here, new places and exciting events are still to be discovered: one hundred bottlenose dolphins leaping over sperm whales near your ship; a pod of fin whales feeding around a convergence zone; the vision of hundreds of Humboldt squid illuminated in the ship's bow lights.

Regardless of where you cruise these Mexican shores, the best areas for whale watching remain consistent — the waters south of Isla Carmen, Canal de Ballenas up north, and near the mouth of Bahia Concepcion. Whether on the bridge of the ship, on Zodiacs or kayaks, you are in prime position to observe them all.

After a visit to La Paz enjoy lunch and then transfer to the airport in Los Cabos for your homeward flight.