Five Different Kayak Tours to the Baja Peninsula & Gulf of California

"A terrific kayak tour! Mark did an excellent job. I would recommend the Baja kayaking trip to anyone."
Dave Brando, Seattle, WA

2008/09 Sea Kayaking Baja Mexico Expedition Schedule

The kayak trip dates that you see here are inclusive of the entire kayaking vacation. This means that the trip dates shown below include the actual kayaking days plus two additional days for travel to and from the meeting point. Most people require a minimum of one day before and one day after the actual kayaking to be reserved solely for travel purposes to/from Mexico, and we have therefore included them in the vacation dates shown on the chart below. You may safely make your airline reservations for the adventure dates provided. Please click on the trip names for specific itinerary details. The map below shows the geographic location of each of these four expeditions.

New Baja sea kayaking dates for autumn 2008
through spring 2009 have now been posted!

Click the link below to return to our main page about Baja kayaking
Baja sea kayaking trips, Baja kayaking vacations, and Baja whale watching sea kayak tours.

Baja California Map & Sea Kayak Trip Locator

Circled numbers correspond to the Baja kayaking trip # in the itineraries below.

Click the link below to return to our main page about sea kayaking Baja
Baja sea kayaking trips, kayaking Mexico vacations, and Baja whale watching sea kayak tours.

Baja Kayaking Trip Itineraries

#1 - Blue Triangle / Sierra de la Giganta Exploratory
This is a classic Sea of Cortez kayaking expedition, named after the spectacular volcanic range along which it travels, and a group of three wilderness islands in the heart of the Loreto Islands National Park. We camp for four nights on Isla Danzante and Isla Carmen, which along with offshore Monserrate, form the corners of the "Blue Triangle" research area for blue whale biologists. We also camp for two nights along a wilderness stretch of the peninsular coast where the Giganta mountains plunge straight into the Sea of Cortez. No support boat or basecamp are used on this adventurous, free-ranging kayak trip.

We usually spend from two to five hours kayaking each day. Frequent stops are made to explore coves and beaches and to stretch our legs and eat lunch. There is ample time for hiking the rugged desert topography, snorkeling, fishing, taking photographs, or just lounging on the beach. Our staff will be available to lead hikes and snorkeling trips, identify flora and fauna, and discuss the natural history of the Baja California region.

Arrival Day - Arrive in Loreto Mexico and pass through customs/immigration. After collecting your luggage, you will be met by our ground agents escorted to an airport van bound for the Desert Inn (formerly the La Pinta Hotel). Your kayak Baja tour guides will meet with you that evening for a pre-trip orientation in the hotel lobby at 8 PM. Dinner this evening is a no-host affair at a nearby restaurant and our ground agent would be glad to make suggestions. Note: The hotel is happy to store your extra luggage. 

Day 1 - First day of sea kayaking in Baja. Expedition leaders meet you at 7:00am at your Loreto hotel. Morning activities include a short drive from Loreto to the launch site followed by a continental breakfast on the beach and sea kayaking class. Afternoon paddle to first Baja campsite in the Loreto Islands National Park. Our first campsite is typically located on Isla Carmen, essentially an extinct volcano. A long shelf of coquina limestone extends far out into the sea before dropping off into the deep indigo waters. Formerly paved in pearl oysters, the shelf has historically attracted kayakers, pre-Columbian natives and Spanish pearl harvesters. Fossils and artifacts litter the desert surface in this area. Whale sightings are common here and lucky snorkelers have reported encounters with the numerous dolphins that forage over the turquoise flats.

Day 2 -  Striking out for a new camp on the east side of the island, our destination will likely be remarkably different as the geology of Isla Carmen alternates between red and gray volcanic peaks and flows, and lower lying layers of white sedimentary rocks. White coquina cliffs dominate the foreshore where erosive forces have sculpted exquisite overhangs and caves. Ancient streams, now dry, have carved arroyos into the red and white bedrock. These arroyos have created some excellent beaches and snorkeling sites

Day 3 - A layover day is likely here with options for short kayaking excursions to explore coves, attractive beaches, and seek out marine wildlife. There is ample free time for hiking up the winding arroyos and into the surrounding desert terrain. Also, snorkeling, fishing, photography, or just beach lounging. Our staff will lead snorkeling and hiking trips and identify flora and fauna

Day 4 -  Back around the south end of Carmen, we will usually cross over to Isla Danzante, a smaller island of more extreme topography. Its many layers of volcanic materials have been sculpted by millennia of storms and geologic fault blocking.

