Sea kayaking holiday in Baja, Mexico
| country: | Mexico |
| location: | Baja |
| departures: | 2008: 16 Nov, 23 Nov, 25 Nov, 21 Dec |
| price: | From approx £849 (Kr10500) (8 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
This is one of the Baja’s classic sea kayak expeditions: great paddling and spectacular scenery, the perfect winter escape.
In Baja California the Sonoran desert in all its subtle diversity meets a rich marine environment to offer a remarkable range of coastal ecology. The Mexican culture of Baja is as warm as the sun with new friends and great fun being the hallmark of a visit to the “Magnificent Peninsula”.
The Sea of Cortez contains what is probably the most ecologically intact archipelago in the world. This unmatched treasure of marine life that Jacques Cousteau called “the world’s aquarium”, is also a breeding ground for numerous species of marine birds and the winter range for many northern birds.
The Sierra Giganta Range plunges into the Sea of Cortez just south of our launch point creating a beautiful ever-changing backdrop for the entire trip. Canyon hikes take us into the Coastal mountains and kayaking allows an intimate exploration of the many coves and islands. Desert colours of Canyonlands-like cliffs drop into the clear azure sea to create a magical play of light and reflection. The Sea of Cortez is home to thousands of species of sea life, and the snorkelling here is excellent. Small coves teem with exotically coloured fish. We often see fin and blue whales, as well as large pods of dolphins.
This trip is an excellent winter escape: a well-rounded and fun exploration of the meeting of desert and sea.
In Baja California the Sonoran desert in all its subtle diversity meets a rich marine environment to offer a remarkable range of coastal ecology. The Mexican culture of Baja is as warm as the sun with new friends and great fun being the hallmark of a visit to the “Magnificent Peninsula”.
The Sea of Cortez contains what is probably the most ecologically intact archipelago in the world. This unmatched treasure of marine life that Jacques Cousteau called “the world’s aquarium”, is also a breeding ground for numerous species of marine birds and the winter range for many northern birds.
The Sierra Giganta Range plunges into the Sea of Cortez just south of our launch point creating a beautiful ever-changing backdrop for the entire trip. Canyon hikes take us into the Coastal mountains and kayaking allows an intimate exploration of the many coves and islands. Desert colours of Canyonlands-like cliffs drop into the clear azure sea to create a magical play of light and reflection. The Sea of Cortez is home to thousands of species of sea life, and the snorkelling here is excellent. Small coves teem with exotically coloured fish. We often see fin and blue whales, as well as large pods of dolphins.
This trip is an excellent winter escape: a well-rounded and fun exploration of the meeting of desert and sea.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Guests will be met by our English speaking representative at Loreto airport. Your guides will meet the group at 8pm in the courtyard of your hotel for an orientation and discussion of trip details. |
| Day 2: | Depart from the hotel at 7am for the short drive south to our launch point near Puerto Escondido. Over a continental breakfast on the beach, a comprehensive sea kayaking instruction session is given. After an introduction to the art of kayak loading we set course across the channel to the majestic Isla Danzante. |
| Day 3: | We paddle the rugged east coast of Isla Danzante stopping to explore and snorkel at the pocket beaches that break the fortress like shoreline. From our west-facing campsite the view of the sun setting over the Sierra Giganta mountains is spectacular. |
| Day 4: | Padding south towards the mainland coast we begin to skirt the cliffs of the Giganta range as it plunges into the Sea of Cortez. We continue south until we reach our campsite located on the first large sweeping beach. |
| Day 5: | Today we hike up El Triumfo canyon. Following an arroyo or dry creek bend we walk into an ever narrowing canyon sculpted by seasonal water flow. Arriving back at camp in the afternoon there is time for a welcome swim before the sun sets over the peaks to the west. |
| Day 6: | Paddling south we arrive at Carisalito, an elegant sweep of beach with a window rock arch and a cluster of palm trees at its center. If the tides are right there is the opportunity to soak in a set of hotsprings located in the next bay. |
| Day 7: | A short paddle this morning takes us to Rancho San Cosme. Here we are met by vans for transportation back to Loreto. This evening there is an optional no-host group dinner at a local restaurant. |
| Day 8: | After check out from the hotel it’s time to catch a taxi to the airport in time for Aero California’s flight to Los Angeles. |
Note: Itineraries are intended as guidelines only and are subject to change at the discretion of your guides due to weather and other general logistical conditions at the time of the trip. |
travellers' tales
We kayaked to different beaches and spent the time there snorkelling etc before paddling back in the afternoon. There is an abundance of wildlife that you can see. The highlights on my trip included seeing blue and fin whales, dolphins, sea lions and turtles. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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Baja, Mexico is a relatively poor area of Mexico and depends heavily on tourism to provide both for employment opportunities and desperately needed income. The Mexican culture and way of life is a must to experience and your visit will help preserve this unique way of life and bring precious revenues to this spectacular area of the world.
Through our local economic strategy we contribute to the ongoing financial development of this sensitive region by investing and supporting local communities through purchasing real-estate and establishing operational headquarters in the areas we travel. We employ Mexican guides and support personal. We purchase all food items locally to support local grocery stores, as well as prioritising local organic vegetables, fruits and meats. Our commitment to sensitive ecosystems and the conservation of the environment is paramount in all our actions. We put the environment first. We kayak and hike because it is quiet and clean. Through self power we are able to travel in relative silence and experience sensitive habitats up close. Careful environmental planning and small, intimate group size minimises the impact of our visit while increasing the opportunity for cultural interaction and wildlife encounters. |
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. |