Mexico adventure holiday
| country: | Mexico |
| location: | Baja |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 7 Feb, 21 Feb |
| price: | From £2290 (17 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Sea of Cortez - Baja California – Trans Pacifico Train - Copper Canyon - swim with sea lions – grey whales – kayak – hike in wilderness - empty beaches
Combine hiking, kayaking and whale watching in one exciting holiday. Kayak, snorkel and swim the clear, warm waters of the Baja California, and meet grey whales in their Pacific breeding grounds. Enjoy one of the world’s great train rides into the Copper Canyon and hike through some of the world’s most spectacular canyon scenery.
Combine hiking, kayaking and whale watching in one exciting holiday. Kayak, snorkel and swim the clear, warm waters of the Baja California, and meet grey whales in their Pacific breeding grounds. Enjoy one of the world’s great train rides into the Copper Canyon and hike through some of the world’s most spectacular canyon scenery.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive. Arrive in the city of La Paz on the tip of the Baja California in the north west of Mexico. Settle into your hotel and meet your guide this evening. |
| Day 2: | Kayak in the Sea of Cortes. Morning boat ride to the island of Espiritu Santo. Lunch on the beach, afternoon to kayak on the calm waters. Camp on the beach for the night. (B,L,D) |
| Day 3: | Kayak amongst dolphins. Kayak through clear water amidst dolphins, sea lions and even, sometimes, Grey and Blue whales. Relax back at camp with a drink before supper. (B,L,D) |
| Day 4: | Kayak around coves. Spend today kayaking the coves around the island. Sea birds nest all around the island. Return to camp, relax or swim while dinner is prepared. (B,L,D) |
| Day 5: | Snorkel with sea lions. Morning trip to a nearby island where you can swim and snorkel with playful sea lions. Back to camp for lunch and then into the boat to return to La Paz. (B,L) |
| Day 6: | Relax and explore. A day to relax. Stroll to the waterfront, restaurants, shops and museums. (B) |
| Day 7: | Whale watching. Boat launch into the Bay of Magdalena where the Gray Whales make their annual migration to nurse in the shallow lagoons. Spend the afternoon with the whales. Sleep in the nearby village. (B,L,D) |
| Day 8: | Whale watching. Get back into the boats this morning to spend more time with the whales. Return to La Paz this evening. (B,L,D) |
| Day 9: | Cross the Sea of Cortez. Board the ferry across the Sea of Cortez, watch the marine life from the top deck. Arrive late, you are collected for the drive across to the village of El Fuerte. (B,L) |
| Day 10: | Spectacular train. Catch the early morning train for the impressive journey into the Copper Canyon. Short afternoon walk, sleep in the village of Urique, at the base of the canyon. (B,D) |
| Day 11: | Walk high canyon. Start hiking along the canyon following trails set out by the native Tarahumara people, your hike is fully supported by a team of mules. Camp near a family ranch. (B,L,D) Walk 13km, 6hrs, up 360m, down 10m |
| Day 12: | Walk low canyon. Early start to walk in the shadow of the canyon walls. Camp at a spot perched high above the river with amazing views from your tent door. (B,L,D) Walk 7km, 5hrs, up 950m, down 30m |
| Day 13: | Walk canyon base. Walk down into the main part of the copper canyon today. Meet a local family this afternoon and camp in another scenic spot. (B,L,D) Walk 10km, 4hrs, up 80m, down 850m |
| Day 14: | Relax & explore. Hike down the rugged switchbacks into the frontier mining village of Batopilas. Stay in a charming hotel. (B,L,D) Walk 13km, 7hrs, up 12m, down 550m |
| Day 15: | Explore the high sierra. Drive up and out of the canyon to the town of Creel. Explore the town, shop and relax. (B,L,D) |
| Day 16: | Farewell fiesta. Morning to relax. Continue on to Chihuahua for a night amidst the bright lights of this big city. Enjoy a farewell fiesta. (B,L,D) |
| Day 17: | Return home. Transfer to airport for your flight home. (B) |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
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On this holiday we work with a large number of people in Mexico. Everything from the transport and local guides to accommodation and excursions, we book directly, ensuring maximum benefit for local communities. It also means that your holiday is more interesting as you get to interact with the locals.
 We keep our groups very small (12 max) and we send you lots of information about your destination before you leave – guidebooks, maps, local information, etc. Because you travel as an informed tourist, you get more from your holiday. We pack in/out everything from both beach and canyon. Eco toilets are carried throughout to minimise the environmental impact of your visit. You can choose to offset carbon emissions from your flights. The whale watching in the Bahia Magdalena is closely regulated. Boats used are small – carrying only 6 – 8 passengers. Potential disruption to the whales is minimised at all times. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |