Each fall, the great gray whales migrate from the fish rich waters of Alaska and the arctic back down to the warm lagoons of the Sea of Cortes in Mexico where they give birth to a new generation of these mammoth wonders. Gray whales weigh in at 25 to 35 tons and stretch some 30 to 45 feet in length. Finding great congregations in shallow, easy-to-hunt waters, 19th-century whalers slaughtered the creatures by the thousands. By the midpoint of the 20th century, gray whales were close to extinction, one of the most endangered marine mammals (only a few hundred were thought to be living when they were protected in the 1940s). Driven by growing public concern, international agreements were negotiated for their protection. The recovery of the gray whale is counted as one of the most significant accomplishments of the marine conservation movement. Today an estimated 26,000 exist and the population is increasing.The Sea of Cortés, also known as the Gulf of California, is the newest sea on our planet. It separates mainland Mexico from the Baja Peninsula and contains an incredible diversity of marine life. Powerful tidal action, strong ocean currents, fluctuating water temperatures, and a nutrient-rich estuarine mix of fresh water from the Colorado River contribute to heavy plankton blooms in the Sea of Cortés which are unequalled in seas of similar size. Jacques Cousteau once proclaimed the abundant biodiversity of the Sea of Cortés as the “Aquarium of the World.” The Sea of Cortes is more than 700 miles long and about 100 miles across at its widest. Warm, deep, and fed by the Colorado River, the sea is one of the most fertile marine ecosystems in the world, supporting some 3,000 animal species. Among others were 25 different cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), some 800 kinds of fish (including sharks and rays), squids, shrimps, and oysters, and accompanying flora.
Vacationing in the winter at the Sea of Cortes can be a thrilling, interesting adventure. As ships leave Alaska at the end of the season and reposition to Mexico for the winter, the Sea of Cortes starts to come alive with tourist. From early February to mid-March, hundreds of gray whales congregate in the shallow lagoons of Baja's Pacific shore making whale watching a popular attraction (In December and January, the weather and whale sightings can be unpredictable.) In addition to the gray whales, the Sea of Cortés is home to huge schools of common and bottle-nosed dolphins, as well as humpback, minke, fin, and blue whales.
One great way visit the Sea of Cortes is on a small ship. Cruise West offers cruises that focus on whale watching from their ship as it plies the waters and on excursions on Zodiacs that give you the up close and personal experience. The onboard naturalist and structure of the small ship environment with only 100 other passengers gives you maximum exposure to this pristine environment. If small ship cruising is not for you, you can also sail on a larger ship with 1200 other passengers. Holland America offers Sea of Cortes cruises but the experience will be a bit different on a large ship.
A popular addition to this trip is a three day extension to Copper Canyon in Mexico’s Chihuahua state. Copper Canyon is not a single canyon, but rather a series of more than 20 canyons running through the northern region of Mexico which drain the western side of the Sierra Tarahumara. The canyons cover over 20,000 square miles and is four times larger than the Grand Canyon in the United States. The entire Copper Canyon region comprises almost a third of the state of Chihuahua, which is Mexico's largest state. The principal canyon is Urique Canyon, which is traversed by the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad. Eventually, all of the rivers which formed the Copper Canyons merge into the Rio Fuerte which continues across the adjacent state of Sinaloa, emerging near the City of Los Mochis on the Sea of Cortes.
All Copper Canyon trips are on the historic Chihuahua al Pacífico Railroad. The train winds its way from the Pacific Ocean up into the heart of this scenic splendor. Built over a 90 year period, this world-famous railroad is an engineering masterpiece. It has been called "the most dramatic train ride in the western hemisphere." Most tours travel through the most exciting part of the railroad, from sea level at Los Mochis, Sinaloa to the highest portion of the line at Creel, Chihuahua. Creel is at 8,000 feet above sea level and you are near the top of the Sierra Madre mountain range. The scenery is breathtaking, the railroad line through the mountains impressive; and you will have a chance to see and learn something about the unassimilated Tarahumara Indians who live in the canyon.
The railroad goes all the way to Chihuahua City where you can spend a day enjoying true Mexican culture. You can fly home from there. Overall, I would rate this as a 5 star vacation experience and would highly recommend it.