The first 3 days of the cruise I was on I kept thinking “Why the Sea of Cortez? What’s so special about it? Why should people come here as opposed to all the other great places in the world?” Sure – this burnt-orange landscape without trees and clouds is stark and stunning, and the turquoise waters are practically begging you to jump in, but why go to the Sea of Cortez?
I’m a bad traveler – mainly because I’m pretty hard to please. After spending nearly a decade constantly traveling, I’ve seen a hell of a lot. And it all starts to look and feel the same. I have a serious “Been there, done that” attitude that I wish I could get rid of – but I also have about 10 pounds I’d like to get rid of and that isn’t going to happen either. For the last 2 years I’ve really been focused on exploration travel. I want to find places that are off the beaten track, that aren’t in people’s vocabulary yet, or that may be near another popular destination but are overlooked.
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Where is the Sea of Cortez?
So the first question I should probably answer is the one burning in your brain right now…where is this place? After all, I had never heard of it until I saw it as an itinerary for Uncruise, and then I had to look it up (the sign that I probably wanted to go there)!
The Sea of Cortez is in Mexico along the east side of the Baha Peninsula.
It is sometimes called the Gulf of California. It was named after the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés (or “Cortez”) by Francisco de Ulloa in 1539.
Why is the Sea of Cortez Such a Great Place to Visit?
This is why I was mulling over this question constantly – “Why go to the Sea of Cortez?” What’s special about it? I realize people choose travel destinations for many different reasons, they aren’t all travel snobs like me; each person has something different that turns them on about travel. Here were a few answers I came up with after spending 7 days cruising through the Sea of Cortez on an Uncruise Small Ship.
13 things to know before you book a Galapagos Islands holiday
Go for the Sea of Cortez Wildlife
I listened to our guides overuse the word endemic constantly and was getting slightly turned off by it. I kept hearing the quote “The aquarium of the world”; words uttered by the great explorer Jacques Cousteau. Yes, yes, there are many endemic plants, birds, and marine life in the Sea of Cortez, and for many people that feeds their travel cravings. Biologically speaking, the Sea of Cortez is the richest body of water on our entire planet – rare sea life flock here for the abundance of food in the waters. This diverse sea supports more than 900 varieties of fish and more than 2,000 species of marine invertebrates.
Learn about my favorite wildlife experience I had on my Sea of Cortez travels – whales that watch you! This was one of the best wildlife experiences I’ve ever had and it turned whale watching completely upside down for me!
Whales that Do People Watching in Mexico
Go to the Sea of Cortez because it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Yes – the Sea of Cortez and its islands were deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. And to some people, those 6 capital letters are enough to make them get out their passport and travel to a destination! UNESCO status doesn’t come easily and should tell you how unique this environment is.
“The site is one of striking natural beauty in a dramatic setting formed by rugged islands with high cliffs and sandy beaches, which contrast with the brilliant reflection from the desert and the surrounding turquoise waters. It is home to 695 vascular plant species, more than in any marine and insular property on the World Heritage List.”
Go for the Unique Landscapes
Imagine if Arizona had ocean access – and you have the Baja Landscapes on the Sea of Cortez. The treeless inland was a rough, rugged, hot environment, but it had a desert beauty like no other. The flowers and cacti that survive on this land were remarkable and had adapted to the environment. The islands in the Sea of Cortez also satisfy landscape lovers with rockier terrains with white sand beaches, salt flats, and volcano craters.
Thinking of taking an Uncruise? Get $500 off your booking when you use the code OTT500! It’ll be the best Un-cruise you’ve ever taken!
Go Because John Steinbeck Went
If you are a literary type, then you’ll want to go to the Sea of Cortez – because Steinbeck went, of course. In 1940 author John Steinbeck and marine biologist Ed Ricketts, sailed through the Sea of Cortez documenting their findings. They had planned a specimen-collecting expedition, which also provided them with a chance to relax.
Steinbeck escaped the controversy mounting around The Grapes of Wrath and it allowed Ricketts, suffering as a result of the breakup of his long-term relationship to be glad to get away too. After their voyage, they co-authored The Log from the Sea of Cortez, a detailed study of hundreds of tideland species, spiced with a few philosophical digressions.
Go Because you Need a Winter Escape
Tired of the blustery, cold winter and longing for sunny warm days and white sand? For those people who are looking for a winter escape filled with turquoise waters that is more unique than where all of your friends go (i.e. Cancun, Caribbean, Bahamas, Aruba), then Sea of Cortez is the answer. This place is empty, its best spots are hidden, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Plus – they have a good international airport at Can Jose Del Cabo with airlines running winter deals all the time.
And for those of you who are looking for an all-inclusive winter vacation where you don’t have to do anything – you can do a Sea of Cortez cruise with the perks of all-inclusive by doing a small ship cruise on Un-Cruise’s Safari Endeavor. Only 80 total passengers and everything is included – drinks, activities, and food – yet you move around and actually see different parts of the area as opposed to staying in one place.
