Design Your Baja California Trip
To provide you with an idea of who we are and how we operate, here is a sample of our itinerary.
Traveling to Baja Sur
You will fly into the Loreto airport, where you can take a local taxi to our favorite quaint hotel. After checking in, you will have the rest of the day free to explore the town — the historic "Mother" mission, the plaza, the waterfront taco stands, paleterias and gift shops. We will meet you shortly after breakfast the next morning and travel south, viewing the dramatic coastline and unspoiled desert, to a point on the top of a mountain where you will get your first glimpse of our base camp below. From there, you travel down a series of switchbacks to the local rancho, where you will be met and greeted by the local family who will help us carry our supplies to our beach camp. We'll do an orientation as your guides prepare your first dinner, consisting of a seasonal bounty from the sea. You may have a chance to soak in the hot springs and watch brown pelicans, magnificent frigates, boobies, royal terns and perhaps an osprey search for their dinner. Over the next week, you will have a variety of options:
Sea Kayaking Tours
There are two infrequently-visited islands close by to explore. One has a tidal shelf on which, during low tide, you can walk completely around, exploring the tidepools teeming with urchins, anemones, cucumbers and other sea life. The other island has a south-facing horseshoe-shaped cove and a clean sandy beach which, even on days when the fairly-common northerlies are blowing, is warm and calm. Snorkeling is excellent here. While traversing between the islands, we remain on the lookout for sea lions, dolphin, roosterfish, sea turtles and sometimes even a whale or two!
Another possible kayaking destination for more ambitious paddlers is a nearby small fishing village, which until the mid-1980's had no roads and no access — except by sea. We provide all kayaking gear, including U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, quality paddles, sprayskirts and waterproof bags for personal gear. Lessons in stroke techniques are provided by a certified instructor.
Mule Rides
Our local family are "cowboys" and have been riding the coastal mountains for generations. They will take you to some difficult-to-hike locations over the mountains and up lush canyons. Our guides are eager to share their knowledge of the many uses of local plants and trees for building, food and medicine. You may also observe Indian artifacts along your journey.
Panga Trips
A panga is the local name for a motor boat, from which you can search for bluefin and humpback whales, or fish for "the big one."
Snorkeling
The marine life is incredibly diverse here. There are coral formations teeming with sergeant majors, Baja angels, coronet fish, triggerfish, etc.
Hiking
There are slot canyons and cliffs right by our base camp, with great views of the coastline. Other hikes can be arranged in conjunction with mule rides, or as a separate adventure "over the mountain and through the arroyo."
Beach Combing and Hot Springs
For those who want a more relaxed agenda, there are miles of beaches to wander along, and relaxing hot springs in which to just kick back and enjoy that latest novel you are reading.
Other Activities
Also available are tortilla-making sessions, informal Spanish lessons with native Mexican speakers, or just taking a siesta in a hammock in the warm ocean breeze.
On the Friday before departure, we will transport you back to the hotel in Loreto where, after a hot shower and some last-minute souvenir shopping, we will reconvene for a farewell dinner in our favorite local restaurant. After a good night's sleep, the taxis will return you to the airport.