Day 5 - Today we'll kayak through the spectacular Los Candeleros sea stacks enroute to the Baja Peninsula shoreline. We will camp on some wilderness beaches and explore arroyos where the steep cliffs and fault blocks of the Sierra de la Giganta mountains plunge directly into the Sea of Cortez.

Day 6 - Last day of sea kayaking. We visit Rancho San Cosme for a ranch-style lunch with the local inhabitants before our vans arrive at the take-out site and return us to Loreto in the early afternoon. After showering, we traditionally convene for a no-host farewell dinner at a nearby Loreto restaurant.

Departure Day - Unless you have arranged to spend extra time in Baja California, you will take a taxi to the Loreto airport two hours before your flight departs from Mexico. We recommend a one-day whale watching excursion in Magdalena Bay to compliment this kayak tour - ask our office staff if you'd like to add this to your vacation!

#2 - Blue Triangle Kayak Baja Exploratory
Three wilderness islands, Danzante, Carmen, and Monserrate, form the corners of the "Blue Triangle" right in the heart of the Loreto Islands National Park. Recently discovered as the most important wintering area for blue whales, all three islands are part of an International Biosphere Reserve and remain uninhabited by humans or livestock. This expedition is very similar to our other Sea of Cortez kayaking tour, except that we remain within the islands for all six nights of the trip instead of four. Also, this trip is usually led by our expedition director, Martine Springer, our top Baja guide with nearly two decades of experience in Baja Mexico.

Arrival Day - Arrive in Loreto Mexico and pass through customs/immigration. After collecting your luggage, you will be met by our ground agents escorted to an airport van bound for the Desert Inn (formerly the La Pinta Hotel). Your kayak Mexico tour guides will meet with you that evening for a pre-trip orientation in the hotel lobby at 8 PM. Dinner this evening is a no-host affair at a nearby restaurant and our ground agent would be glad to make suggestions. Note: The hotel is happy to store your extra luggage. 

Days 1 to 3 - First day of sea kayaking in Mexico. We usually spend from two to five hours kayaking each day. Frequent stops are made to explore coves and beaches and to stretch our legs and eat lunch. There is ample time for hiking the rugged desert topography, snorkeling, fishing, taking photographs, or just lounging on the beach. Martine and the other Baja guides will be available to lead hikes and snorkeling trips, identify flora and fauna, and discuss the natural history of the Baja California region.

Day 4 -  Back around the south end of Carmen, we turn north to explore areas up the island’s west side which is dominated by higher cliffs and pocket coves.

Day 5 - Today we'll cross the channel that separates Carmen from Isla Danzante. The geology here is completely different from Carmen’s, as Danzante was formerly attached to the Giganta and split apart into the sea by the spreading crust. Our route will take us to the northern tip of Danzante where we will stop at the picture perfect Honeymoon Cove for a chance to snorkel, hike, and watch for whales. Later, we’ll sea kayak along the west side to our last campsite and watch the sun set behind the Sierra Giganta.

Day 6 - Up early for our final crossing back to the peninsula with perhaps one last snorkel or swim on the inviting beaches of Danzante before leaving. Our vans will be waiting to return us to Loreto in time for lunch. The remainder of the afternoon is free for exploring this old mission town. That evening we traditionally convene for a no-host farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Departure Day - After bidding a final farewell to all of your new friends, you will take a taxi to the Loreto airport at least two hours before flight departure, unless you have arranged to spend extra time vacationing in Baja Mexico. We recommend a one-day whale watching excursion in Magdalena Bay to compliment this kayak tour - ask our office staff if you'd like to add this to your vacation!

#3 - Bahia Magdalena Basecamp Tour with Kayaking
The vast Magdalena Bay is home to thousands of breeding gray whales. Dolphins and more than 100 species of birds are also featured, including wintering flocks of white pelicans. Countless shipwrecks stud the seemingly infinite outer beach with rich history. This trip uses motorized boats to travel to and from the basecamp on the first and last days of the kayaking trip so we can avoid kayaking in a more trafficked section of the big bay near town. The motor boats will also take us out for close encounters with the gray whales. Kayaking in the protected mangrove channels will be available.

