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2012 Whale Watching / kayaking/ snorkelling / hiking / stand up boards, foraging.
(suitable for all abilities)
Sea Kayaking and Whale watching trip .
This is a 12 day adventure to the wild and undeveloped Baja Peninsula of Mexico, to sea kayak in the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez, in Mexico’s 1st National Marine Park, Parque Nacional Bahia de Loreto, and watch the giant gray whales frolic with their young on the Pacific coast of Magdalena Bay. As well as kayaking, we will be snorkeling amongst thousands of tropical reef fishes, exploring coral shelves, hiking the dramatic desert landscape, not to mention waking up to flaming sunrises, pristine beaches, fresh fruit and seafood, beach combing, dune jumping and sipping margaritas at sunset.
The magic of this tour is that we combine five days of incredible sea kayaking in the turquoise waters of the Sea of Cortez, based in Parque Nacional Bahia de Loreto, with four days whale watching and sea kayaking in Magdelena Bay on the Pacific coast. Before, during, and at the end of these two amazing experiences, you will spend a night in the Plaza Hotel in Loreto to relax, regroup, and have a night out on the town!
The Sea of Cortez, also called The Vermillion Sea, or the ”Worlds Aquarium” is better described as aquamarine, with incredible visibility and biodiversity. The sea is alive with fish of all kinds, colour and size, from the tiny sergeant major to giant manta rays, dolphins, fin, and blue whales. The sunrises and sunsets are spectacular and the scenery stark and dramatic. Isla Danzante and Isla Carmen are within a National Park, uninhabited and visited by permit only, and is a fantastic base for exploring and kayaking. The camping is very comfortable with cocktail hour and camp cooks who pride themselves in their culinary skills!
After four nights camping it is great to get back to the hotel for a shower and a comfy bed, as well as an evening in the colorful, friendly, and very Mexican town of Loreto.
The next part of the trip brings you to Magdelena Bay to one of only two mating and calving grounds for the grey whale who make their way from The Bering Sea to the warm waters of Mexico between December and March and can be seen in their hundreds as they swim with their calves and breech, coming straight up out of the water. Sometimes a "friendly" whale will seek contact and allow us to touch and even kiss her! The boats are well controlled with permits and respectful of the whales and never harass them.
The camping here is very posh, with walk-in permanent tents with cot beds, a dining room tent and a beer cooler. The campsite is on a sandbar between the Bay and The Pacific Ocean and the night time noises consist of whale song and the odd coyote howling at the moon!
We will have in camp with us a beautiful fleet of kayaks for touring the rich and fascinating mangrove estuaries, as well as for enjoying advanced instruction from Jim, both in the bay as well as taking advantage of the nearby surf.
What makes our tour so different and special is that on all of our expeditions Jim Kennedy (see about us) tutors and advises clients on all aspects of their kayaking technique. i.e. forward paddling, rescues, correction strokes, towing, rolling. So by the end of an amazing tour, not only will you have a great adventure but your personal kayaking proficiency will also have reached new levels. At the end of the trip people can be assessed for a European Paddle Pass kayak approved certificate.
This tour is suitable for all abilities, beginner upwards, and is fully supported. We use a combination of singles and doubles on the trip.
ITINERARY:
Our expedition will begin in Loreto – the site of the first Jesuit mission in the Americas, made famous by John Steinbeck in his book The Log of the Sea of Cortez.
Day 1 – Arrival into Loreto. The first night we stay in the Hotel Plaza Loreto, a lovely traditional hotel close to the marina on the sea front. We can relax on the upper balcony, (outdoor room) with a drink and watch the beautiful and exotic Cortez sunset. Then maybe a stroll along the Maleacon (boardwalk) for a Margarita or cold beer.
Day 2 - Sees us kayaking around Loreto, exploring the shoreline and getting familiar with our kayaks and guides. Bottlenosed dolphins, Blue whales, and Sea turtles are common in this area. We again stay in our hotel on this night and prepare for our departure to the island tomorrow.
Day 3-6 - Begins our sea-kayaking expedition, paddling to the majestic and uninhabited islands of Danzante and Carmen, approximately 3 to 6 miles from the mainland. We will be based here for the next four days and three nights. We will be kayaking from one white sandy beach to another, hiking the desert landscape, snorkeling and swimming and reveling in the stark and stunning silence of a desert island national park.
Every day we combine our kayaking exploration with a little learning. By the end of the trip your personal proficiency will certainly have taken giant steps.
We will be camping on the island and the trip will be fully supported, which means you do not have to carry gear in the kayak. The trip is also fully catered. We will have a local guide with us who will treat us to wonderful Mexican food. We will kayak in some amazing areas and share the seas with dolphins, whales, turtles and exotic sea birds and look down on the colorful fish foraging in the blue depths below us. Wetsuits and snorkeling gear is provided for all, and you will have ample time every day to enjoy this incredible aspect of the sea of Cortez!
Day 7 - we will travel back to Loreto, for a welcome shower and a night on the town, with a comfy bed to complete the day!
Day 8 - We will transfer to the Pacific coast the next day, across the desert landscape, stopping off at for a taco and chilled beer at a remote farm. A village of Osprey Nests lets us know that we are approaching the Pacific side of the Peninsula. Here we will be taken by Panga (fast boat) out to the whale camp on the sand dune island in Magdalena Bay.
Day 11 - Here we will spend three wonderful days whale watching, sea kayaking and exploring the sculpted sand dunes on the sand bar. We will be visiting remote fishing camps and kayaking through one of the most famous mangrove swaps in Mexico as well as beach combing in the Pacific Sunset. Then we return to Loreto for our last night, enjoying dinner in the evening, a Margarita or two and some shopping.
Day 12 - Airport transfer and departure. Sad goodbyes and promises of "we will be back", and secret thoughts of “I cannot wait for my friends at home to see my tan!”
Activities – Sea Kayaking, whale watching , snorkelling, hiking, fishing, visiting local fishing villages, whale watching, exploring the mangroves by kayak, dune jumping. staand up boards , foraging.
Cost - €1490
Begins in - Loreto 26th January.
Ends in - Loreto 6th. February
Groups or individuals welcome.
Number of Guides/crew to clients - 1:6
Minimum age - 18 years
We use a mixture of the most up to date double and single kayaks.
Single supplement fee – €100 for accommodation
Sea Kayak rating and approximate min/max distances per day - Moderate to strenuous, 6-10 miles
Price includes: Whale watching ,All activities, all meals and beverages while on the expedition, four nights hotel with bed and breakfast, end of tour dinner, all kayaking equipment.
Not included: Food on first day, dinner on middle day, sleeping bags and snorkeling equipment, Air Fares
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