In Mexico's northwest, the wildlife of Baja and the wildness of the Copper Canyon attract travelers seeking Nature at her unspoiled best. Novelist John Steinbeck detailed the rich marine life of the Sea of Cortez decades ago, but it's only recently that vacationers in Zodiac craft have been treated to up-close encounters.

Eco-travelers come to paddle kayaks among the whales and dolphins and to observe the bird life and desert flora on the shores.

With Hideaways' partner Lindblad Expeditions, members can combine a journey to the Sea of Cortez with an excursion by air-conditioned train to the rim of the majestic Copper Canyon, at 8,000 feet. The tracks of the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad, which took almost 100 years to complete and is a railway engineering marvel, pass through 70 tunnels and afford passengers breathtaking views.

Lindblad Expeditions' worldwide journeys, distinguished by their uncommon destinations and extraaordinary teams of naturalists and guides, include three itineraries in Mexico between December and April. Vacationers can opt for a cruise along both shores of Baja—from Isla Santa Catalina to Bahia Magdalena (nine days), a follow-the-wildlife cruise in the Sea of Cortez (eight days), or the cruise/train expedition (eight days).

Fall/Winter 2000