Arrival Day - Arrive in Loreto Mexico and pass through customs/immigration. After collecting your luggage, take an airport van to your Loreto hotel. Your tour guides will meet you in the lobby at 5pm for an orientation. Dinner this evening is a no-host affair and the guides can point you to a good restaurant.

Day 1 - First day of on the water in Baja California. Expedition leaders meet you at 8:00am at your hotel. After boarding a van we strike out for a two hour drive across the Baja Peninsula by climbing the mountains and traversing a broad plain. Eventually we reach Puerto Lopez Mateos where we board a motorized boat to be transported to our camp in a remote corner of the bay. The boat will also take us out for a very close up look at the gray whales where we will hopefully encounter some "friendlies" who enjoy human contact.

Day 2 to 3 - Our campsite is located in a high "whale traffic" zone so expect to see and hear the whales right from your tent!  After a lunch on the beach we will begin a sea kayaking instruction class followed by an excursion in the kayaks. We usually spend up to four hours sea kayaking each day. Frequent stops are made to explore dunes, beaches, mangrove inlets, remote fishing villages, and an abandoned whaling station.  Hiking, snorkeling, fishing, taking photographs, beachcombing and tidepooling will keep us absorbed throughout the day. Our staff will be available at all times to identify flora and fauna, and discuss the natural history of the Baja California region.

Day 4 - The boat will return today to load our gear and take us out for another close up whale watching encounter. After returning to Lopez Mateos for lunch, the vans will deliver us back to Loreto where you will have some time to stroll around town before dinner. We traditionally gather for a no-host farewell dinner at a local Loreto restaurant this night.

Departure Day - Our ground service will take you to the Loreto airport at least two hours before your flight departs, unless you have arranged to spend extra time vacationing in Mexico after your sea kayaking in Baja journey ends.

#5 - Blue Whale Family Basecamp Kayak Tour
This is a Baja kayak adventure the whole family can enjoy! If you have children too young to participate on our exploratory tours, consider this kayak tour for your youngsters. We use a motor boat to access the rarely visited Isla Monserrate, the most remote and ecologically pristine island of the Blue Triangle group in the Loreto Islands National Park. Here we stay in an established wilderness basecamp for the duration of the kayaking trip. Excursions from camp are made in sea kayaks to explore the shoreline, hikes are taken to explore the interior, and donning mask and snorkel reveal the beauty below the water's surface. A motor boat will be used to search for the blue whales known to concentrate in the area, find pods of dolphins, and to visit a nearby sea lion colony.

Arrival Day - Arrive in Loreto Mexico and pass through customs/immigration. After collecting your luggage, you will be met by our ground agents escorted to an airport van bound for the Desert Inn (formerly the La Pinta Hotel). Your kayak Baja tour guides will meet with you that evening for a pre-trip orientation in the hotel lobby at 8 PM. Dinner this evening is a no-host affair at a nearby restaurant and our ground agent would be glad to make suggestions. Note: The hotel is happy to store your extra luggage.

Day 1 - First day of sea kayaking Baja. Expedition leaders meet you at 8:00am at your Loreto hotel. Morning activities include a short drive from Loreto to the marina followed by departure to Isla Monserrate basecamp in the Loreto Islands National Park. Whale and dolphin sightings could occur en route or even from shore. Kayak instruction class on the beach, then free time for hiking, snorkeling, or relaxation.

Day 2-4 - We usually spend from two to four hours sea kayaking each day along the shore of our island. Frequent stops are made to explore inviting beaches and snorkeling areas.  A motor boat will take us offshore to search for the blue, fin, and Bryde's whales that are numerous in the area. There are even possibilities of encountering sperm and orca whales, among other less common species. Dolphins and sea lions should be frequently sighted, often right from camp.

Day 5 - The motor boat will return us to Loreto with a final cruise through the heart of blue whale territory during early morning hours when the sea is usually the calmest. After checking in to your hotel room, you will have time to stroll around Loreto before dinner. We traditionally gather for a no-host farewell dinner at a local Loreto restaurant this night.

