Baja Itinerary

Baja Itinerary

BLUE WHALES OF LORETO~GRAY WHALE LAGOONS & SEA OF CORTEZ KAYAK/SNORKEL

THE ULTIMATE BAJA ADVENTURE

A Desert to Sea Adventure!

DAY ONE: ARRIVAL INTO LORETO, BAJA SUR

Our Baja Adventure begins with your arrival into the relatively small  Loreto Airport. We will meet you there  and transfer to the  Hotel Oasis, a waterfront hotel in the quaint and historical  town of Loreto about 20 minutes away.  Time permitting, we plan to offer an  intertidal exploration right in front of our hotel before gathering  for an orientation and dinner as the sun sets across the Sea of Cortez (double occupancy rooms and all meals included throughout the itinerary).

DAY TWO~LORETO NATIONAL MARINE PARK OR SAN JAVIER MISSION

  Join a naturalist this morning for some early morning birding in the lagoon adjacent to our waterfront hotel. Loreto National Marine Park is one of the very best places in the world to observe at close range,   the endangered Blue Whale.  Weather permitting, our plan is to travel by motorized skiff searching for  a variety of sea birds and Cetaceans, an order of marine 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 more than  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 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 will  offer a guided interpretation of  the historic San Javier Mission nestled in the dramatic Sierra de la Giganta Mountain range above Loreto.  With this option,  we  include a leisurely hike learning about the indigenous cultures of the region and their medicinal use of the desert flora.

Blue Whale Encounters Near Loreto

DAY THREE: LORETO  TO WHALE CAMP, LOPEZ MATEO ~PACIFIC

After breakfast, we’ll transfer by van across the rugged Baja Peninsula to Puerto Lopez Mateos in the northern section of Magdalena Bay where we’ll take a short skiff ride to our whale camp, home for the next 3 nights.

During our scenic 2 hour drive, towering cacti, huge boulders and brilliantly colored flowers dot the desert landscape. As we travel the short distance to camp, we may see whales, dolphin, sea birds and other wildlife.

We are very excited for a return to our Baja Whale Camp on Santo Domingo Island near Puerto Lopez Mateos.

These sheltered lagoons are referred to as nursery and mating areas for California Gray whales. It is also an area well known for “friendly interactions” a behavior in which gray whales initiate close encounters with the “two legged ones” aboard whale watching boats. Though entirely up to the whale and never guaranteed, Lopez Mateos is well known for these truly outstanding and intimate wildlife encounters.

 Our accommodations are spacious cabin-style tents with cots, lounge chairs, lights, sun showers and a bathroom system with a privacy tent.

Click here for an incredible baby gray whale encounter

DAY FOUR: LOPEZ MATEOS~ WHALE WATCH

A sunrise hike will be offered before breakfast. Our hope is to see Gray Whales in the morning light near our campsite, surface diving and perhaps even spy hopping.

After breakfast we will have a guided motorboat trip into the sheltered water near whale camp to see California Gray Whales, Traveling over 5000 miles from their feeding grounds in Alaska, these remarkable animals will both mate and give birth in the Baja lagoons.

In the afternoon, we will hike out towards Boca Soledad to view a magnificent sunset across the grand Pacific Ocean.

DAY FIVE: LOPEZ MATEOS ~ WHALE WATCH

Our morning will begin with a pre breakfast hike with your trip naturalist to explore the pristine Pacific coastline. Beach combing in Baja is extraordinary and we may find whales, sea turtles, strange sea creatures and an array of sea shells washed ashore, each with a unique story.

In the afternoon, you may join a naturalist as we kayak through the intricate labyrinth of mangroves that edge Magdalena Bay. Mangroves 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. Another option is to stay back at base camp and relax with a book or work on your Spanish with our local crew.

Our day will include a trip out to view the gray whales and other wildlife that utilizes the biologically rich lagoon. You can anticipate another delicious meal, happy hour and evening under a sky full of stars.

DAY SIX ~LOPEZ MATEOS WHALE WATCH TO LA PAZ

After breakfast, we will have a final Gray whale watching opportunity and early morning naturalist-led hike.  By mid day we will be traveling   to La Paz, about a 4 hour drive  through the desert ecotone  of Baja Sur.  A hot shower, comfortable hotel accommodations and dinner awaits us.

