by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 2:05 PM ET, Tue September 29, 2026
Bookings are now open for UnCruise Adventures’ small-ship expedition cruises in Mexico’s Gulf of California for 2027 and 2028, with the line highlighting its relationships with local communities as a key part of the experience.
The cruises, offered aboard the 66-guest Safari Voyager, include two itineraries sailing roundtrip from San José del Cabo.
“We keep our operations and money directed locally as much as possible because it enriches the experience, plus our travel ethos is to support the local people,” says Dan Blanchard, owner and president of UnCruise Adventures. “That means we hire local guides who know these waters, purchase locally, visit smaller communities and stay long enough to have a conversation.”
The line’s guides are local to Baja and lead excursions directly from the ship. One highlight is a permitted sunrise snorkeling excursion at Los Islotes, where guests can enter the water in wetsuits and swim among sea lion pups before other dayboat operators arrive.
In Bahía Agua Verde, the Romero family brings its mules and horses to meet the ship, allowing guests to ride through an arroyo and spend time with local ranching families. The experience stems from a decades-long relationship between Blanchard and the Romero family.
UnCruise Adventures is also emphasizing local sourcing aboard Safari Voyager. Seafood comes from a local fishermen’s collective, while produce is grown by families in Miraflores, Baja, on a plot dedicated to growing organic crops for the cruise line. The produce is picked the day before it is delivered to the ship each week.
Other local suppliers include Baja Beans for coffee and Baja Brewing for beer. Vegetable scraps from the ship are also donated to The Serpentarium, a zoological park in La Paz focused on conserving endemic species.
Two Ways to Explore the Gulf of California
The eight-night "Baja California's Whales & Sealife" itinerary operates from January through March in 2027 and 2028. The cruise includes opportunities to snorkel with sea lions, hike volcanic landscapes and search for whales, flying mobula rays and seabirds.
A February 11, 2027, departure is designated as a "Families in Nature" sailing, with activities geared toward younger children. A January 21, 2027, departure will be hosted by a professional photographer.
From April through May, the 11-night "In Steinbeck's Wake: An Epic Voyage Through the Sea of Cortez" itinerary ventures farther north. Named for John Steinbeck's 1940s expedition through the region, the sailing offers additional opportunities to see sperm whales, humpback whales, gray whales and whale sharks. The May 21, 2027, departure will be hosted by Blanchard.
Depending on conditions, wildlife sightings across the itineraries can include brown and blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, sally lightfoot crabs, whale sharks, sperm whales, blue whales, humpback whales, fin whales, dolphins and flying mobulas.
The cruises also include guide-led hikes on remote islands, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, beach bars and barbecues. Meals and beverages, including alcoholic drinks, are included in the cruise fare.
2027 and 2028 Booking Offer
Travelers who book a qualifying 2027 or 2028 Mexico sailing by December 31, 2026, can save $500 per person through UnCruise's Mexico Offer.
Beginning in 2027, the line will also include the first night's hotel stay at the Tropicana Hotel in San José del Cabo. Guests will be transported to the ship on the second day.
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