Departure Day - Our ground service will take you to the Loreto airport at least two hours before your flight departs, unless you have arranged to spend extra time vacationing in Baja California after your kayaking trip ends.

Click the link below to return to our main page about sea kayaking Baja
Baja sea kayaking trips, Baja kayaking vacations, and Baja whale watching sea kayak tours.

Baja Kayaking Trip Travel Advice: Travel from your home to Loreto Mexico is the responsibility of the participant. If you would like professional assistance with making your travel and accommodation reservations, including flights, hotels, etc., we suggest you speak with Samantha, our recommended travel agent. Samantha specializes in assisting Sea Quest guests and has the unique knowledge about our destinations and programs that make her much more useful than a typical travel agent. She can be reached at 360-378-4600 or via her website http://www.cmagent.net/samanthag.html

If you choose to fly, as most people do, we strongly urge you to contact the airlines listed below, or speak with Samantha, as soon as possible. Seats can be very difficult to obtain, particularly during the "spring break" period in March. This is partly because there is traditionally only one flight per day scheduled between Loreto and the United States. Flight times change often so inquire about current scheduling. Prices can range from $205 to $350 including taxes but these too are subject to rapid change. Typically, the further in advance your ticket is purchased the cheaper it is!

Currently, there are four airline carriers into Loreto:

Alaska Airlines (800) 252-7522 offers direct flights (2 hours airtime) between Los Angeles International airport (LAX) and Loreto airport (LTO) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays. This company has been by far the most reliable choice of all the competitors! They are more punctual than the other providers and have fewer problems losing track of baggage.

Aero Mexico (800) 237-6639, provides daily service between Los Angeles International airport, and Loreto airport (3 hours) with a stop in Hermosillo. Aero Mexico also has flights to Loreto from Phoenix and Tucson. This company is 2nd on our recommended list.

There are two US domestic airlines that don't actually fly to Loreto but have partners that do (smaller Mexican airlines that vary) and they will sell joint fares on a single ticket. If you don't want to use Alaska Airlines or Aero Mexico, you can try getting a joint fare through either of the following two companies: Delta Airlines (800) 241-4141, daily via Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Continental Airlines (800) 300-1547, on Saturdays, Thursdays, & Sundays via Houston International Airport (IAH) or Los Angeles.

Important ! Please remember:

• The winter/spring travel season creates high demand for flights into Loreto so it is very important to make reservations as early as possible to get the dates you need. Early birds usually get the best fare prices, too! We have seen ticket prices double as flight times approach.
• For both of your outbound and inbound itineraries, be sure to schedule plenty of time between your international and domestic flights - we recommend 2 or 3 hours. This greatly reduces the chances of lost baggage, and on your homeward trip it provides just enough time to clear immigration, customs, and security before boarding your domestic flight.
• If flying on an airline other than Alaska Airlines, we strongly recommend personally checking your baggage with your international airline carrier two hours or more before flight time! This greatly reduces the chances of lost luggage or of losing a seat due to over-booking. Be sure to allow sufficient time to transfer your luggage yourself.
• These airlines frequently change their routes, schedules, and available seats into Loreto so you should keep checking regularly until you find what you need. And, after booking, check back once in a while to see if they have changed your flight times!
• Call or email our travel agent Samantha at 360-378-4600 girlfriday@rockisland.com  if you need assistance. To keep your email from going into her junk bin be sure to mention Sea Quest Expeditions in the subject line!

Hotels in Loreto Mexico: There are only a few hotels in Loreto and they are rather modest affairs. All are walking distance to the central plaza, and are located on the beach or within two blocks of it. All have pleasant rooms, pools, dining rooms, bars, and friendly staff. As part of your sea kayaking Mexico vacation package, Sea Quest Expeditions includes your first and last nights' accommodations on a double occupant basis and has already made reservations for you. Solo travelers can often be matched with a fellow kayak expedition participant if they prefer to avoid paying the single supplement of $80. If you would like to stay for additional days this can be arranged for $90 per night for double occupancy. You or your travel agent must make reservations for any additional days not included in our kayak baja trip itineraries.

