Baja, Mexico : Sea of Cortez Wildlife Cruise

Traverse the Southern Sea of Cortez on an intimate cruise aboard the Don Jose Expedition Boat photographing and exploring the sea, islands and coast in this land of sun-drenched beaches, dramatic desert landscapes and warm waters with over 800 species of marine wildlife! Pro photographer and former Baja resident, Tom Bol, will guide you in capturing the stunning array of marine wildlife in the Sea of Cortez and breathtaking coastline of Baja, Mexico from La Paz to Loreto. You are destined to improve your photography skills and return home with amazing images of the Baja landscape and migratory and indigenous marine wildlife including whales, dolphins, mantas, Leatherback Sea Turtles and whale sharks.

Tom will also teach you invaluable Photo Shop techniques, on location light painting and tips on how to get the best wildlife images. You’ll also have the chance to use PQA’s underwater housing with your digital camera and practice underwater photography as the Don Jose anchors frequently along its course for snorkeling among a variety of tropical fish. And for those a bit more adventurous, there will be ample time for sea kayaking and hiking.

• Marine wildlife viewing aboard the Don Jose is at its best with the second and third decks of the boat located high above the water, enabling our small group (12 people total) to photograph looking down upon the wildlife including: whales, dolphins, mantas, Leatherback Sea Turtles and whale sharks.
• On location, one-on-one photo tips from pro photographer, Tom Bol. Plus Photo Shop classes, light painting lessons and portfolio reviews.
• Intimate photo ops of a variety of wildlife including: whales, dolphins, seals, blue-footed boobies raising their young and tens of thousands of royal and elegant terns in their nests.
• Explore and photograph the colorful desert islands of Isla Catalan, Isla San Francisco, Isla Santa Cruz, Agua Verde, Isla San Jose, and the uninhabited Isla Espiritu Santo and Partida, an UNESCO protected biosphere area.
• On your last night in the city of La Paz, meander along this lived-in city’s romantic seaside walkway (the Malecon) whose vantage point offers stunning sunsets. Shoot the harbor activity of local fishing boats and sailboats from around the world.

Itinerary

Baja, Mexico: Sea of Cortez Photography Wildlife Cruise

April 26 – Arrive in La Paz, Mexico

Arrive on your own in La Paz, Mexico by 1 pm and a taxi transfer (included) will take you to the *Don Jose Expedition Boat docked overnight in La Paz.

April 27 thru May 1 – Sea of Cortez Wildlife Cruise

As the Don Jose sails between La Paz and Loreto, photograph a variety of whales, dolphins, birds and other marine wildlife!

Hike, explore and photograph the colorful desert islands along the way including: Isla Catalan, Isla San Francisco, Isla Santa Cruz, Agua Verde, Isla San Jose, and the uninhabited islands of Isla Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida Isla Partida, a UNESCO protected biosphere and eco-tourism destination.

On board Photo Shop classes and portfolio reviews.

On location photo tips and light painting lessons.

Shoot underwater as the Don Jose anchors frequently along its course for snorkeling, kayaking and swimming.

May 2- Arrive in La Paz

Afternoon arrival in La Paz with transfer to local Hotel Los Arcos (included)

May 3- Departure from La Paz

Fly back from La Paz to your hometown.

See Lodging for details about the expedition boat.

Itinerary is subject to change.

Lodging

Based on double occupancy
Single supplement is not available

Baja, Mexico: Sea of Cortez Wildlife Cruise

The Don Jose (80 ft) was designed and built in 1978 especially for Baja Expeditions. Marine wildlife viewing onboard is at its best as the second and third decks of the boat are high above the water, enabling passengers to look down upon the whales, dolphins, mantas and whale sharks. A crew of six is ready to assist your needs.

