Arrive To: Courtyard Marriott Hotel. Program orientation and presentation of fellow travelers at 5:00PM in one of the hotel's private rooms. Room number posted on the daily events board.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at the hotel in San Diego.

Evening: Join an enjoyable lecture of Baja California imparted by Graham Mackintosh, travel writer who walked the entire coastline of the peninsula in two occasions.

Lodging: Courtyard Marriott

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel in San Diego.

Morning: Begin the day with a lecture by a local Mexican sociologist who discusses the history, culture and economy of the contrasting border region, providing an overview and helping to understand the sites visited the following days. The historical journey of San Diego begins with a visit to Balboa Park housing 15 museums and a famous zoo (not visited). Continue to Presidio Hill and Old Town, where the first Spanish colonists settled in the early 1800’s. Visit some of the more than 30 sites classified within this State Historic Park.

Lunch: A picnic lunch is served at Presidio, on the hill overlooking Old-town.

Afternoon: Continue to discover the dynamic side of San Diego. Its ideal location, almost perfect weather, and casual lifestyle constantly attract new residents and businesses, especially over the past 30 years. Stop to interpret the murals of Chicano Park in the Mexican neighborhood, then drive over the bridge to Coronado peninsula to stroll through the epic Hotel Del. Cross back to the Gaslamp Quarter by ferry to view the new down town from the waterfront.

Dinner: Enjoy dinner at a popular fish and sea food restaurant with a beautiful view of the San Diego bay.

Lodging: Courtyard Marriott

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin the journey South/ Understanding the neighboring cultures in one of the busiest borders in the world/ Relax in peaceful Ensenada.

Note: WATER AND ICE: In Mexico, purified water and ice will be served throughout the trip, on the bus and in restaurants and hotels.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel in San Diego.

Morning: Begin the journey South. Northern Baja exemplifies the strong cultural and economic ties between the U.S. and Mexico. Drive through the most crossed border in the world. Visit the architecturally attractive cultural center CECUT for a guided walk through its modern visual Museo de las Californias . The scenic road to Ensenada along the coast offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.

Lunch: Delight your taste buds with a traditional meal. Savor a lunch consisting of mole, chocolate and vanilla based desserts, and traditional Mexican hot chocolate. The thick, multi-ingredient sauce called mole is one of Mexico's representative dishes.

Afternoon: One of Mexico’s most important culinary gifts to the world is chocolate. Learn about the uses of cacao and participate in a cooking event to prepare chocolate-based recipes such as mole and chocolate patties. Settle in the hotel in Ensenada. The remainder of the day is free to relax, stroll through the main avenue or enjoy the hotel's SPA.

Dinner: Dinner is at the hotel in Ensenada, on your own time with a voucher.

Evening: Enjoy the hotel SPA or bar, or explore the night life of Ensenada.

Lodging: Hotel Corona

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Learn about Ensenada's past glory/ Savor flavorful wines in Mexico's wine country.

Breakfast: At the hotel in Ensenada. Meal options: a variety of Mexican and light dishes.

Morning: Join a lecture on Mexican staples, an introduction to the country's elaborate cuisine. Driving through town, learn about the pleasant city located in the attractive Todos Santos Bay, popular land and cruise ship destination, and important fishing, canning, and agricultural center. Walk through the Riviera del Pacifico ex–casino and hotel, a glamorous resort during the US prohibition years. Eighty percent of Mexico's wine is produced in the beautiful surroundings of Ensenada. Travel to Valle de Guadalupe, located amidst gigantic granite boulders.

Lunch: Enjoy a finger food meal served with wine at a well known winery.

Afternoon: Learn the process of winemaking on a winery tour followed by tasting. Head out a Russian Community Museum in what was once a Russian Colony. Time permitting, visit the new Museo del Vino.

Dinner: The wine industry and local chefs developed a new cuisine called Baja Med, sampled at a dinner in a local restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel Corona

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Follow the dramatic coastline to reach the powerful blowhole/ Welcome to the heart of Baja California's breathtaking desert.

Breakfast: At the hotel in Ensenada. Meal options: a variety of Mexican and light dishes.

Morning: Continue the journey South. Take a detour to scenic Punta Banda where the famous Bufadora, a natural sea spout, probably the highest in the world, is located. Take advantage of informal shopping. Another stop is made to visit the San Vicente Community Museum. Continue to San Quintin, the vegetable garden of Baja California.

Lunch: In a typical "fonda" (small restaurant) of San Quintin. Meal options: a variety of Mexican and local specialties. Taste a healthy salad prepared with the leaf of the national plant of Mexico: the prickley pear cactus.

