Festival of Wildlife 2011. Baja California, Mexico.

Leading specialist tour operator Wildlife Worldwide has announced that the destination for its eighth annual Festival of Wildlife for 2011 will be Baja California in Mexico, from 10-21 March. A donation of £100 per booking will go directly to support local conservation projects.


Mark Carwardine
The second longest peninsula on earth, Baja is widely recognised as one of the world's premier whale-watching destinations and the small group will be escorted by a number of celebrity wildlife experts including BBC TV personality Mark Carwardine, who will share their knowledge during excursions and hold presentations and workshops.

Blue whales
Accommodation will be right next to the Pacific Ocean, in a private, comfortable camp which has been built in the ideal location to spot grey whales. There will also be visits to the Sea of Cortez, on the opposite side of the peninsula, to be wowed by the astonishing sight of blue whales.

The itinerary commences at San Ignacio Lagoon, one of the best places in Baja California to see grey whales as they arrive from their long migration from the colder waters of the north. The lagoon's shallow waters provide the perfect location to see the mating antics of these amazing cetaceans, as they court each other with passionate water acrobatics.

Sea of Cortez
The second part of the trip will be spent in the Sea of Cortez, where excursions on small boats will provide the chance to see the blue whale - the largest animal in the world with other possible sightings of fin, pilot and sperm whales.

There is also an additional option to witness the annual migration of 300 million butterflies in Mexico's central forests, before the Festival of Wildlife commences.

The Festival of Wildlife 2011 costs from £4250 pp (sharing a room) which includes international flights with Iberia from London, charter flight from La Paz to San Ignacio, private transfers by road and boat as described in the itinerary, accommodation on a full board basis (breakfast and lunch only on day nine), local conservation fees, English speaking guides and activities as detailed in the itinerary.

For further information call 0845 130 6982 (www.wildlifeworldwide.com).