Compare Cradle of the Grey Whale: Baja California Uncovered by Audley Travel vs Hiking and Camping in Joshua Tree by Intrepid Travel
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 14 days | 4 days |
| Price From | $ 5,554 | $ 1,775 |
| Price Per Day | $ 397 | $ 444 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Basic |
| Physical Level |
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| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Boat excursions to spot whales and dolphins in pristine lagoons. Day trip to Espíritu Santo Island to spot a number of bird species as well as observe and snorkel with the playful sea lions. Exploring the Sierra de San Francisco, a mountain range with a diverse flora, rugged canyon scenery and prehistoric rock art. |
Discover one of the most serene and surreal landscapes in the American West on a winter hiking and backcountry camping trip in Joshua Tree National Park where billion-year-old rocks loom above the surrounding desert, and expansive Joshua Tree “forests” blanket broad valleys. In the mornings and evenings, it feels more like a savannah than a desert, with Joshua Trees framing the horizon at the edge of the Mojave desert. Admire Joshua Tree’s must-see features like desert oases and soaring summits and gather around the well-stoked campfires at a basecamp in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park. |
Day 1 : Mexico City
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Mexico City. Upon arrival make your way to the nearby airport hotel in preparation for your journey to Baja California tomorrow.
Day 2 : La Paz
This morning fly to La Paz, one of the gateways to beautiful Baja California. You have the afternoon at leisure to relax and recover. This evening meet the rest of your group for dinner and an introduction to the days ahead.
Day 3 : La Paz
Today you could relax at your own leisure. Alternatively you have a choice of excursions. Spend time exploring some national parks or go swimming with whale sharks.
Day 4 : Loreto
Travel to the port of López Mateos on Magdalena Bay for your first whale watching excursion. Continue on to Loreto, with stops at Baja's own "Monument Valley" and at the spectacular drop-off of the Sierra de la Giganta into the Sea of Cortez.
Day 5 : San Ignacio
Today you leave Loreto for San Ignacio, taking in many attractions along the way. Hike through volcanic scenery to a giant column of cacti, and perhaps swim in Conception Bay. A little further north you'll see the historic mining town of French origin, Santa Rosalía, where you will visit the metal church designed by Gustav Eiffel. Later, hike against the backdrop of Tres Vírgenes volcanoes before reaching picturesque San Ignacio.
Day 6 : San Ignacio
Travel to the San Ignacio lagoon, where you will embark on your second amazing boat trip to look for the grey whales. This is the smallest lagoon to find the whales and is often a memorable experience,
Day 7 : San Ignacio
Today you will explore the Sierra San Francisco, a diverse canyon landscape of endemic flora and prehistoric rock art.
Day 8 : San Ignacio
Travel by road to Guerrero Negro today. En route to the wharf you'll enjoy an interesting tour of the world's largest "open sky" salt works, before embarking on a whale watching trip on Scammon's Lagoon.
Day 9 : Loreto
Begin the journey back to Loreto, visiting an old Jesuit mission en-route as well as taking a hike at the base of the spectacular Tres Virgenes volcanoes.
Day 10 : Loreto
Having covered a lot of ground, today has been built in for you to choose what you would like to do. You may wish to simply relax at your hotel, or walk along the Malecon and explore Loreto. Alternatively, you could book an excursion to Isla Coronado, or visit the Oasis and Mission of San Javier.
Day 11 : La Paz
Your morning will start with a short walking tour of Loreto, where you will visit the mission church and mission museum. In the afternoon you will return to La Paz.
Day 12 : La Paz
Today you will visit a series of stunning secluded beaches and bays, surrounded by mangroves. Your guide will take you on a little known path right along the edge between mountain, desert and mangroves, to an otherwise inaccessible beach. On this nature walk you will have the chance to see some of the many bird species native to the area.
Day 13 : International return flight
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Mexico City followed by onward international departure.
Day 14 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
Day 1 Joshua Tree National Park
After a morning hotel pickup in Las Vegas, take a scenic drive through sparsely populated desert expanses, picking up additional group members at the Oasis Visitor Center along the way, then drive into the heart of the park to reach Sheep Pass Campground. After lunch, hike to the summit of Ryan Mountain and take in stunning 360-degree summit views of granite rock piles that seem to melt into the surrounding plateau. Returning to camp, enjoy a delicious campfire dinner and admire the sparkling stars of the Milky Way overhead.
Day 2 Joshua Tree National Park
After breakfast, visit the Teddy Bear Cholla Garden then make your way to today’s main hike: The Lost Palms Oasis. Sustained by water seeping up through fault lines, five oases can be found within Joshua Tree National Park, and today you will visit two of them. Meander over arroyos and through sandy smoke tree washes to reach the park’s largest group of California Fan Palms where you will enjoy lunch. From here, hike back to the trailhead, soaking in views of Southern California’s largest lake, the Salton Sea, and perhaps take an additional hike to Arch Rock.
Day 3 Joshua Tree National Park
Soak in the sight of Joshua trees silhouetted against the break of day, or climb to the top of one of the monoliths surrounding camp to greet the morning before our first group hike of the day to Barker Dam. Admire the petroglyphs, learn about the Native American history of the area, and listen to tall tales from the days of gold mining and cattlemen before you head to another part of the Wonderland of Rocks: The Maze. This trail will take you through spires, granite monoliths, and rock formations to a grand finale of breathtaking views of the national park. Returning back to camp, enjoy one last evening of hearty food, good company, and a campfire beneath the desert sky.
Day 4 Joshua Tree National Park
After breakfast, break down camp and head to Hidden Valley, an ecological haven with incredibly diverse flora. Conditions permitting, you will then scramble through one or more of Indian Cove’s finest remote hollows. After soaking in the astounding landscape and enjoying one last lunch together, bid farewell to any group members departing directly from the park then embark on a scenic drive back to Las Vegas where your trip will come to an end.
