Baja Hotel Based Itinerary

HOTEL BASED   WHALES, WILDLIFE AND CULTURE OF BAJA

Detailed  Itinerary

DAY ONE: ARRIVAL TO LORETO

Our Baja Adventure begins with your arrival into the Loreto Airport. You will catch a short taxi ride into Loreto and to the  Hotel Oasis, a waterfront hotel in the quaint and historical  town of Loreto. Our group will gather for an orientation and happy hour followed by  dinner as the sun sets across the Sea of Cortez (double occupancy rooms and all meals included throughout the itinerary, taxi on arrival not included).

DAY TWO: LORETO BY LAND OR SEA 

During our time in Loreto, we hope to spend three  full days on the water and another full day learning about the history and culture of Baja. If weather and sea conditions permit,  we will  head out today  in search of whales, dolphins, sea birds and other wildlife sightings.   We will return to the Hotel Oasis in the afternoon offering  a naturalist-led beach walk before dinner.

Whale watching in Puerto Chale with renown Baja Naturalist, Carlos Gajon Bermudez, his family and a very friendly California  Gray Whale!

DAY THREE: LORETO  TO CIUDAD CONSTITUCION

We will get an early start today as we drive across the rugged peninsula of Baja. Our plan is to offer a guided interpretation of  the historic San Javier Mission nestled in the dramatic Sierra de la Giganta Mountain range above Loreto.  Our day will  include a leisurely hike learning about the indigenous cultures of the region and their medicinal use of the desert flora.

During our scenic 2 1/2  hour afternoon drive to Cuidad Constitucion, towering cacti, huge boulders and brilliantly colored flowers dot the desert landscape. We will look for the iconic Road Runner (Beep Beep!) and the majestic Crested Caracara,  an impressive member of the falcon family that behaves and appears more like a vulture.

Tonight we will overnight in  Ciudad Constitucion which is conveniently located between our two  Gray Whale Lagoon Destinations, Lopez Mateos and Puerto Chale.

DAY FOUR: GRAY WHALES OF LOPEZ MATEOS

Today we have planned a full day on the water in the biologically rich lagoon adjacent to the town  of Lopez Mateos. Our hotel is an easy one hour drive to our whale watching destination.

Traveling  by motorized skiff  into the sheltered  lagoons of  Lopez Mateos, we will  search for  California Gray Whales.  Traveling over 5000 miles from their feeding grounds in Alaska, these remarkable mammals  are known to  mate and give birth in the Baja lagoons.  As we  scan the lagoon  for  signs of  California Gray Whales and their offspring, we will travel by an intricate  labyrinth of mangroves that edge Magdalena Bay. Mangrove forests provide critical habitat for an array of species including white pelicans, magnificent frigate birds, little blue herons and cryptically colored invertebrates clinging to the submerged roots.  Both birding and whale watching is superb in this dynamic biome on Baja’s Pacific side. We will return to our accommodations in Ciudad Constitucion and  sample some  traditional Mexican cuisine.

Click here for an incredible baby gray whale encounter

DAY FIVE: GRAY WHALES OF PURETO CHALE TO LORETO

After breakfast, we will travel to Puerto Chale  for another day among the Gray Whales of Baja. Puerto Chale is a an emerging destination for whale watching,  although for much of the year it is a  quiet fishing port.  Later in the  day, we will travel back  to the colorful  town  of Loreto, north of La Paz with a population of only 23,000 people. In contrast, the population of La Paz is approaching a quarter of a million. We will overnight again at the waterfront Hotel Oasis.

Sunrise in front of Hotel Oasis, Loreto

DAY SIX~LORETO DAY

Back at the Hotel Oasis, we will offer several options for a “layover day”,  an extra day during our program if we need to make adjustments due to weather.  This morning, we will offer a bird watching session in the estuary near our hotel. White ibis, snowy egrets, black bellied plover and whimbrels may be observed feeding in the shallows.  Later in the day, our  naturalist will offer an outing to explore the intertidal world in front of our hotel.  You may decide to explore Loreto on your own or join a walking tour of this historical coastal destination. Wandering the markets of Loreto, enjoying a cold beer at a local brewery or relaxing at a coffee shop is time well spent. The option to arrange a professional massage  will be discussed for your lay over day, call it a “spa day”.

DAY SEVEN-DAY EIGHT~LORETO NATIONAL MARINE PARK

  Loreto National Marine Park is one of the very best places in the world to observe the endangered Blue Whale at close range.  Our plan is to travel by motorized skiff searching for  a variety of sea birds and Cetaceans, an order of mammals that include the whales and dolphins.

Blue Whales, the largest species to ever exist on earth can reach a length of 100 feet and weigh 300,000 pounds. Our hope is to locate blues, humpbacks and fin whales that give birth and feed in the protected bays around Loreto.  Large endangered mega fauna can be difficult to predict from day to day, but our expert captains will be communicating  with the local fisherman each morning improving  our chances  of whale sightings.   We will also visit a secluded  beach for lunch with  an opportunity to snorkel. As an alternative to whale watching, we have several naturalist-led cultural hikes to offer if sea conditions suggest that a land activity is more favorable. The spectacular  Sierra de la Giganta Mountains support a rich cultural  heritage which our local guides are eager to share. 

For the next several days, we will  return to the  comforts of our waterfront hotel, The Oasis. Our plan is to try several restaurants in the quaint town of Loreto.

DAY NINE: LORETO THEN HOME

On our last morning together, a  sunrise across the Sea of Cortez and a cup of coffee  at the Hotel Oasis  awaits us. We will offer a group transfer to the local airport  as we say farewell to Baja.

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