Destination:
Days: 8Magical wildlife encounters in Baja California Sur await on this magnificent eight-day tour. Take to the skies for a sight-seeing flight, find your sea legs with blue whale and gray whale watching tours, and dip below the surface to swim with the playful sea lions of Isla Espiritu Santo.
Also, take part in a sea turtle conservation project, helping to collect vital data on these cute critters. Camp experiences are mixed with stays at luxurious hotels to make the vacation both exciting and relaxing.
Throughout, guests will also learn more about the local culture and history of Baja California Sur from expert local guides to compliment the information they will learn about the local wildlife.
HIGHLIGHTS
Sightseeing flight – Board a Cessna Caravan to view gorgeous Baja California Sur from a bird´s eye view
Blue whale watching – See the biggest animal that ever lived on an unforgettable blue whale watching tour in Loreto Bay National Marine Park
Sea turtle conservation – Join a sea turtle monitoring team in Magdalena Bay to help them collect data before returning the creatures to the wild
Gray whale watching – Join local guides on a boat ride through Magdalena Bay to see the magnificent and curious gray whales
Swim with sea lions – Head to Isla Espiritu Santo to snorkel with the local sea lion colonies and breathtaking tropical fish
Day 1: Arrival to Los Cabos
Fly into Los Cabos on the Baja California peninsula and enjoy a private transfer to the hotel. After settling in, head to dinner to meet a local guide for a brief orientation and Q&A session, before an evening at leisure.
Day 2: Humpback Whale Watching and scenic Loreto Flight
Early in the morning, board a zodiac boat and travel through Cabo San Lucas’ Flora and Fauna Protected Area to spot humpback whales just off the coast. The humpbacks are famous for their ability to communicate through “song” and their acrobatic breaches.
Back on land, enjoy lunch before boarding a Cessna Caravan plane. Head into the skies for a spectacular view over the Baja California peninsula, crossing from the Pacific up over the rugged sierras and into the town of Loreto.
After, relax in the hotel or take a walk through the historic center to the cathedral, then down to the waterfront and along the beach-side walkway known as the Malecon.
At dinner, a guide will give an overview of the next few days, as well as the cultural and historical context of the indigenous people, the local Jesuit influences, and the ranchero culture that makes this place so special.
Day 3: Blue whale watching in Loreto Bay National Marine Park
Head out in a traditional fishing boat, known as a panga, to Loreto Bay National Marine Park to search for the magnificent blue whales that frequent these waters from February to April. A naturalist guide will provide detailed information on the mating and migration habits of these amazing creatures, the largest living species on the planet. Also, see a host of sea life from dolphins to migratory birds and, possibly, fin whales or humpbacks.
Arrive back from the blue whale watching adventure to a protected inlet along the coast. Take the chance for a dip in the water. If the tide is right, find a natural hot spring rising from the ocean floor. After, meet a local ranchero and head to a campsite, where a hot dinner awaits beneath the stars.
Overnight: Camp
Day 4: Mule trekking in Sierra La Giganta
Saddle up with local rancheros for an adventure into the breathtaking Sierra la Giganta mountain range in a place visited by few travelers. Travel by mule, with an experienced guide by your side, and explore this region untouched by roads and the passage of time. No previous riding experience is necessary as the nimble mules never miss a step.
Arrive at San Cosme in the afternoon, climb aboard a van to head through a pass in the sierras to cross over to the Pacific side, arriving at RED’s turtle research camp in the Magdalena Bay complex.
After a tasty dinner and brief orientation, stay up and take in the night sky before heading to bed.
Overnight: Camp
Day 5: Sea turtles in Magdalena Bay
Wake up early and grab a cup of coffee to watch the fisher-conservationists prepare the nets used in the sea turtle monitoring project. During breakfast, learn about the monitoring protocol and how to participate in the data collection. Every two hours enjoy the chance to accompany the monitoring team in the boats to check the nets for turtles. Captured sea turtles will be returned to camp where important measurements and other data will be collected before releasing the turtles back into the wild.
Continue participating in the monitoring or pop your head into the kitchen for a cooking class with a local chef. Alternatively, head to the beach and learn how to use a traditional throw-net for fishing.
After dinner, discuss the monitoring program and its important role as a tool for fostering community stewardship. Spend the evening chatting with the local staff around the campfire.
Overnight: Camp
Day 6: Gray whales Magdalena Bay to eco-retreat
After breakfast and a detailed orientation on gray whales, head out with local guides to see the gray whales that come to Magdalena Bay. These incredible creatures travel south from the Bering Sea to mate and calve in the calm, protected bays of the Baja California peninsula. In the afternoon, explore the wonders of Magdalena Bay and its dense mangrove canals.
Then, head south, stopping along the way to take in a bit of ranchero culture, before arriving at a secluded eco-retreat just north of La Paz.
Shower off, tour the grounds, or take a dip in the calm waters off the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez, dubbed by explorer Jacques Cousteau as “the world’s aquarium”. Tonight, relax and learn how to make traditional Mexican fare, including handmade tortillas and tamales.
Overnight: La Duna
Day 7: Isla Espiritu Santo
Today, head out in a panga with a guide to Isla Espíritu Santo, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a treasure trove of wildlife. Here, swim with sea lions and explore the breathtaking island scenery.
Snorkel the waters off the island to spot shipwrecks and tropical fish. On the trip back into La Paz, guests may even be lucky enough to spot a whale shark.
Day 8: Departure from La Paz
Enjoy a calm morning in downtown La Paz. Private transportation will take guests from the hotel to the airport for flights home.
Dates
This trip can be customized for a private journey in the months of February and March.
Prices
Price per passenger starting from: $2,995 USD (double occupancy/adult) for group departures or our custom-tailored journeys start from $1,000 USD per day for two travelers. Contact us today to discuss your travel desires and design a personalized proposal with exact pricing.
Please note, our pricing guideline is a starting from price and is not necessarily applicable to the suggested hotels contained within the suggested itineraries on this web site. Itineraries are customized prior to final pricing.
