NOLS Baja Courses, Small Ship Cruises, and More!

Kayaking, sailing, and small-ship cruising in the magnificent Baja Peninsula!

Only a thin line separates humans from whales. And it is easily crossed on a tour of Baja.

The Baja peninsula is a mountainous finger of land that divides the warm, nutrient-rich waters of the Sea of Cortez from the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean. This region, often referred to as the “Mexican Galápagos,” offers some of the greatest diversity of sea life on the planet. While Baja kayaking, depending on the time of year, you may encounter dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, manta rays, tropical birds — including blue-footed boobies, magnificent frigatebirds, red-billed tropicbirds, and a variety of hummingbirds — and gray whales.

The Pacific gray whale migration from Alaska’s Bering Sea to the waters of Baja’s lagoons is the longest mammal migration on earth, encompassing almost six thousand miles. Nearly hunted to extinction in the past, these gentle giants have made a dramatic comeback and today show little fear of humans. Every spring, hundreds of them return to traditional birthing and breeding grounds at sheltered San Ignacio Lagoon on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Unlike other large cetaceans, the gray whales of Baja spend most of their time close to shore. On your Baja whale-watching tour, you’ll be able to see them play in the shallow waters and surf the waves. With thundering whooshes, they leap completely out of the water — or “spy-hop” — lifting their heads vertically above the surface to observe their surroundings.

The islands of the Sea of Cortez are a UNESCO World Heritage site; and on your Sea of Cortez cruise, you can travel among them. You’ll understand why the whales love to get close to look at these coasts. Large cacti reach prickly arms toward the sun. Bay fingers jut into the land, which turns from ocher to rich red in the sinking sun. A pure, white band of sand is all that stands between the whales and you.

On your NOLS Baja course or baja small ship cruising adventure, you’ll transcend that barrier and go out among them. As the arc of a gray leviathan back glides past, reach out your hand to touch that graceful line — and cross another.