Amenities include:

• 12 participant capacity in 7 above-deck, air-conditioned cabins
• Each cabin has it’s own sink, changing area, storage closet
• 1 toilet and shower shared per every 2 cabins
• Swim step and storage lockers for gear
• Skiffs to take you ashore or to nearby dive sites
• Kayaks and snorkeling gear included
• VHS video system and natural history library onboard
• All meals and beverages while onboard

Cost per person $4199

Based on double occupancy from La Paz, Mexico
Single supplement is not available

Limited to 12 participants

Terms and Conditions

Included:

• Quest workshop fee
• Airport transfers
• One night hotel accommodation at Hotel Los Arcos in La Paz, Mexico
• Six nights accommodation on Don Jose including ALL meals, beverages and happy hour
• Kayaking and Snorkeling Gear
• Conservation Passport

Not included:

• Roundtrip International Airfare from your home to La Paz, Mexico
• Gratuities
• Dinner in La Paz on May 2nd

Conservation Passport Info:

The Passport was designed by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas to raise funds for the continued protection of the shorelines, inlets, beaches and coves that make this area so extraordinary to visit. This mandatory fee allows you to visit Mexico’s Protected Areas as many times as you wish for an entire year. On behalf of PQA we will make a contribution of $28.00 per person to help insure the continuation of the important conservation, research and education work occurring in the area.

Tom Bol

Tom Bol is an editorial and commercial photographer who specializes in adventure sports, portraits and travel photography. He shoots assignments for clients including Columbia Sportswear, Men’s Journal, National Geographic Adventure, Nikon, Sunset Magazine and the Wall Street Journal. He is represented by 6 stock agencies, and his images are used for advertising, books, billboards, brochures and posters. He loves to teach, and has taught workshops for 12 years. Tom was on the list of National Geographic Adventure’s “50 of Americas Top Visionaries” for his photography.

Quest Leader’s website: www.tombolphoto.com

The Baja California Peninsula

A peninsula extending into the Pacific Ocean from the south end of the U.S. state of California, Baja California provides some of Mexico’s most dramatic sea and landscapes including vast and remote deserts, dormant volcanoes, and old mission towns. The Peninsula extends some 775 miles from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south, separating the Pacific Ocean from the Sea of Cortez.

The Sea of Cortez

The Sea of Cortez is the body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland and bordered by the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora and Sinaloa. Although the name “Gulf of California” predominates on most maps in English today, “Sea of Cortez” is the one preferred by most local residents.

The Sea of Cortez was created when the Gulf opened up 5.3 million years ago, redirecting the flow of the Colorado River. This warm sea may be the richest body of water in the world, with more than 800 species of marine vertebrates. The Sea receives more sunlight than any other in the world and the gigantic tides churn over the nutrient-rich water from the bottom. The Sea of Cortez sustains a large number of marine mammals, many of which are rare and endangered. Its hundreds of islands are important nesting sites for thousands of seabirds and its warm waters are primary breeding, feeding and nursing grounds for a variety of migratory species such as Blue Whales (the world’s largest animal), the Humpback whale, California Gray Whale, Manta Ray and Leatherback Sea Turtle and indigenous marine life and birds.

La Paz

“La Perla Del Mar De Cortez,”…the Pearl in the Sea of Cortez… is located on a large bay on the Sea of Cortez, 137 miles by road north of the southern tip of the Baja peninsula. La Paz is a real Mexican city where 170,000 Mexicans live and work with only a five-block strip for tourist shops, restaurants and tours. Local businesses co-exist with tourist stops and give the city a lived-in feeling. The romantic seaside walkway, The Malecon, is the vantage point for stunning sunsets and early morning walks among the activity of local fishing boats and sailboats from around the world. La Paz is quickly establishing itself as Baja’s eco-tourism center with a wide variety of tours offered by professionals dedicated to preserving the environment.

La Paz was founded by Hernan Cortez on May 3, 1535 but the hostility of the environment forced him to retreat a year later. Other efforts to colonize the area brought Sabastian Vizcaino in 1596, Isidro de Atondo and Antillon in 1863, the Jesuits Juan de Ugarte and Jaime Bravo in 1720 and finally in 1811, Jose Espinoza who established the first permanent settlement that turned La Paz into the capital of Baja California Sur in 1830.

