Itinerary – A Warm Water Baja Adventure For Women

 

Sea Of Cortez Island Exploration

And Baby Sea Turtles of the Pacific

A Warm Water Baja Adventure For Women

Detailed Itinerary

DAY ONE: ARRIVAL TO LA PAZ

Our Baja Adventure begins with the arrival to our hotel in La Paz, Baja California Sur. Most people arrive via San Jose Del Cabo airport and take the scenic 3 hour shuttle into La Paz.
Plan to check into our La Paz hotel anytime after 3:00pm. If you arrive early, you may store your luggage at our quaint hotel then set off to explore the colorful La Paz waterfront. Our group will gather for dinner at 7:00pm with a more formal orientation in the morning. (double occupancy room and dinners  included ).

DAY TWO: WILDLIFE SAFARI DAY TRIP

After a hearty pool side breakfast, our group will depart by motorized skiff for an  introduction to snorkeling. You may anticipate a day of beautiful scenery, snorkeling with colorful reef fish and perhaps sea lions. If we encounter a whale shark near La Paz Bay, we will offer this unique opportunity to swim among them.  With that said, please follow our advice and practice swimming with your snorkel gear before our adventure begins. Please review our snorkeling advice here: More Info

Whale Sharks, the largest fish on the planet can reach a length of 60 feet. The sharks we might have the great fortune to observe in La Paz Bay  are mostly juveniles and rarely exceed 30 feet in length. Relatively little is known about these enigmatic animals which may live to 100 years of age and sustain themselves on a diet of plankton. As filter feeders, they offer no real threat to humans and snorkeling with them is an unbelievable experience. We will return to our hotel in the afternoon with time to explore the quaint waterfront community of La Paz.

DAY THREE-DAY SEVEN: ISLAND EXPLORATION~SEA OF CORTEZ

After breakfast, you may pick up any additional rental gear that you need for our Island Exploration Adventure. A motorboat will then transfer us to our first dramatically scenic camp in the beautiful Sea of Cortez. Our first night’s camp is located on a stunning stretch of beach ideal for beachcombing, snorkeling and swimming. After setting up your  tent, join a naturalist as we search the rocky shore for octopus, brittle sea stars, sea cucumbers and other invertebrates that flourish in the Sea of Cortez.

We will be camping in comfort as we explore this biologically rich marine ecosystem. (spacious 3 person tents for double occupancy and all meals included throughout trip). We will break camp and move location 3-4 times as we explore this vast marine ecosystem.

For the next five days we will be moving to various island campsites via motorized  skiff. Our destinations may include the islands of Espiritu Santo, San Jose, San Francisquito or a stunning beach on Baja’s mainland. Each island has its own flavor, history and uniqueness. We may stop by a small fishing village such as El Pardito. This tiny island and the rich marine sea that surrounds it has supported a community of fisherman for centuries. We may have the opportunity to meet some of the local fisherman and their families learning about their traditional livelihood in a remote corner of the Sea of Cortez.

At each island destination, we will enjoy active yet optional activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, foraging and beach combing. Your naturalist will offer daily educational opportunities such as intertidal exploration, fish behavior, marine mammal adaptations and lessons on desert flora and fauna.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 (feathered foot) suborder of mammals. Using a mask and snorkel, observe the sea lions seemingly fly underwater using their strong front flippers to propel themselves.

The uniqueness of an Island Exploration itinerary is the unexpected encounters with wildlife such as a pod of Pilot Whales!

Other activities during the week include fishing, hiking the rugged desert canyons, night snorkeling and solo time along the shores of our enchanting island campsites.

Motoring, then kayaking into secluded coves, we will snorkel among damselfish, puffers and colorful angelfishes that find refuge in the rocky reef crevices. Join a naturalist on a swim over the rocky reef to learn about the strange behaviors of reef fish and invertebrates. Informal kayak instruction is available upon request from your ACA certified sea kayaking instructor.

DAY EIGHT: SEA OF CORTEZ TO TODOS SANTOS

After breaking camp, we will head back to La Paz and continue onward to our next wildlife encounter. Our destination today is La Maquina Beach near the quaint  town of Todos Santos on Baja’s Pacific Side. We will transfer by van to Todos Santos arriving to the turtle beach area of Playa “La Máquina”.

At sunset, Grupo Tortuguero de Todos Santos A.C, a local sea turtle conservation project invites the public to participate in the release of baby olive ridley sea turtles. Born on the beaches of Baja, sea turtles are extremely vulnerable to predation both on land and in water. A sea turtle hatchery has been established by a team of local volunteers near La Maquina Beach.

Each year 1000’s of baby sea turtles are released into the rugged Pacific Ocean of Baja to start their perilous journey through life. Three species of endangered sea turtles nest in the vicinity of Todos Santos: the eastern pacific green sea turtle also referred to as the black sea turtle, the olive ridley sea turtle and the leatherback sea turtle.We are excited to share this unique experience with you!

DAY NINE: CERRITOS BEACH ~ HOME

After breakfast, you will catch your pre-arranged shuttle to the San Jose Del Cabo airport, an hours drive from Cerritos Beach where we plan to spend our last night.  If you select an afternoon flight, you may  have several hours to explore the beautiful Cerritos Beach near Todos Santos where are are staying our last night. Long stretches of beaches await the beachcomber or you may even rent a boogie  board for a final Baja Adventure!  If you would like to extend your stay at Cerritos Beach or transfer to a hotel in Todos Santos, please contact Kim Powell at: bluewaterventuressc@gmail.com

Local community members help release Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, Todos Santos

Swim Back to Baja