Laguna San Ignacio is situated inside a large bight of the west coast of Baja California, about 400 nautical miles south of the US-Mexico border. The temperate, shallow waters of the lagoon attract quite a variety of wildlife. California gray whales arrive near the end of January each year to calve their young. Other migratory wildlife including shorebirds, gulls, dophins, and sea birds all gather here, using the lagoon to stop and rest during migration, or instead spend the winter giving birth to their young. Today, our newest ship National Geographic Venture makes her first ever visit to Laguna San Ignacio while the gray whales are still arriving from their northern feeding grounds. To best view the wildlife up close, we were transported around the lagoon by local guides in traditional “pangas,” the local watercraft of choice. The abundant wildlife of the bay made for a remarkable day of exploration and adventure for our guests.