The Islands

Traveling north by water from La Paz takes you to the wilderness islands of El Espiritu Santo, La Partida and Los Islotes. The islands are destinations for scuba divers, kayakers, fishermen, snorkelers, hikers, and beach and nature lovers. Ecologists work to keep these islands pristine so existing flora and fauna can flourish for generations to come.

There are hundreds of islands in the Sea of Cortez, 53 of them protected as a special biosphere reserve since 1978. Only a handful of the islands have official names. The largest, at 1,000 square kilometers (620 square miles), is Isla Tiburon (Shark Island). The islands were formed primarily by submergence of the surrounding territory, though some, like Isla Coronado, were created by volcanic activity. Despite rainfall of only 1 inch per year, the islands thrive with 3,500 species of mostly indigenous plants including 120 different cacti. The islands support many land animals as well, including rattlesnakes, the chuckwalla (a 2-foot-long lizard) and Cimarron goats. There are also large colonies of seabirds including over 95% of the world’s Elegant Terns and Herman’s Gulls that breed on Rasa Island near Bahia de Los Angeles in Baja California. Other bird colonies include Blue-footed and Brown Boobies as well and the endangered Brown Pelican.

The islands we will mostly likely visit on our cruise include: Isla Espiritu Santo, Isla Partida, Isla Catalan, Isla Santa Cruz, Agua Verde, Isla San Francisco’s and Isla San Jose.

History

The history of Baja California reflects that of the entire country of Mexico, in that the peninsula’s culture is relatively young and brought about by a variety of multi-racial influences. Before the 1810 Mexican revolution that started and fueled the series of events that would free Mexico of Spanish rule, the Mexican territory, along with the peninsula of Baja California, continued to be a Spanish colony. After gaining freedom from the Spanish colonizers however, the Mexican people had to struggle against the influences of yet another influential nation, the United States of America. It was only a couple of years later, when the concept of national identity was sown in the minds of its citizens, that Mexicans were finally able to say that Mexico was their mother country, not Spain and not the US.

Due to the long period of Spanish rule in Baja California, visitors can instantly see the Spanish influence in everything from the language, architecture, cuisine and even the names of places in Baja. Spanish is the principal language spoken in Baja California Peninsula, although English is spoken and understood by many due to its worldwide popularity plus the close proximity of Baja to the United States.

Gear to Bring

We recommend you bring the following gear with you on our Quests.

Camera Gear

• Digital SLR with back up camera that will fit your lenses
• Battery charger
• A few extra batteries
• Memory cards (bring plenty!!!)
• Sensor cleaning supplies
• Flash with plenty of batteries

Lenses

• 12-24mm (for the 1.5x sensor size cameras) or 17-35mm (for full frame shooters) lens for landscapes and cityscapes; also for environmental portraits
• 28-105mm lens or similar for street shooting and portraits; a nice lens to have shooting busy markets
• 70-200mm lens for portraits and nearby wildlife; VR or IS lenses are very helpful
• 70-300mm or 100-400mm lens for more distant wildlife
• 1.4X tele-converter for telephoto lenses
• Polarizing filter(s)v
• Lens hoods for all lenses
• Lint-free cloth to clean lenses and blower ball for dust
• Fish-eye lens (if you have one, very creative lens!)
• Lensbaby if you have one else you can try ours!

Computer / Digital Accessories

• Laptop with charger and Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom (not mandatory)
• Storage device, such as an EPSON P5000, or portable hard drives like Lacie hard drives
• Card Reader
• All cables for drives, computer, card readers, storage devices, etc.
• Power converters/adapters for all International Quests

Other

• Cover for camera (for shooting in the rain); Fotosharp makes simple, inexpensive covers
• lightweight tripod (carbon fiber)
• cable release (for night shots)
• small headlamp (flashlight)
• Tripod Reflector/Diffuser Beanbag (for long lenses while on safari); Backpack Lowepro makes excellent bags
• Your camera’s manual
• Photo Vest
• Leatherman Tool