Bahia Almejas/Belchers Bay, 2/22/2025, National Geographic Venture
Aboard the
National Geographic Venture
Baja California
Today guests of National Geographic Venture woke up to an amazing sunrise alongside Isla Santa Margarita before boarding pangas to embark on some incredible whale watching excursions. We saw spy hopping, breaching, and mating behavior.
After an amazing morning, we had an afternoon of beachcombing and kayaking off Isla Magdalena.
Kylee Walterman grew up in central California where she was in close proximity to the ocean, mountains, deserts, valleys, and national forests; this is where she found a passion for the natural world. She attained a Marine Science degree with a biolo...
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Today we woke up to the sound of the anchor lifting, and after a short transit we came alongside at the dock in Puerto San Carlos during breakfast. Shortly after breakfast we were greeted by Mauro Butron, a local naturalist and guide who runs a very smooth operation. From the window of the coaches, we took in the natural and cultural landscape and Mauro shared many stories with us along the way which enriched our terrestrial journey. At the northern end of Magdalena Bay, we set out to explore the mangroves with local captains driving us around in fiberglass boats. Along the shorelines we had many wonderful encounters with the avian community. We also had many close encounters with California grey whales and common bottlenose dolphins. It was a delightful day spent in the great outdoors. We gained a glimpse into a world where environmental conservation has succeeded in protecting these lagoons, in part due to the presence of natural history tourism.
Baja is known for its sunsets and sunrises. Sailing north in the Pacific Ocean, the sky lit orange and the clouds red, as dawn broke. Gulls passed by with a stiff north wind as whales spouted around us. At the entrance to Magdelena Bay, National Geographic Venture steamed on, marking a new leg to our expedition. In the afternoon, we explored Sand Dollar Beach. This is a favorite location of ours, and it’s easy to see why. Rolling sand dunes leading to the massive Pacific, mangroves teeming with bird life, and a gentle bay-side beach all shine beautifully in the afternoon light. With another day celebrated, we look forward to what tomorrow holds.
