Welcome to Baja California Sur!
Today you'll arrive at the airport in San Jose del Cabo (please see INFORMATION page for arrival details and procedures) where you'll be met by your guides and transferred to La Paz and Hotel Catedral, about a 2.5 hour drive. Upon arrival we'll get you get settled into your rooms, then head out into the town for a delightful welcome dinner. During dinner your guides will host a trip briefing, outlining the adventures to come.
Sea of Cortez and Camp Cecil Adventure!
Today we'll leave the mountains and head for the sea! After breakfast we'll drive to our bodega in La Paz to get snorkeling gear and wet suits, then it's on to the boats and out into the Sea of Cortez!
Camp Cecil is on Isla Espiritu Santo which is in a National Marine Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the best marine life viewing destinations in the world. Whales, dolphins, whale sharks, sea turtles, manta rays and plenty of beautiful tropical fish call the surrounding waters home, while a terrific range of bird species including Blue-footed Boobies, Reddish Egrets, Great Blue Herons and Yellow-footed Gulls frequent the island’s skies and shores. The island itself is stunning, with magnificent towering cliffs, spectacular sandy bays, amazing lava rock formations, and rock art left by the now-extinct Guaycura and Pericu Indians. There’s even an endemic ring-tailed cat, the babisuri. It’s a remarkable place to explore. We’ll spend the days doing exactly what pleases us - kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, swimming with sea lions, stand up paddle boarding, bird watching, and exploring hidden lagoons and desert beaches. Hanging around doing nothing, reading trashy novels and sipping margaritas also highly encouraged.
Who know what adventures the day may bring?! Perhaps paddle board with sea turtles, or snorkel with sea lions, maybe spot some whales, or dance with some Blue-footed Boobies. Whatever surprises the day may hold, you can be sure that it will also include magnificent food and drink!
Whale Sharks!
Today we'll depart from Camp Cecil and head for one of the most amazing experiences yet - swimming with the largest fish in the world - the whale shark! Of course, you may be asking yourself: is it a whale or is it a shark? Hint: whales are mammals and sharks are fish. These gentle giants feed on plankton in the Bay of La Paz (so all human flesh is safe), and it is here that we have the remarkable experience of observing and swimming with them.
In the afternoon we'll check into our lovely La Paz hotel, Hotel Catedral, and have the balance of the afternoon free to explore the town. Dinner on your own.
Magdalena Bay Gray Whale Watching
Each year the magnificent gray whales migrate 6,000 miles south from the Bering Sea to mate and give birth in the warm water lagoons of the Baja peninsula. From La Paz we have the wonderful opportunity to spend a day in Puerto Chale on Magdalena Bay, connecting with these amazing fellow mammals and travelers. Things that often happen to us when we visit the gray whales:
- Gray whale mothers bring their babies up to the boat to say hello Gray whale babies present themselves for a good rub or a pat
- Gray whale males sidle along the boat and spout water on us – they clearly think it's very funny
- Gray whale couples roll languidly by, completely ignoring us as they enjoy some Baja romance
- Gray whales of all types bring their huge heads out of the water and look us straight in the eye
And that's just to give you an idea! Today we'll drive 2.5 hours from La Paz to Puerto Chale, spend 3 hours on the boat interacting with the gray whales, have a picnic lunch, then return to Hotel Catedral in La Paz. Dinner on your own tonight.
Todos Santos / Todos Santos Historical Tour and Taco Crawl
Today we'll have a leisurely departure from La Paz, then head to the pueblo magico of Todos Santos. Our first order of business will be an historical town tour to learn about the rich and varied history of Todos Santos, from the early missionaries, through the booming sugar years, through its current incarnation as an artists’ colony, agricultural center and surfing hotspot. Todos Santos also has a well-deserved reputation as a food lover’s paradise, so there is really no better place to indulge in Baja California Sur’s greatest contribution to world cuisine: the fish taco! For our taco crawl lunch your guides will take you to several of their favorite local joints to sample not only fish tacos, but other types of tacos drawing on the area’s bounties of land and sea. You might find several different types of ceviche out there too!
You'll have the balance of the afternoon and evening free to explore on your own.
Surfing / Mexican Cooking Class
This morning after breakfast we'll head out to Los Cerritos, one of the best surf breaks in Baja. There your instructor guarantees that you'll ride a wave during the first hour of instruction - at least for a moment! We'll spend the balance of the day enjoying the beach and have lunch at a great beachside Baja cantina.
This evening local lawyer turned chef Iker Algorri, author of Cooking Adventures in Baja California Sur, will leads a wonderful Mexican Survival Cooking Class. The emphasis is on having as much fun as humanly possible, learning to make the perfect margarita, and gaining the skill to make some truly memorable Mexican dishes following Chef Iker’s cooking philosophy, the Magnificence of Simplicity. You’ll also probably learn about some great Latin music you’ve never heard before. But be warned – dancing often known to follow!
Say adios but not good-bye. Transfer to airport.