DAY SEVEN  ~ LAYOVER DAY~LA PAZ~EXPLORING THE MALECON  WATERFRONT TO WHALE SHARKS 

After a hearty pool side breakfast, our group will have several options for the day. Over the years, we have noticed that some people enjoy a lay over day to sleep in, relax around the pool,  or explore the quaint waterfront of La Paz known as The Malecon. If sea conditions permit, we will offer an opportunity to snorkel among the world’s largest fish, the whale shark.

Whale Sharks, the largest fish on the planet can reach a length of over  60 feet. Most of the whale sharks we see in the sheltered La Paz lagoons are juveniles, 27 feet or less. In February, whale sharks are commonly sighted in the shallow water off of La Paz and our hope is to swim with these enormous animals. As fish, whale sharks obtain oxygen through their gills and are not required to breathe at the surface as whales do.

 As with most wildlife, encounters are not guaranteed and for this reason we have not built in  the cost of this day tour into our program. For those  of you who wish to join us today in search of whale sharks the tour cost is $150.

 To best prepare for our  Sea of Cortez adventure together,  please follow our advice and practice swimming with your snorkel gear in a pool or salty body of water.  Please review our snorkeling advice here: More Info

DAY EIGHT: LA PAZ TO ESPIRITU SANTO ISLAND, SEA OF CORTEZ

After breakfast, you may rent any gear (wetsuits, snorkeling equipment, sleeping bags, etc) that you may need for the next  chapter of our adventure. A motorboat will then transfer us to our dramatically scenic island camp in the beautiful Sea of Cortez.

Our camp is located on a large protected bay that is ideal for kayaking, beachcombing, snorkeling and swimming. Join a naturalist in the afternoon as we search the rocky shore for octopus, brittle sea stars, sea cucumbers and other invertebrates that the Sea of Cortez is well known for. Declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in  2005 and a National Park in 2007, Espiritu Santo Island is part of a biologically rich archipelago of volcanic origin with a fascinating history of indigenous occupation.

We will be camping in comfort with roomy walk in style tents, cots, sun showers and a camp bathroom  system with a privacy tent.

DAY NINE: ESPIRITU SANTO ISLAND, SEA OF CORTEZ

Today you will have several options from exploring outer islands by sea kayak to viewing the underwater world using a mask and snorkel. Snorkeling is quite good with various species of damselfish, puffers and colorful angelfishes finding refuge in the rocky reef crevices.  As we snorkel then  later while pour over nature guides,  we will discuss the sometimes strange and always unique behaviors of reef fish.  We hope to include a hike into one of the island’s scenic trails learning about the unique adaptations of both flora and fauna found in the dry  desert biome. Cave, rock shelters and shell middens indicate a history of cultural occupation surrounded by a sea rich in marine resources. Expect another spectacular sunset across the Sea of Cortez.

 

DAY TEN: ESPIRITU SANTO ISLAND, SEA OF CORTEZ

 Today our support boat will take us to Los Islotes, a sea lion rookery where we can snorkel with these graceful animals, members of the pinniped, translated  “feathered foot”  sub order of mammals.

Using a mask and snorkel, observe the sea lions seemingly fly underwater using their strong front flippers to propel themselves.   We may kayak through  turquoise hued shallow bays searching for marine life such as nesting magnificent frigate birds, blue footed boobies and foraging brown pelicans. Other activities available at Espiritu Santo Island include fishing, naturalist-led hikes to explore the rocky inter tidal  and solo time along the shores of our enchanted island.

DAY ELEVEN: ESPIRITU SANTO ISLAND TO LA PAZ

After breakfast we will say our farewells to Espiritu Santo  Island  and travel by motorboat back to La Paz where a hot shower awaits us  in our comfortable hotel. During our “Sea Safari” back to La Paz,  we will make stops for any wildlife sightings such as foraging humpback whales, dolphins  or leaping manta rays.  Your afternoon will be free to shop and explore La Paz before joining the group for dinner (double occupancy rooms and all meals included).

DAY TWELVE

After breakfast, we will say our final goodbyes and then  catch a private  shuttle to the San Jose Del Cabo airport, about  a 2 1/2 hours drive from La Paz.

Sunrise from our Hotel in Loreto

Back To Baja Trip