SEA OF CORTEZ ISLANDS - Baja California

This trip is all about turquoise waters, desert landscape, an idyllic sea kayaking destination, tropical fish and sea turtles - to name just a few highlights!

Trip Details

This itinerary is a sample only - the exact itinerary of your trip will be dictated by factors such as weather, tides, and group interest, with the guides working within the parameters of safety, time, and the highlights of the area.

Day 1

Arrival in Loreto by air. At the Loreto airport, you'll be greeted by our ground service and transported to your hotel in Loreto. Check into pre-assigned rooms (included in trip cost). You're on your own for sightseeing or shopping until evening pre-trip meeting (6 or 8 pm) in the hotel lobby, where we'll answer questions and let you know the meeting time for the next day. Dinner is on your own.

Day 2

Please eat breakfast and be packed by the meeting time. We'll board a van and drive to the put-in site. After loading the boats, we'll teach you the basics of paddling and thoroughly review safety procedures. We won't leave shore until all participants feel comfortable in the boats. Kayak to our first night's campsite. We’ll be making 50-minute, 2 to 3-mile crossings to the off-shore islands of Carmen and Danzante in Loreto National Marine Park.
Meals:  lunch  /  dinner

Days 3 – 6

Our days begin with spectacular sunrises and end with delightfully cool evenings enjoying sunsets, stars, moonrise, and even bioluminescence in the sea on moonless nights. We'll spend our time paddling and exploring the cliffs and coves of Danzante and Carmen. We'll be camping on sandy beaches allowing for superb swimming, tide pooling, snorkeling, beach combing and hiking. During the trip there will be three or four different camps on the islands with one or two layover days (i.e. a day paddle out from the same campsite). We’ll generally paddle around 4 hours per day (with breaks). We'll sleep in comfortable and roomy dome tents, although with Baja's lack of insects you may be tempted to sleep out under the stars. Several campsites have a desert arroyo hike which will give us spectacular views as well as a great opportunity to explore some of the desert flora unique to the Baja.
Meals:  breakfast  /  lunch  /  dinner

 

Day 7

After a final breakfast, we break camp and paddle to our take-out site around 2 PM. At the take-out, we unpack and proceed to your hotel in Loreto (did somebody mention showers?) to clean up. In the evening we go to a favorite local restaurant for a fun farewell dinner (no-host and not included in trip price). Here we say our good-byes and toast our new found kayaking skills and friends.
Meals:  breakfast  /  lunch

Day 8

You are on your own for transportation to the airport for your flight homeward. Taxis are easily found, approximately $5-6/person; depart for the airport no later than 2 hours prior to your departure time.

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Sea of Cortez

One of the most spectacular sections of this rugged coast lies beneath the towering basalt escarpments of the Sierra de la Giganta. Offshore, the blue waters are pierced by the jagged shapes of Isla Danzante and Isla Carmen, both uninhabited wildlife sanctuaries. From our launch site near the base of the Sierra de la Giganta, we paddle into Loreto Bay National Marine Park spending most of a week exploring Islas Danzante and Carmen. Red-hued desert colors, azure blue water and magical landforms give this area great aesthetic and photographic appeal. Paddling a sea kayak in these waters offers exceptional opportunities for viewing marine mammals including dolphins, sea lions and with a bit of luck, fin and blue whales - the largest mammals on earth! And there's no shortage of sea birds: we'll see blue-footed boobies, high flying frigatebirds, osprey, and squadrons of pelicans soaring above on the lookout for fish as we paddle to our next camp.

The food

The source of many compliments, our legendary wilderness meals are prepared from fresh, healthy ingredients. Our specialty is Dutch oven cookery with savory main dishes like chili rellenos, baked salmon and vegetable lasagna; and delicious desserts from brownies to pineapple upside-down cake. We serve fresh ground coffee as well as an abundance of local fruits and vegetables. Wine and mixed drinks are served with hors d'oeuvres each evening for happy hour. Special dietary requests can easily be accommodated. There's a special emphasis on our meals because we believe you are entitled to gourmet dining in the wilderness as you are at home.