And the Best Reason is – Go Because it’s Remote and You Want to Unplug
We cruised into Aqua Verde at sunrise and I saw the 2 sailboats anchored around the green bay famed by the stark landscape, and suddenly it became clear to me why I came to the Sea of Cortez; it’s hard to get there.
You’ll only find a few roads that lead into the Sea of Cortez remote beaches and Baja Sur; most of them are dirt. Going by boat is really the only way to see these areas. Plus, there was little to no cell reception the whole trip.
I had found MY ‘exploration travel’ sweet spot – remoteness. I like feeling like a modern-day explorer, seeking out remote pockets of the world to try to satisfy people like me who love to be different. That was reason enough for me to go to the Sea of Cortez.
Thinking of taking an Uncruise? Get $500 off your booking when you use the code OTT500! It’ll be the best Un-cruise you’ve ever taken!
How to Get to the Sea of Cortez
- Fly into Los Cabas regional Airport (SJD) and add traditional beach bum to your itinerary.
- Fly into Loreto (LTO) or La Paz (LAP) to dive right into the remoteness.
- Cruise the islands on an Uncruise Adventures Small Ship and don’t forget to tell them OTTSWORLD sent you!
- For the more Adventurous – drive a car or RV down the Mexico Federal Highway 1 from San Diego to Los Cabos. This would be a great road trip full of local culture, beaches, wildlife, hiking, and local food!
By Simon March 15, 2016 - 5:00 pm
How lucky you are, Sherry! I’ve been dreaming of Baja California and the Sea of Cortèz for years and never managed to go. What kept me from going is the fact that it seems quite hard to travel along the Baja by public transport, and hiring a car alone would be too expensive. Things might have changed, though, so I’d love any advice from you.
By Dan March 18, 2016 - 7:16 am
There is a kind of negitive edge to your latest writing. Like challenge me!
Return to the happy traveler i met in Sri Lanka, when your able. Tell me what does a un cruise cost&will the captain let me steer???
By Sherry March 18, 2016 - 11:53 am
Sorry you feel that this was negative Dan – but I did have a wonderful time on the cruise. It took me a few days to settle into it – but it was a fabulous experience! Just as anyone – I have things I like and don’t like – and as a travel writer I think it’s important to let people know that sometimes I don’t like every place I go to, and becuase I travel a lot – I think I’m just more critical in general. However this wasn’t the case in the Sea of Cortez – I really liked it. I liked it becuase it hit my sweet spot – it was remote and not well known yet. That’s my travel style – at least that’s what it’s evolved into after 9 years of seeing and experiencing many places. Plus, as a writer I want to make sure that I”m really looking at things with a critical eye and putting forth what I believe to be the best vacation options for people. There are so many places to go in the world it’s hard to narrow it down. And for those who are looking for remote, unique or any of the other features I mentioned – this is a great destination! And…stay tuned… I do have another post coming up next week that goes into a bit more detail about Un-Cruise and what the activities were like. And the costs of the Un-Cruise start at $3000 and go up. Thanks for your feedback!
By Leigh | Campfires & Concierges March 18, 2016 - 9:24 am
Looks like the Galapagos in some ways, especially the boobies and sea lions! This is finally the year I’m going to book a kayak trip in the Sea of Cortez – I’ve had my eye on this trip for a few year – it’s paddling and camping around Espiritu Santo Island. Hope to ring in 2017 on a remote beach in Baja!
By Selma March 20, 2016 - 10:00 pm
It looks like quite a delightful place … I would love to spend a few months per year here escaping the winter weather back home.
By Tim Mc Donnell February 15, 2017 - 4:50 pm
Just drove the baja in Dec. s.d.to Todos Santos..Gets better every visit. Nice photos. YES the baja so tops to visit.. Safest place in mexico to visit.. My plan to be in Mexico four months.. winters in Seattle get long and old.ENJOY
By William R. Parks August 16, 2018 - 7:55 am
Looks fabulous place for nature loving people. Whales, sea lion … birds. Great UNESCO World Heritage Site.
By Sherry August 17, 2018 - 7:42 pm
It is! I hope you do the trip some day – it really took me by surprise!
By Audra Pedersen January 10, 2020 - 10:58 am
Thank you for the wonderful information! We have chartered a catamaran out of La Paz for a week with 2 other couples and I am very much looking forward to it. I am curious, are there any little stops that, in your opinion, are not to be missed? Islands, coves, town, etc. Keep up the wonderful writing, thank you!
By Sherry January 17, 2020 - 7:30 pm
That sounds like a fabulous trip! Sadly I don’t remember all of the stops since it was a ship itinerary, but if you can go swim with the sea lions that’s lots of fun!