Arrive To: Program orientation and presentation of fellow participants at 5:00 p.m. in one of the hotel's private rooms, followed by welcome dinner. Room number posted on the daily events board.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at the hotel in San Diego.

Evening: Evening lecture on Baja California imparted by Graham Mackintosh, travel writer who walked the entire coastline of the peninsula.

Evening: Join a lecture introducing the birds expected to be seen imparted by the birding specialist.

Lodging: Courtyard Marriott

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet at the hotel in San Diego

Morning: A morning visit to dog beach is a perfect introduction to San Diego’s coastal bird population. Continue to Balboa Park housing 15 museums and a famous zoo (not visited). Spot birds among the grand variety of flora brought from all over the world. Visit Presidio Hill and Old Town, where the first Spanish colonists settled in the early 1800’s. Enter some of the more than 30 sites classified within this State Historic.

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. For sunset birding, drive to Santee Lakes and adjacent Lindo Lake where both land birds and sweet water fowl abound. Return to downtown, drive through the Gaslamp Quarters and enjoy dinner at a well known waterfront restaurant.

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

Understanding the neighboring cultures in one of the busiest borders in the world/ Birding in peaceful estuary.

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.

Morning: Begin the journey South. Northern Baja exemplifies the strong cultural and economic ties that exist between the U.S. and Mexico. Just before crossing the border, bird in National Estuarine Research Reserve. Continue across the border and enter the architecturally attractive cultural center CECUT for a guided tour of its modern visual Museo de las Californias. The scenic road to Ensenada along the Pacific Ocean offers breathtaking viewpoints.

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, 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. Continue to Estero Beach Resort on a beautiful, bird filled sandy estuary in Bahia Todos Santos. After birding, visit a small but very complete museum of Mexican culture located within the hotel grounds.

Dinner: At the hotel in Ensenada.

Lodging: Estero Beach Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Ensenada's past glory and savor flavorful wines in Mexico's wine country/ Cruise line destination town.

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

Morning: Early morning birding in the same estuary, then drive in town for an enjoyable lecture on Mexican staples as an introduction to Mexico's elaborate cuisine. Driving through town, learn about the history of this pleasant city located in the attractive Todos Santos Bay, popular land and cruise ship tourist destination and important fishing, canning, and agricultural center. At the end of the 1800’s, the English brought prefabricated wooden homes, which are still standing today. Walk through the Riviera del Pacifico ex–casino, a glamorous resort during the US prohibition years.

Lunch: Enjoy a finger food meal served with wine at one of Ensenada's wineries.

Afternoon: Eighty percent of Mexico's wine is produced in the beautiful surroundings of Ensenada. Travel to Valle de Guadalupe, located amidst gigantic granite boulders to visit a well-known winery with tasting and lunch. Get to know about the Russian Community which settle in this valley at the beginning of the 1900s. Bird in the fields and along oak-lined riverbeds.

Dinner: In one of Ensenada’s fine restaurants.

Lodging: Estero Beach Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dramatic coastline with 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. Bird along the rocky shore and among coastal chaparral. Another stop is made to visit the San Vicente Community Museum. At San Telmo de Abajo, make a detour to spot the endemic Gray Thrasher. Taste the local specialties at a lunch in San Quintin, the vegetable garden of Baja California.

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 prickley pear cactus.

Afternoon: After lunch, plunge into the desert and 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. Desert birding while enjoying the unique vegetation.

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 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 with early morning birding along dry riverbeds where California Gnatcatchers may appear. Nature walks include a visit to a small cave with simple rock art.

Lunch: At the hotel in Cataviña.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, drive to Guerrero Negro, home of the largest salt plant in the world and one of the gray whale sanctuaries. Sunset birding in the immense salt marsh at the edge of the lagoon. Waterbirds abound, among them, the Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Guerrero Negro is proud of its large, permanent population of Ospreys which can be easily spotted on top of poles.

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

Lodging: Halfway Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Coastal and Oasis birding, admire the largest salt plant in the world and visit a quaint Spanish mission

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

Morning: Early morning birding in the same salt marsh. A local group leader will take you through La Exportadora de Sal, one of the largest salt plants in the world to learn about its importance and activities, while discussing the importance of the Vizcaíno World Biosphere, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to whales, migrant birds, endemic vegetation, gigantic rock art caves and the salt plant.

Lunch: Light lunch in Guerrero Negro.

Afternoon: After lunch, continue to San Ignacio, stopping to bird in the open desert and on mountain slopes. San Ignacio is a charming town that developed around its famous 18th century mission in the midst of a lush, tranquil palm oasis. Visit this small colonial town and its well preserved mission and search for the endemic Xantu hummingbird among palm trees and along the water spring. Reaching the southern latitudes brings a change in the bird population.

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: Morning birding in the town plaza, filled with Indian Laurel trees laden with birds. The variety of scenery makes the drive between San Ignacio and Loreto makes this part of the road probably the most interesting. Follow the “Tres Virgenes” volcanoes, cones of red lava rock dotted with gracious white elephant trees, before reaching one of the steepest grades in the peninsula leading to the blue waters of the Sea of Cortes. Reach Santa Rosalia and visit the old French Quarter and the Boleo mine museum to learn how the French established this copper mining town and brought over the prefabricated iron church designed by Mr. Eiffel still standing today. Continue to Mulege, a mission settlement on a riverbed in the midst of a palm oasis. Frigate birds encircle the old mission church.

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. Search the mangroves rich in bird population. Giant cardons dominate the landscape to 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 and sunset birding.

Dinner: At the hotel in Loreto.

Lodging: Desert Inn, Loreto

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tthe Jewel of Baja California's missions in impressive jagged peaks of 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. Begin the drive early in the morning to view birds along riverbeds and orchards at the foothills, then compare with the bird population at the top of the mountain

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 of making goat cheese. Practice hands-on tortilla making for your cheese with beans snack.

Dinner: Free to explore local fair. Choose your favorite Loreto restaurant for dinner.

Evening: Back in Loreto, time is at leisure.

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. Caracaras perch on the fence posts as we drive along the fields and deserts. Stop along the way for birding close up.

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. Then head out to the beaches to enjoy the romantic coast, bird along the Sea of Cortes shores, and view the sunset while having a shrimp dinner in a beach "palapa" restaurant.

Dinner: Relax in the romantic coast, viewing the sunset while savoring a fish and sea food dinner at 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. Bird rocks are one of its attractions featuring blue-footed boobies and mating frigate birds swelling their red throats. 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 private bay.

Afternoon: The second half of the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the pleasant life of La Paz.

Dinner: At the hotel in La Paz, accompanied by a colorful folk dancing show just for participants.

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! El Triunfo is located in the Sierra de La Laguna, an especially rich region for endemic bird species. Inmerse in the thick subtropical vegetation surrounding the town and look for the Cape Pygmy Owl, Baird's Junco, or the Cape Robin! 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: In Cabo San Lucas have a short boat excursion to reach the famous arch which marks the spot where “land ends and heaven begins”. The Los Cabos Corridor, a stretch of beautiful beaches dotted with conspicuous hotels, connects the busy resort of 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. Follow the riverbed to its estuary spotting birds among the reeds. 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 a savory Mexican combination served in the well-known restaurant of the hotel in San Jose del Cabo.

Lodging: Tropicana Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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, at 3:32 PM.

Lunch: Light or picnic lunch depending on the flight schedule.

Afternoon: Flight from Los Cabos. Return to San Diego. Independent Departures. Please do not book flights from San Diego before 6:00 p.m.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch