I had travelled to Mexico’s Sea of Cortez with Un-Cruise Adventures (formerly known as Innersea Discoveries and American Safari Cruises). The company call themselves this because they do not see themselves as a typical cruise line. The cruises are flexible in what you see and wear on board and at dinner and are focused on delivering quality over quantity, wildlife over nightlife and life changing encounters to an evening of glamorous entertainment.
From day one you are immersed in the amazing wildlife spectacle that is the Sea of Cortez. The sea literally boils with dolphins in their hundreds coming to ride the bow wave, rays and whales breach out of the waves and return to the water with a resounding crash.
Activities on this cruise are not just confined to below the waves, kayaking in and out of hidden bays and sea caves, paddle boarding and hiking plus riding mules in the cacti strewn desert are also on offer. It may be called a desert but it is full of life from shimmering emerald green humming birds to multi coloured lizards scurrying across the dirt tracks in front of you. Various species of cacti ranging in height offer perches to many species of birds and all the times the red headed turkey vultures seem to be coming down to check that you’re still breathing!
All equipment for these activities is issued on the ship and care is taken that it is the right size for you. If you want to relax there are wellbeing classes, massage and yoga available throughout the cruise. The Sea of Cortez is also know as the Wine Red Sea and I have to say some of the sunrises were incredible with the land being sandwiched between a vibrant scarlet sky and sea.
This cruise is totally relaxed with you deciding what you would like to do from the many choices on offer every day. You can if you wish just go and do your own thing and be dropped on a secluded beach to explore or sunbathe then when you are ready stand by the waves with your life jacket on and the crew will come and pick you up and take you back to the ship.
History and culture is not forgotten on the cruise and we visited the historical small town of Lareto where first Spanish mission was built in southern California in the seventeenth century. There was an optional tour of the town here but we chose to sit in a café and drink tequila eating tacos whilst chatting with the locals, all desperate to improve their English. Even those who didn’t speak the language, we spoke no Spanish, joined in , laughed and joked whilst we wiled away a pleasant couple of hours.
If there is one memory I will take away from this cruise it is snorkelling with baby sea lions at the island of Los Islotes a steep rocky outcrop rising straight from the sea. The speed they can move under the water is truly amazing and their desire to play is such that they literally come right up to you and look you in the eyes even touching you with the their flippers encouraging you to get friendly.
If you can get to the Galapagos come to the Sea of Cortez. You will never forget each wonderful moment.
