Morning: Meet in a private room of the hotel at 10 AM. for a welcome brunch and orientation. Begin the journey with an excursion to the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla for an introductory lecture on gray whales given by a marine biologist followed by a guided visit of the aquarium to learn about Baja's marine life.

Brunch: Welcome buffet brunch in a private room of the hotel.

Lunch: Enjoy a picnic lunch along the La Jolla shores with a view of the ocean.

Afternoon: Explore beautiful La Jolla shores. Walk to the famous coves, protected seal beach, and learn about the endemic Torrey Pines. Continue to downtown San Diego to get to know some of the city's notable landmarks. In Old Town, walk through the historical homes and have dinner.

Dinner: Dinner is at a well-known Mexican restaurant to taste Tex-Mex cuisine.

Evening: At leisure

Lodging: Courtyard Marriott

Meals Included: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner

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: Your quest for the gray whale begins as you drive south through the most-crossed border in the world into Mexico. The first activity is a guided field trip through the modern visual Museo de las Californias in the attractive cultural center CECUT as an introduction to better understand the peninsula. Highway One to Ensenada offers breathtaking views on the Pacific Ocean.

Lunch: Enjoy a home-cooked meal in a private home in Ensenada.

Afternoon: Explore Ensenada, located on the ample Todos Santos Bay, the city was established by the English in the 1880's. It now houses one of Mexico's most important harbors. See the main streets, the "malecón" (boardwalk), and an ex-casino. Continue south to San Vicente to visit a small community museum. Drive through one of the peninsula's most important agricultural areas to reach the hotel for the night, situated in front of wide-open beach in San Quintin.

Dinner: At the hotel in San Quintin based on local products.

Evening: At leisure. May walk along the sandy beach.

Lodging: Mision Santa Maria

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel in San Quintin

Morning: Explore the wonders of the desert. The mountainous peninsula is covered by innumerable species of flora, many of which are endemic. Among them, the Cirio (boojum tree), Baja's signature plant, is probably the most notable. Stops are made for nature walks and moving presentations on the vegetation.

Lunch: In Cataviña, a choice of Mexican or international dishes. Located in the middle of the Valle de los Cirios Nature Reserve, Cataviña is surrounded by gigantic granite boulders and unique vegetation.

Afternoon: Arrive at the 28th parallel, where the State of Baja California Sur begins with the city of Guerrero Negro. State line also marks the beginning of the Vizcaino World Biosphere established to protect the Gray Whale Sanctuaries, important rock art sites, and a variety of flora and fauna.

Dinner: At the hotel in Guerrero Negro. Choice of meat, chicken or fish.

Evening: Lecture on the Vizcaino World Biosphere. Learn about birds, whales and the largest salt plant in the world.

Lodging: Halfway Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel in Guerrreo Negro. Choice of Mexican and international breakfast dishes.

Morning: Begin the day visiting a nature reserve in an enormous salt marsh where birds migrate from Russia, Canada and other countries. Then, take a boat ride among gray whales in Scammon's Lagoon, a gray whale sanctuary in the Vizcaino World Biosphere, to view these giant mammals at arm's length. Each year, gray whales travel approximately 5,000 miles from the Bering and Chukchi Seas to the warm waters of this wildlife refuge to court and mate; to give birth and care for their young. En route, learn about the history and process of Baja's salt production.

Lunch: Enjoy the tranquility of the lagoon during a picnic lunch.

Afternoon: Continue to San Ignacio to explore this charming town that developed around its imposing 18th-century mission, still in use today, in the midst of a lush, tranquil oasis. Upon arrival mingle with the local children at a lively folk dancing presentation at the local school.

Dinner: A Mexican dinner is served at the hotel in San Ignacio.

Lodging: Desert Inn, San Ignacio

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel in San Ignacio. Choice of Mexican and international breakfast dishes.

Morning: After breakfast board special vehicles for the graded road that connects the town to secluded Bahia de San Ignacio for another adventuresome ride among whales. Migrating birds can be spotted along the shore

Lunch: A hot meal is served in a "palapa" at the lagoon in San Ignacio.

Afternoon: Learn about the whale-counting process and surveillance system in the whale sanctuary before returning to town. Back in San Ignacio, visit the tree-filled "zocalo", the church and enter a home where date bread and pie is made. Enjoy the company of the pleasant host while learning to make flour tortillas by hand to taste with local ranch cheese.

Dinner: Your choice to explore local fare.

Evening: At leisure.

Lodging: Desert Inn, San Ignacio

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: At the hotel in San Ignacio. Choice of Mexican and international breakfast dishes.

Morning: Return to Guerrero Negro for a THIRD and final encounter with the whales.

Lunch: Enjoy the tranquility of the lagoon during a picnic lunch.

Afternoon: Venture further north back into the Central Desert; a combination of sun, sand, gigantic granite boulders, and amusing collages of Boojums, Cardons and Elephant trees that make Cataviña a superb desert garden. Due to this setting, nights in Cataviña are memorable.

Dinner: Enjoy Mexican finger foods at the hotel in Cataviña.

Evening: Celebrate Mexican-style at a fiesta with a taste of tequila and piñata-breaking while learning about Mexican traditions.

Lodging: Misión Cataviña

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel in Cataviña. Choice of Mexican and international breakfast dishes.

Morning: Begin the day with a beautiful walk to visit a small cave with simple rock art.

Lunch: In a "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 prickly pear cactus.

Afternoon: Arrive to Ensenada and spend a brief time to stroll in the main streets and along the waterfront. Check-in at the hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon free to relax admiring the spectacular view from the ocean-front hotel.

Dinner: On your own to explore local flair. Ensenada's new Baja-Med cuisine is now internationally known.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Upon returning to the US, Homeland Security requires that you personally carry all your belongings across the border, stand in line and walk approximately 300 yards.

Breakfast: At the hotel admiring the Pacific Ocean.

Morning: Drive the final stretch along the beautiful coastal highway. Cross the border back into San Diego. Arrive to the San Diego Airport or to the Courtyard Marriott located at 595 Hotel Circle Dr. Please do not book flights before 2:00PM. Independent departures

Meals Included: Breakfast