We enjoyed another amazing sunrise this morning, with the addition of multiple sightings of sperm whales just before breakfast — what a way to start our last day in Baja on National Geographic Venture! After breakfast we had a landing at Punta Gato, in an area with a lovely long sand beach and incredible sandstone formations, for walks through Baja’s unique desert landscape. A number of guests enjoyed a refreshing dip in the ocean, while others just relaxed on their last landing of the voyage! All afternoon we cruised the rich Sea of Cortez waters looking for more marine life, and we were finally rewarded with a sunset encounter with multiple blue whales, the largest creatures on our wonderful planet. Another perfect day in Baja!
2/11/2025
Read
National Geographic Venture
Bahia Almejas and Puerto Magdalena
It’s our second day in Bahia Magdalena on board National Geographic Venture. It was an early start but worth it to experience our second round of whale watching in the shallow lagoon of the southern bay. The morning was especially spectacular, with over 40 whales spy-hopping consistently and some even breaching in the distance. We even spotted a mother and calf which were navigating across the lagoon. Upon our return, we were met by the wonderful hospitality team with hot cocoa to warm us. We repositioned to Puerto Magdalena, a small fishing town of about 100 inhabitants who greeted us with a delicious assortment of beans, guacamole and chips, and of course agua de horchata! We split off into groups to cover different hikes along the way, exploring some of the island’s endemic and captivating flora. Some examples included the Santa Margarita agave, the Magdalena prickly pear, and the cochemiea. It was a great way to explore the coastal plains of Magdalena and get a feel for the very dynamic ecosystem that makes it so unique. The scenery will be a fond memory as we leave the islands and lagoons behind to head out to the Pacific in search of some more amazing wildlife.