Afternoon: The road leaves the coast and plunges into the desert. Begin a world of fantasy in the midst of unique vegetation. Enter “Reserva de los Cirios” named in honor of the tall, graceful Boojum tree, Baja’s signature plant.

Dinner: Participate in a small Mexican Fiesta with a finger food dinner. Meal options, taquitos, quesadillas, guacamole, and more.

Lodging: Misión Cataviña

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: To visit the small cave with simple rock art in Cataviña, a short steep hike on grated terrain is required. Participants who can't join, may stay at the base of the hill and enjoy the wonderful surrounding scenery.

Breakfast: At the hotel in Cataviña. Meal options: a variety of Mexican and light dishes.

Morning: Located in the Central Desert, a combination of sun, sand, gigantic granite boulders, and amusing combinations of Boojums, Cardons and Elephant trees make Cataviña a superb desert garden. Spend the morning investigating the flora in this attractive setting. Nature walks include an optional visit to a small cave with simple rock art.

Lunch: At the hotel in Cataviña based on Mexican specialties.

Afternoon: Continue the drive to Guerrero Negro, home of the largest salt plant in the world and one of the gray whale sanctuaries.

Dinner: At the hotel in Guerrero Negro. Meal options: choice of beef, chicken or fish.

Evening: A presentation is given on the Vizcaino World Biosphere, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to whales, migrant birds, endemic vegetation, gigantic rock art caves and the salt plant.

Lodging: Halfway Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Friendly gray whales up-close/ Admire the largest salt plant in the world/ Enormous salt marsh where birds migrate from Russia, Canada, and other latitudes

Note: Getting on and off small out-of-board motor fishing boats from dock is required. There is a possibility of encountering rough seas.

Breakfast: At the hotel in Guerrero Negro. Meal options: a variety of Mexican and light dishes.

Morning: Get up-close and personal with the magnificent Gray whales in Scammon’s Lagoon. Board the pangas for TWO memorable outings to view these enormous mammals at arm’s length, some even let themselves be petted! Each year, gray whales travel thousands of miles from the Arctic Ocean to the warm waters of this wildlife refuge to court, mate, give birth and care for their young. Begin the day driving through La Exportadora de Sal, one of the largest salt plants in the world and learn about its activities. At Scammon’s Lagoon, board small pangas for your exciting encounters among whales.

Lunch: Light box lunches provided on boat while whale watching.

Afternoon: After the second excursion, on the way back to town drive through a natural reserve in an enormous salt marsh where birds migrate from Russia, Canada, and other latitudes. Continue to San Ignacio, a charming town that developed around its famous 18th century mission in the midst of a lush, tranquil palm tree oasis. Visit this small colonial town and its well kept Mission.

Dinner: Savor a tostada dinner at the hotel in San Ignacio.

Lodging: Desert Inn, San Ignacio

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The peninsula's eclectic history/ Old French mining town/ Palm-tree lined river and oasis/ Crystal blue waters of the Sea of Cortes contrasting the desert vegetation.

Breakfast: At the hotel in San Ignacio. Meal options: a variety of Mexican and light dishes.

Morning: The variety of scenery makes this part of the road particularly interesting. Beginning on the volcanic cacti-covered high desert, the steepest grade in the peninsula leads to the blue waters of the Sea of Cortes. Stop in Santa Rosalia, a copper mining town established by the French who brought over a prefabricated iron church designed by Eiffel. Visit the church along with the old French quarters and the Boleo mine museum. Continue to Mulege, a mission settlement on a riverbed in the midst of a palm oasis.

Lunch: Enjoy a Mexican buffet in a colorful hotel of Mulege

Afternoon: South of town, drive along the crystal clear blue waters of Bahia de Concepcion with a stop at one of its unspoiled beaches. Giant cardons dominate the landscape. Reach Loreto, the oldest mission and permanent settlement of the Californias. Loreto also served as the capital of the territory for over 100 years. The mission is still standing today. The hotel is on the beach allowing pleasant walks.

Dinner: At the hotel in Loreto.

Lodging: Desert Inn, Loreto

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit the Jewel of Baja California's missions in impressive jagged peaks of the surrounding mountains/ Hands-on tortilla-making in a goat ranch.

Note: To join this excursion, a 1.5 hour van drive each way, part of it on a graded road, is required.

Breakfast: At the hotel in Loreto. Meal options: a variety of Mexican and light dishes.