Kayak Tour Meals: Kayak Baja and eat healthy and hearty! Sea Quest Expeditions provides all meals beginning at lunch on the first kayaking day and ending at lunch on the last kayaking day. Meals are lovingly prepared from locally obtained fresh foods, often using traditional Mexican recipes. Please inform us if you have any dietary restrictions immediately--vegetarians are cheerfully accommodated. You may wish to bring along a few of your favorite snack foods or a bit of liquor to share with the group. Its a great way to make friends with your fellow sea kayakers!

Health in Mexico: Sea Quest Expeditions will provide sanitary water and food during the sea kayak expedition. When traveling on your own you must be aware of the risk of diarrhea, the main health problem for visitors to Mexico (although most Baja travelers report far less of this problem when compared to the mainland). Avoid eating greasy foods and unwashed fruits or vegetables, do not overindulge in food or drink, and patronize reputable restaurants. Most public water in Baja is quite safe to drink despite what you have heard about Mexico. Although Loreto has treated public water supplied by an aqueduct from a "fossil" aquifer located in the mountains, there have been some leaky pipes recently and we recommend avoiding the tap water during your vacation. While sea kayaking in Baja under our care, we will provide you with purified water.

Kayak Tour Equipment: When kayaking Mexico with Sea Quest, you will only need to bring personal items such as sleeping bag, clothing, snorkeling gear, etc. A complete personal equipment checklist will be provided upon confirmation of your reservation. Sea Quest Expeditions provides all the camping and sea kayaking equipment. Our equipment is of the finest quality and reflects our concern for safety and comfort. Our emergency gear include VHF radios and expedition first aid kit.

Documents: These can be presented in two categories. The first paragraph is for entering and traveling in Mexico. The second describe the important new rules for returning to the United States or transiting it on your way home.

A Mexican tourist card is required for US and Canadian citizens. These are given to passengers while in flight and validated after landing in Loreto Mexico by immigration officials. Please keep this tourist card in a safe place as it needs to be surrendered to your airline at departure from Mexico. (Citizens of other countries should check with a local consulate for entry requirements.) You must be able to prove your citizenship with one of the following documents: a notarized copy of your birth certificate or a passport. A driver's license or other picture ID is required if you do not carry a passport, both in Mexico and at international airports in the US.

New rules took place in the United States beginning on January 23, 2007. They basically state that you must have a valid US Passport if returning from Mexico, Canada, and all other countries. However, US and Canadian citizens have been given an extension on this requirement until summer 2008. If lacking a passport, you will need to present a government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license plus proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate. Click here to read these about these changes at the US State Department website.

Credit cards are not widely accepted, and when they are used expect a 5% surcharge. There is one cash machine in Loreto, but it does not always have money! The single bank in town seldom exchanges currency and when it does the process is extremely time-consuming. Therefore, we strongly urge you to bring sufficient traveler's checks and US currency in small denominations for your entire stay in Loreto. (Anything larger than $20 may be hard to cash!) It is not necessary to arrive with Mexican pesos in hand; US funds are readily accepted in Baja. If you desire, pesos can be purchased at local stores and shops. Prices for goods in Baja California are on par with those found in the US. Money and documents should always be carried with you - be sure they are kept dry during your sea kayaking trip.

What's Included in My Baja Kayak Tour?: Your trip fee includes sea kayaks and all kayaking gear, dry bags, group camping equipment, guides, all camp meals, transportation from the airport on arrival day to the hotel and transportation from the hotel back to the airport on departure day, and two night’s hotel accommodations. It does not include the new $15 national park entry fee, airfares, airport taxes (usually included in your ticket price), tipping of guides and local staff, town meals, and snorkeling equipment. Wetsuits and snorkeling gear may be available to rent for a small fee. Please inquire for availability when you book your Baja kayak trip.

Click the link below to return to our main page about sea kayaking Mexico
Sea kayaking Mexico trips, Baja kayaking vacations, and Baja whale watching sea kayak tours.

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Click on the links below to learn more about our other exciting offerings:
Washington Sea Kayaking Trips with Orca Whales:
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Glaciers and Icebergs: Alaska sea kayaking in Alaska kayaking,
Sea kayaking British Columbia in Canada.

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