Day 1:
Baja Arrival and Welcome Dinner
Welcome to Baja California Sur! Today you'll arrive at the airport in San Jose del Cabo where you will be met by your guides, who will transfer to Todos Santos and Los Colibris Casitas. Upon arrival we'll get you get settled into your lovely rooms with beautiful ocean views, then we'll have a gourmet taco welcome dinner on the Los Colibris grounds at Iker's Colibris Cafe. During dinner your guides will host a trip briefing, outlining the adventures to come. Overnight at Los Colibris Casitas with an ocean lullaby.
Day 2:
Whale Watching 'N Fishing / Historical Town Tour / Mexican Cooking Class
We'll start this wonderful trip out on the water with the 4th generation fishing captains of Todos Santos, cruising the coastline in their low, open pangas. While you'll be fishig for the ingredients for your cooking class later in the day, fish are not the only creatures we’re likely to encounter on this ride. During November and December the ocean is filled with marine mammals like the acrobatic humpback whales who love to show off their skills for the fishing boats. We also regularly see sea turtles, sea lions, mantas and more. There is no natural harbor in Todos Santos so part of the fun is the surf launch and surf landing!
After whale watching we'll have lunch at a terrific local restuarant in town, then enjoy an historical town tour. Todos Santos has a rich and varied history, from the early missionaries, through the booming sugar years, through its current incarnation as an artists’ colony, agricultural center and surfing hotspot. On this walking tour we'll visit many of the historic homes and buildings throughout town, learning fascinating stories of the global forces and colorful personalities that brought these buildings into existence and shaped Todos Santos over the years.
In the evening we'll start the festivities with a mezcal tasting in which we learn about the history and variety of this quintessential Mexican drink. This will be followed by a Mexican survival cooking class with local lawyer-turned-chef, Iker Algorri, author of Cooking Adventures in Baja California Sur. First, learn to make the perfect margarita. Second, pay attention because you have to eat what you make! Overnight at Los Colibris Casitas. Star gazing encouraged.
Day 3:
Sea Turtle Camp!
The shores of Baja California Sur are home to 5 of the world's 7 sea turtle species, and at Sea Turtle Camp we focus on the Olive Ridley. On this beach the 100-pound female turtles haul their bodies out of the ocean and make their way to the ideal nesting spot. Each female leaves 90-120 white ping-pong shaped eggs in a sandy hole, camouflages the nest with a characteristic belly dance, then leaves the offspring to chance. That’s where you come in. Predators, coastal development and illegal poaching all threaten sea turtle populations throughout the world, and at Sea Turtle Camp volunteers and biologists work to relocate the eggs to a protective corral to increase their odds of hatching. Sea Turtle Camp is a permanent marine turtle research facility where biologists dedicated to the protection and monitoring of sea turtle populations live during the 5 month nesting season. We’ll spend the day with TOSEA's Wildlife Biologist Stephanie Rousso and her Mexican counterparts, learning about marine turtle conservation and habitat preservation, aiding with nest cleaning and releasing sea turtle hatchlings into the sea!
In the evening we'll enjoy dinner in one of the many great eateries in Todos Santos.
Day 4:
Sea of Cortez and Isla Espiritu Santo Luxury Tent Camping Adventure
We're off to Isla Espiritu Santo and Camp Cecil today! After breakfast we'll go to our bodega to get snorkeling gear and wet suits, then it's on to the boats and out into the Sea of Cortez! Our first stop will be swimming with the whale sharks - the largest fish in the world - in the Bay of La Paz. Because of the new permitting process in place to protect the sharks, we will go out in one boat to see the whale sharks, then transfer to another boat for the trip to Camp Cecil.
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.
Day 5:
More island fun at Camp Cecil. Sea lions, mantas, whales, sea turtles, Blue-footed Boobies, Magnificent Frigatebirds - no telling what you'll see today!
Day 6:
More island wonders. Maybe snorkeling with sea turtles? Perhaps a kayak trip to explore the vast fish nurseries of the mangrove roots? A hike to get panoramic views of the island and the Sea of Cortez? Another visit with the playful sea lions at the permanent sea lions colony of Los Islotes? All the amazing wonders of the island and the Sea of Cortez are yours to explore.
Day 7:
Farewell Dinner
Today we'll return to shore and return for a final afternoon of shopping and relaxing in Todos Santos. We'll have our farewell dinner at a terrific local restaurant.
Day 8:
Say adios, but not good-bye. Transfer to the airport.