Morning: Loreto is surrounded by the impressively rugged peaks of the Sierra de la Giganta providing the scenery for one of the peninsula's most beautiful side excursions: a visit to San Javier Mission. Known as the "jewel of the missions", it is one of the best preserved, proud of its original orchard planted by the missionaries.

Lunch: A typical "machaca" (shreded beef) lunch is served in a small restaurant next to San Javier Mission.

Afternoon: Near San Javier, stop at a goat ranch to learn about life in a ranch and the process to make goat cheese. Practice tortilla-making for your cheese with beans snack. Back in Loreto, time is al leisure to visit the mission, shop or stroll through the pleasant town.

Dinner: On your own for an opportunity to explore local flair.

Lodging: Desert Inn, Loreto

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breathtaking mountain coastline/ Quaint La Paz with pleasant boardwalk/ Sunset dinner at the beach.

Breakfast: At the hotel in Loreto. Meal options: a variety of Mexican and light dishes.

Morning: Depart in the morning to continue driving along scenic sea-shores, through Sierra de la Giganta mountains and across an important agricultural area to reach La Paz.

Lunch: Try the famous Mexican tacos in a "taqueria" in La Paz.

Afternoon: Although La Paz is the most important city of the southern part of the peninsula, its tree-lined streets and calm clear beaches inspire tranquility. A walk along the malecon (boardwalk) is a treat. Visit the zocalo and the Cathedral before settling in the beach front hotel. Then head out to the beaches to enjoy the romantic coast where sunsets tend to be spectacular.

Dinner: Relax in the romantic coast, viewing the sunset while savoring a fish and sea food dinner in a beach "palapa" (palm-thatched roof) restaurant.

Lodging: La Concha

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: To join this activity, boarding a small boat from the beach and changing from one boat to another in calm waters, is required.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel in La Paz.

Morning: During breakfast, join a lecture on the geology of the peninsula and the Golfo de California (commonly known as Sea of Cortes) Marine Park. The Sea of Cortes has been defined as one of the most biologically diverse marine areas in the world. Within the Sea of Cortes Marine Park Reserve, the protected island of Espiritu Santo, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a variety of attractions: fascinating geology, snorkeling with sea lions and tropical fish in crystal clear water, pristine beaches, hidden coves and isolation. Take a boat out to the island for a day full of activities

Lunch: A flavorful fish lunch is served in a pristine beach of the island with a breath-taking view of the the private bay.

Afternoon: Continue to enjoy the island. Return to La Paz and relax at the hotel.

Dinner: Buffet dinner in the hotel gardens facing the sea.

Evening: Enjoy a colorful folk dancing show presented exclusively for participants at the hotel.

Lodging: La Concha

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Colonial village of El Triunfo with chimney designed by Mr. Eiffel/ Life in Todos Santos with fine arts galleries/ Famous Lands End rock Arch in Los Cabos/ Farewell dinner

Note: To join the boat ride to the rock arch, getting on and off a panga (small fishing boat) giving a step of approximately knee height from the dock, is required.

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel in La Paz.

Morning: On the way to San Jose del Cabo, have a walking tour through the recently restored XIX century gold and silver mining town of El Triunfo and visit their museum...of music! Continue to the fertile oasis of Todos Santos, now home to many artists and art galleries, to stroll and have lunch.

Lunch: A light lunch is served in a pleasant tree shaded restaurant of Todos Santos.

Afternoon: Continue to Cabo San Lucas for a short boat excursion to reach the famous arch which marks the place where “land ends and heaven begins”. The Los Cabos Corridor, a stretch of beautiful beaches dotted with conspicuous hotels, connects the overwhelming Cabo San Lucas to San Jose del Cabo, a rather quaint town of narrow streets and Spanish style buildings at the mouth of a palm-lined river. The cozy colonial hotel is off a restaurant and shopping street, one block from the main square with its restored mission church.

Dinner: The farewell dinner is served in the well-known restaurant of the hotel accompanied by a lively musical group. The choice is Mexican style beef or fish.

Lodging: Tropicana Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: The in-program flight is with Alaska Airlines Flight # 227, departing from San Jose del Cabo at 3:15 PM, arriving to San Diego at 4:30 PM

Breakfast: Continental breakfast at the hotel in San Jose del Cabo.

Morning: Free time to enjoy the town of San Jose del Cabo before transferring to the airport for the return flight to San Diego.

Lunch: Light or picnic lunch depending on the flight schedule

Afternoon: Flight from Los Cabos to San Diego. Program ends at the San Diego airport. Independent Departures. Please do not book flights from San Diego before 7:00PM

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch