Before you say, “Ho-hum, just another Mexican cruise,” hold on to your sombrero.
In a country whose attractions are often taken for granted, there’s more than resorts and sprawling, congested cities. There’s a side you may never have known existed.
There’s the Sea of Cortez.
The turquoise waters of this great channel, straddled by the Baja California peninsula and the Mexican mainland, are a virtual marine wilderness, dotted with islands that have earned National Geographic’s comparison to the fabled Galapagos.
The islands in the Sea of Cortez are mostly uninhabited, teem with wildlife, and represent irresistible natural laboratories for the study of evolution. Islands with familiar names, such as San Francisco and San Jose, are really not-so-familiar refuges for humpback and blue whales, dolphins, sharks, manta rays, hundreds of species of tropical fish, as well as pelicans, boobies and frigate birds.
But visitors can also discover their many remote, secluded beaches: Isla Espiritu Santo, on Bonanza Bay, for example, is a beautiful wide lagoon fringed with sand dunes and bordered by azure seas, and the tiny islet of Los Islotes is home to hundreds of California sea lions that sun on its offshore rocks.
Several lines explore this little-known Mexico, Clipper Cruise Line and Classical Cruises among them.
Classical education
Classical Cruises offers unusual and independent-type cruises and aims to present educational travel experiences. In the past, its cruises through the unspoiled Sea of Cortez have been combined with a rail excursion aboard the Copper Canyon Railway. Winding through the Sierra Madre between Chihuahua and Los Mochis, the railway climbs from sea level to 8,000 feet, and is the only access to Copper Canyon’s pristine beauty.
Classical Cruises, which sails two 80-passenger luxury ships, the Aurora I and II, is the retail arm of the company that puts together cruises for the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution. As such, it has an exceptional roster of scientists and naturalists aboard. The line’s itineraries span the globe. Offerings vary tremendously, so call for the most updated information: 800-252-7745, ext. 10.
Clipper Cruise Lines, another company that explores the Sea of Cortez, also sails a small ship, the 138-passenger Yorktown Clipper. A U.S.-flagged vessel, it is nimble enough to visit the very small ports of the area.
Clipper’s fleet of Zodiac landing craft frees it from the constraints of small-port dockings, so they can land in small groups wherever curiosity dictates.
Paul H. Duynhouwer, Clipper’s president, says: “You can’t take big ships with lots of passengers into wilderness areas and expect to come away with any sense of the substance of the place. How we experience the destinations during these voyages is as important as what we see.”
Clipper’s passengers spend four days exploring, swimming and snorkeling and its Zodiacs give passengers many opportunities to go ashore for exploration accompanied by staff naturalists who lead walks to view the many species of cacti, birds and wildlife. On Isla Santa Catalina, for example, naturalists explore the desert or take an easy walk up a sandy arroyo to view giant cardon and barrel cacti.
Its late autumn 2-week “Sea of Cortez & Baja California” voyage sails Nov. 12 from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Isla Espiritu Santo, Isla Santa Catalina, Isla San Jose/Isla San Francisco, Mazatlan, Isla Isabella/San Blas, Puerto Vallarta/Yelapa Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa and Acapulco. Fares range from $3,150 to $4,750 per person, based on double occupancy.
In addition to its Sea of Cortez cruises, Clipper also sails to Costa Rica’s national parks and the Darien Jungle.
Life aboard the Yorktown Clipper is unregimented. Meals are served at a leisurely single, open seating. Call 800-325-0010.
Princess possibilities
If, however, it’s Mexico’s mariachi that still lures you, Princess Cruises returns to Mexico this fall with its 890-passenger Fair Princess and the 806-passenger Golden Princess (the newest addition to the fleet).
Both ships will visit the most popular ports along the Mexican Riviera, with 7- and 10-day round-trip cruises from Los Angeles.
As part of the line’s Love Boat Savers Program, passengers booking any of its fall ’93 Mexico cruise are eligible for a discount-50 percent off the second-person fare on all sailings. Fares include air transportation.
Princess also features an early bird pre-cruise hotel package for passengers arriving a day early in Los Angeles, with time to relax and sightsee before the cruise. Call: 800-LOVEBOAT.
