Sea of Cortez Eco-Resort and Whale Camp

8-DAY TRIP OVERVIEW

Fly in and out of Loreto, a quaint seaside village on the Sea of Cortez, about 700 miles south of the California/Mexican border. Your first 3 nights will be based at our comfortable, beachfront Eco-Resort at the Sea of Cortez. Spend your next 3 nights at our uniquely situated Pacific Coast Whale Camp, located in the heart of the whale calving area on Magdalena Bay. Your final night will be based at a lovely hotel, enjoying a night on the town in Loreto. Depart from Loreto to the airport (or enjoy an extended stay in town) on the final day of the tour.

You will be hosted by our expert naturalist guides, who all either live in or have traveled extensively in Baja, and have intimate knowledge of the area's rich natural history. As skilled kayak instructors, they also provide training for those guests interested in developing their paddling skills. Whether you want to study the area's unique bird, fish, marine and plant life or work on your kayak roll, our guides will be at your service.

ITINERARY

Day One

Our friendly local transportation service greets you at the airport and transports you to our eco-resort on the Sea of Cortez, 20 miles south of Loreto. At the resort, our guides will meet with your group for orientation and to answer any questions about this portion of the trip. Then settle into your cozy beachside or ocean-view "casita" (thatched cottage) and the serenity and peacefulness of this beautiful place.

Day Two - Three

Days at the resort are filled with kayaking, hiking, snorkeling and just plain relaxing. One afternoon may be spent taking an optional excursion to a natural seaside hot spring by panga. Delicious meals are prepared and served in the communal open-air dining room by local Mexican "home-style" cooks. The menus may include dairy, eggs, mainly organic produce, and sometimes a fresh "catch-of-the-day" brought to us by local fishermen.  At each meal there will be a vegetarian option.  Evenings are spent around the fire circle, sharing stories and music, recounting events of the day, and preparing for the following day's activities.

Day Four

After breakfast, you'll be transported by van from the eco-resort through the desert toward Baja's picturesque Pacific coast. In the late morning, we'll load our gear into our kayaks and accompanying panga (motorized fishing boat). We then paddle off through the beautiful mangrove to our beach island home, where we settle into camp and surrender into Baja time. If afternoon conditions permit, we'll enjoy our first panga ride to visit the whales.

Days Five-Six

We'll visit the gray whales in the mornings thrilling to the proximity of the mother whales and their calves.  In the afternoon, we'll have opportunities to walk the expansive sand dune beaches and paddle in the extensive mangrove estuaries, observing bird life at every turn. Our guides are excited to share their knowledge of the area's natural history and marine ecology, and are ready to help you develop your kayaking skills. You can even have your own private self-rescue training sessions right off our camp's beach!  In the evening, after a delicious Mexican home-style dinner, kick back into your camp chair and enjoy great company as oranges, reds and golds splash across the sky and water in another magnificent Baja sunset.  Browse the camp library in our spacious geodesic dome, or sit outside by the quiet evening waters as we identify early spring constellations, marvel at the water's bioluminescence, and listen for the sound of gray whales breathing, and blowing, off-shore.

Day Seven

On our final morning at camp, the group may choose to go whale watching one last time. Afterwards, we pack up and paddle back to the peninsula, where a van awaits to transport us to our Loreto hotel in time for a hot shower and an evening on the town. On our final night, we'll enjoy exploring Loreto's quaint streets and local culture, filled with shops, restaurants, cafés, and friendly local people.

Day Eight

Depending on your departure plans, you may find time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, visit the mission, or further explore the myriad shops of Loreto. Our van will transport you from your hotel to the airport in plenty of time for your flight. Return home refreshed and renewed, with many fond memories of the whales, newfound friends and relaxing, adventure-filled days on Bahia Magdalena and the Sea of Cortez.