"Let us go...into the Sea of Cortez, realizing that we will become forever a part of it."
In spring 2027, the Western Flyer is returning to Mexico’s Gulf of California—and you’re invited to be part of the journey.
Following the success of our 2025 voyage with UnCruise Adventures’ Safari Voyager, supporters of the Western Flyer Foundation are invited to join a rare ten-night expedition—traveling alongside the Western Flyer as it revisits the waters and sites of the 1940 journey.
Guests will experience the Gulf not simply as travelers, but as participants in an unfolding expedition—observing science in action and spending time with the team carrying forward the Western Flyer’s legacy of discovery.
Spend your days exploring the Gulf—tidepooling, snorkeling, hiking, or reading on deck—and your evenings unwinding with a drink in hand as the sun sets over the Western Flyer among remote island anchorages.
Throughout the journey, guests will have opportunities to:
- Choose from daily UnCruise expedition activities, including hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, skiff excursions, paddle boarding, guided coastal exploration, and more.
- Gather for daily readings and reflections of The Log from the Sea of Cortez, led by Steinbeck scholar Susan Shillinglaw, experienced in the very waters that inspired it.
- Explore tidepools and coastal ecosystems alongside Stanford marine scientist William Gilly, inspired by the legacy of Ed Ricketts and John Steinbeck.
- Attend evening talks that weave together the day’s discoveries, the Gulf’s natural and cultural history, and the enduring legacy of Steinbeck, Ricketts, and the Western Flyer
- Experience the richness of the Gulf’s wildlife, with whales, dolphins, seabirds, and other marine life encountered throughout the journey
As the Safari Voyager travels through the islands and wild coastlines of the Gulf of California, the Western Flyer will sail alongside, actively conducting research. Guests will have repeated opportunities to step aboard, meet the scientists and crew, and witness ocean exploration in action—bringing the spirit of discovery to life aboard one of the world’s most storied research vessels.
Built in Tacoma in 1937, the Western Flyer became part of literary and scientific history during the 1940 expedition that inspired The Log from the Sea of Cortez.
After decades as a working fishing vessel—and even two sinkings—it was rescued and meticulously restored. Today, it serves once again as a floating platform for marine science research and education.
The Western Flyer Foundation now stewards the vessel, bringing scientists, students, and coastal communities together through research expeditions, hands-on education, and public programs.
“The return voyage of the Western Flyer in tandem with Uncruise was a life altering experience with no regrets...It will remain a cherished memory taking a top place in a lifetime of travel and exploration.”
“Fulfillment of a lifelong wish to experience the Sea of Cortez in the spirit of the original expedition. Everything came together on the voyage to honor that quest and fill us with joy.”
“It was a trip of a lifetime; this trip was on my bucket list for more than ten years. I'm so glad I got to do it.”
Be Part of What Makes This Possible
The Western Flyer will not simply be retracing its historic route through the Gulf of California. During the 2027 expedition, the vessel will once again be working—supporting new scientific research and continuing the legacy of exploration and discovery that began with Steinbeck and Ricketts more than 85 years ago.
This work is made possible by supporters of the Western Flyer Foundation.
Guests joining this special voyage are invited to become part of that legacy through a gift to the Foundation. Your support helps the Western Flyer return to the Gulf, advance new research, and inspire a new generation of curiosity about the ocean and our relationship with it.
And during the voyage, you’ll have the rare opportunity to see that work unfold firsthand.
How To Join The Voyage
Participation in the Western Flyer-Safari Voyager expedition program includes a charitable gift to the Western Flyer Foundation:
$10,000 per cabin, double occupancy
$7,500 per cabin, single occupancy
Guests then reserve their cabin aboard the Safari Voyager directly through UnCruise Adventures. Cabin fares are separate and vary by cabin category.
Your gift supports the Western Flyer’s research and education mission. Your journey gives you an extraordinary opportunity to experience that mission in action.
Reserve Your Place
Space is limited!
Step 1
Make your Western Flyer Foundation reservation donation online, or by check, donor-advised fund (DAF), stock transfer, or other method.
Questions about the donation? Contact:
Sherry Flumerfelt
Western Flyer Foundation
sherry@westernflyer.org
(831) 200-8259
Step 2
Contact UnCruise Adventures to select your cabin.
Aline Burchfield
UnCruise Adventures
alineb@uncruise.com
(206) 737-5703
