Up Close to Whales and Wildlife in Baja

It won’t be long before Pacific gray whales congregate in Baja California’s San Ignacio lagoon to mate or give birth. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s naturalists will lead a whale-watching tour Feb. 25 to March 5. The 105-foot Royal Polaris vessel out of San Diego will be the base. The nine-day excursion also includes landings on San Benito, Cedros and San Martin islands, allowing participants to observe a variety of local animals, investigate diverse geological formations and explore a wide range of native vegetation.

Guests may see elephant seals, sea lions, nesting osprey and scores of sea- and shorebirds. CMA naturalist-led walks afford numerous photographic opportunities and close-up observations of animals and plants.

Cost: $1,925 per person, double occupancy, including ship cabin and all meals on board. Bus transportation from the aquarium to San Diego is included.

Contact: Larry Fukuhara; telephone (310) 548-7562, Ext. 5011.

Yosemite: Photos

A photo and natural history tour of Yosemite National Park will be conducted by Image Quest Tours Oct. 15 to 18. Three nights’ accommodations are in private homes in the park. Guests also go on guided walks in Yosemite Valley and have Sunday brunch at the historic Wawona Hotel.

Cost: $245 per person, including accommodations, some meals and tours. Transportation to Yosemite is not included.

Contact: Image Quest Tours; tel. (323) 939-2819.

Italy: Skiing

Carlucci’s Italy has planned a ski vacation to Cortina d’Ampezzo and Venice, Italy, Jan. 13 to 23. Participants will spend the first two nights in Venice and seven nights in Cortina. In Venice, guests can explore the historical city from the Rialto Bridge to the Doge’s Palace. Cortina is a world-class ski resort where visitors will find plenty of ski trails, restaurants and shops. The tour includes a six-day ski pass that covers 683 miles of ski runs and 464 lifts in the Dolomite Mountains.

Cost: $1,499 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare on Alitalia Airlines from Los Angeles, ski pass, all lodgings at three- to four-star hotels, continental or buffet breakfast daily, all dinners in Cortina, motor-coach transfer from airport to resort, water taxi transfers in Venice, service charges and taxes at hotels.

Contact: Carlucci’s Italy; tel. (714) 707-5824.

New Zealand: Bikes

WomanTours, a bicycle tour company for women, is offering a 14- or 21-day inn-to-inn bicycle tour through the South Island of New Zealand Feb. 10. The tour starts in Nelson, cycling through the wine country to Abel Tasman National Park. Cyclists will travel through five of New Zealand’s national parks as they cycle their way down the west coast to Queenstown.

This tour offers an inside look at the country, as some of the overnight stays are in private homes. Four hikes are planned with a naturalist guide on bird-watching expeditions. Accommodations will include bed-and-breakfasts, small, intimate inns, private homes and motels. A support van will accompany the tour to transport luggage and give cyclists a lift when legs get tired.

Cost: $2,290 for 13 nights’ lodging or $3,265 for 20 nights’ lodging per person, double occupancy, including all breakfasts, most lunches and dinners, guides, maps and support van. Air fare to New Zealand is extra.

Contact: WomanTours; tel. (800) 247-1444.

New Zealand: Birds

Bird experts Allan Ridley and Helen McKenna will lead a 15-day tour exploring forests and bush, observing birds and visiting private gardens in New Zealand from March 1 to 17.

Highlights of the trip include three nights on Stewart Island; a day on Tiri Tiri Matangi Island observing endangered birds; Ulva Island; penguin and gannet colonies; forest, coastal and alpine plant communities on North and South islands; and a selection of New Zealand’s finest private gardens. Also included are an overnight cruise on Milford Sound, a farm stay, the Glowworm Caves at Te Anau Au and a Maori cultural tour in Rotorua. This tour is sponsored by the Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in San Francisco.

Cost: $3,960 per person, double occupancy, including air fare, accommodations, most meals, admissions and a $150 donation to the arboretum.

Contact: Kiwipac Tours; tel. (650) 595-2090.

Ireland: St. Patrick

It’s time to think green and plan a trip to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day. CIE Tours International is offering a one-week Irish Heritage trip, March 11 to 18, where guests can enjoy the big parade festivities in Dublin.

The itinerary takes in the scenic vistas of the County Clare coastline and the Cliffs of Moher, the Shannon River Estuary, Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, as well as the cities of Cork, Waterford and Kilkenny.

Activities include kissing the fabled Blarney Stone; a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car ride around Killarney’s lakes; a visit to an Irish farmhouse for tea and scones by the fireside; a guided walking tour of Waterford city; and admissions to Bunratty Folk Park, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woollen Mills, Cobh Heritage Centre, Muckross House, Waterford Crystal Factory, Kilkenny Castle, Dublin Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Guests will also enjoy a medieval banquet at a 15th century Irish castle.

Cost: $1,259 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from New York, first-class hotel accommodations for six nights, full Irish breakfast each day, five dinners, sightseeing, all baggage handling, taxes and hotel service charges.

Contact: CIE Tours International; tel. (800) CIE-TOUR.

Las Vegas: Rodeo

A Western-style weekend at the 40th National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas is available from Spectacular Sport Specials. The tour runs Dec. 11 to 14.

The championship is the premier event of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assn. Guests will get reserved balcony seats for the final three sessions of the rodeo.

The year’s top 15 contestants in each of seven professional events compete in the National Finals Rodeo. The categories are saddle bronc riding, bull riding, bareback riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing.

Cost: $1,035 per person, double occupancy, for three nights’ accommodation with full American breakfast daily at the Mirage Hotel on the Strip, round-trip event and airport transfers, services of a professional trip director and taxes. Transportation to Las Vegas is not included.

Contact: Spectacular Sport Specials; tel. (504) 734-9511 or (800) 451-5772.

Vietnam: History

Experience the culture and beauty of Vietnam, the land of the Blue Dragon, on a 14-night tour that leaves Feb. 25. The tour begins in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and ends in Hanoi. Guests will explore the markets of Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay’s Stepping Stones and the ancient culture of the Cham through museums.

Aboard the Reunification Express train, guests will visit the South China Sea and cross Hai Van Pass. They will also take a dinner cruise on the Saigon River and see the Tombs of the Emperors on the Perfume River in Hue.

Cost: $2,795 per person, double occupancy, including hotels, breakfasts, airport transfers, ground transportation, including train and air transportation within Vietnam, admissions and guides.

Contact: Gurnham Group; tel. (800) 475-0004.

The Times is not responsible for changes in prices, dates or itineraries. These should be confirmed with cruise lines, travel agents or tour operators.