HIGHLIGHTS
Our exclusive island base camp on Magdalena Bay affords phenomenal whale-watching opportunities. Trained Mexican "pangeros" will escort us out onto the bay to be near a mother and her calf. The curious mother will often approach our boat, and encourage her baby to play and frolic around the boat, sometimes blowing water on us from their blowholes. On occasion, the mother rests against the boat, waiting to be stroked; their intelligence is apparent as we look into their eyes. This experience has often inspired people to become involved in the protection of these magnificent creatures.
Our island camp is at an ideal location, adjacent to a pristine and extensive mangrove estuary. It also has the advantage of facing west toward the bay's inlet and the setting sun; you can even see the whales blowing and surfacing from the shores of our camp.
Our guides are all skilled naturalists and will share their knowledge of the area's natural history, marine biology, birds and local flora. Through their humor and skill, they will give you a rich, deep, and intimate experience of this place. Our Mexican chef, Lala, will prepare delicious and authentic home-cooked meals for you each day.
At this comfortable base camp, you will feel at peace, far from the stresses of modern life as you become immersed in the wisdom of "The Ancients of the Sea." On still nights, you can often hear the whales breathing from the comfort of your spacious, double-occupancy tent.
This is a vacation you will remember and treasure for a lifetime. Many of our guests return year after year, bringing friends and family ... even their grandkids! Children as young as seven are welcome. Come and join us for this season of whale watching, as we honor the life-cycle of the largest mammals on Earth!
A Great Read: "Gentle Giants" (Chapter 17) from Karin Kinsey's new book, "Dancing on Water: Adventures with Dolphins, Whales, & Interspecies Communication" for the author's experience with the whales on a Blue Waters trip to Magdalena Bay in 2005 |
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Day One
Fly in and out of Loreto, a quaint seaside village on the Sea of Cortez, about 700 miles south of the California/Mexican border.
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.
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