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Win an 8-night UnCruise voyage off Mexico’s Baja California for 2, valued from $14,790

Win an eight-night adventure through the Sea of Cortez in Baja California, Mexico, for two.

Forget the megaship and the buffet queue. This is expedition travel done intimately – just you, a small ship, and the wild, whale-filled waters off Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. An eight-night UnCruise Adventures voyage for two, valued from $14,790, puts you up close with sea lions, manta rays and humpbacks in one of the most biodiverse stretches of ocean on earth. It’s the kind of trip that serious travellers put on their list and somehow never quite get to booking. Until now.

Vote in the International Traveller 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, and you could find yourself on deck, watching a whale breach at sunset, wondering why you ever nearly didn’t enter.

Entries close at 11.59pm AEST on 14 September 2026.

Read the general competition terms and conditions, as well as the International Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards terms and conditions, before you enter. You only need to enter the giveaway once. 

Please note: Winners will not be able to choose which prize they win. Winners will be contacted via email after the competition closes and announced in Issue 61 and on our socials.

Create your own user feedback survey

What’s included?

Guests kayaking nearby uncruise adventure ship
Spend seven days kayaking, hiking, snorkelling, and viewing wildlife.
  • Grab a travel and adventure-oriented companion for this all-inclusive journey. This will kick off with a one-night hotel stay in San Jose del Cabo before heading to La Paz to board the Safari Voyager. 
  • Settle in either a Navigator or Trailblazer category cabin, and cruise along the rugged coastlines, white-sand beaches, and clear blue water.
  • Along with farm-to-table meals with ingredients sourced by local farmers.
  • Hike volcanic trails, take a burro ride and snorkel with playful sea lions.
  • Explore the quiet beaches and coral reefs around Honeymoon Cove, search for humpback, blue and fin whales, as well as many different bird species.
Safari Voyager wide shot view
Enjoy this all-inclusive trip, which has everything from craft cocktails to guided excursions included in the prize.
For more chances to win a luxury holiday, subscribe to International Traveller.

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Join whale researchers on this private luxury island in Panama

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    This luxury private island stay in Central America is taking whale watching to a whole new level.

    The only thing better than spotting humpback whales as they make their yearly migration? Doing so during a stay on a private 14-island archipelago set off Panama’s Pacific coast. Which is exactly what you can experience during the soon-to-be-launched Whale Weeks program on Islas Secas, as part of its wider Marine Safari experience for guests.

    What is Islas Secas?

    islas secas aerial
    Islas secas is nestled off Panama’s Pacific coast.

    Located 20 miles off Panama’s Pacific coast, and on the doorstep to the region’s incredible marine environments, Islas Secas offers luxury accommodation across three properties: Casitas, Tented Casitas and Casa Cavada. The latter is the crown jewel, a four-bedroom exclusive-use super-villa perched high on the cliffs for seemingly endless views of the ocean. Not to mention it’s surrounded by tranquil rainforest. On the property itself, find a semi-Olympic-sized infinity pool, and indoor and outdoor dining areas.

    Islas Secas sits within a vast marine ecosystem, boasting abundant wildlife, the largest Pacific coral reefs in Panama and two protected marine parks. This is why the property focuses on guest experiences to deepen the learning and engagement of the environment around them.

    What to expect from Whale Weeks?

    Humpback Whale jumping on its back near islas secas
    The resort’s marine program will focus on humpback whales in August.

    Whale Weeks will be a month-long program starting in August, designed to showcase the annual humpback whale migration. Guests will have direct access to the waters, researchers and conservation work surrounding this annual event.

    Hear first-hand field stories from, and ask questions of, marine mammal scientists working for Panacetacea, who will be living on site for the entire month. Join expert-led whale-watching expeditions, take part in Whale Songs & Science sessions exploring humpback behaviour and acoustic monitoring and listen to whale vocalisations recorded through hydrophones.

    Once they’ve left the water, guests can become part of the research team by uploading whale photographs to Happywhale, contributing to a global database that helps researchers and citizen scientists identify individual whales and track migration patterns.

    While the focus may be on the humpbacks, guests will get a look into other underwater residents as well – including Panacetacea’s recent confirmation of a resident population of Bryde’s whales. Guests will be able to learn how scientists use field observation, drone work, acoustic monitoring and habitat mapping to understand their behaviour and distribution.

    Whale Week sits within Islas Secas’ wider Marine Safari offering, which also includes snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, nature cruises, conservation talks, birdwatching and private island excursions.

    The details

    islas secas pool
    Spend your downtime relaxing by the pool.

    Dates: Whale Weeks run throughout the month of August, but wider Marine Safari offerings can be enjoyed year-round
    Cost:     Starting from $3500 per night on an all-inclusive basis, including all dining and drinks, one spa treatment per guest/per stay and a variety of activities on and off-island.
    Contact:     islassecas.com or call 800-377-8877.