Sea Kayaking - Baja, Mexico  Baja Sea Kayak & Whale Watching Tours - A Unique Wilderness of Dramatic Contrasts - Head south to warm, sunny Mexico and join one of our Baja sea kayaking expeditions or whale watching base camps. Get close to blue whales -- the largest animal on earth, snorkel with vibrant tropical fish and paddle a sea kayak in the legendary Sea of Cortez. Caress the soft skin of a friendly gray whale surfacing near your stiff, trek over shifting sand dunes to whalebone-littered beaches and paddle past mangroves filled with colorful birds in the peaceful waters of Magdalena Bay on our Baja's Desert Whales trip. The Baja California peninsula is a land of dramatic contrasts where cactus-filled deserts and towering mountains meet a rich marine environment along hundreds of miles of coastline. This desert wilderness is one of the best winter adventure destinations in North America. Besides warm sunny weather and startling scenery, Baja is world-renowned for close encounters with gray and blue whales in the wild. Baja is a place of stunning natural wonder and beauty. The sounds of sea birds and the smell of desert flowers. The embracing warmth of a brilliant sun. Dolphins and whales at play in clear, warm water. Pelicans plunge seaward from the blue skies and osprey occupy roosts on tall cactus - this is paradise come true. Your adventure begins in charming Loreto, a former Jesuit mission town and short flight from California. From there you'll paddle through the turquoise waters surrounding desert islands, snorkel over reefs with brightly-colored fish and seek close encounters with whales. Hike an arroyo full of fascinating geology and sleep on a sandy beach beneath a star-filled sky more luminous than one could imagine. It's all up close and wild. We offer multi-day wilderness camping and kayak tours in the gray whale lagoons of Magdalena Bay and in the blue whale realm of the Sea of Cortez. Your guides are always ready to share their knowledge of the area, lead activities and prepare tasty meals with a Mexican flair. Join us in exploring this enchanting desert peninsula. Baja is a place of stunning natural wonder and beauty. We offer wilderness camping, whale watching and sea kayak tours in the gray whale calving lagoons of Magdalena Bay and in the blue whale realm of the Sea of Cortez. "We saw whales on four of the six days and especially enjoyed the blue whale fluking multiple times"! -- William Feierstein, Sea of Cortez see  Slide Show "This was one of the best vacations we ever had. We enjoyed our phone contacts with Nancy and we felt very safe and well cared for by the guides. We especially enjoyed camping out under the stars, the other guests, and being so close to nature". -- Joseph & Victoria Feldstein, Sea of Cortez

Our Trips Sea of Cortez kayak trips explore the beautiful Islas Danzante and Carmen, located in the Bahia Loreto National Marine Park. For the more adventurous, join our Isla Carmen Circumnavigation and experience a remote area few people see. All itineraries offer excellent kayaking, snorkeling, hiking and whale watching.   Baja's Desert Whales kayaking expeditions explore the winter breeding grounds of the gray whale. Paddle your kayak along a narrow stretch of peaceful lagoon waters past sea turtles, dolphins, mangroves teeming with colorful birds and sand dunes spilling into the sea. A trip highlight is an afternoon of whale watching from a stiff for close encounters with gray whales and their calves.   Gray Whales of Magdalena Bay whale watching adventure includes three-days at a base camp situated on a secluded beach at the center of whale activity. Each day motorized stiffs take you out to the deeper waters of the bay, where "friendlies" swim up and nudge the hulls. The camp provides all the gear and amenities you need for a comfortable wilderness experience.

 How to Get There

All of our Baja trips meet in Loreto. Loreto is located on the Sea of Cortez side of the Baja Peninsula and is accessible by road or by scheduled air service from Los Angeles and San Diego.

Entry into Mexico: To enter Mexico you will need proof of citizenship (a passport, or both a driver's license and a certified copy of your birth certificate). No visa is necessary, but a tourist card will be issued during your flight.

Air Flights:
Aero California Airlines, (800) 237-6225, provides daily direct service (2 hours) between Los Angeles International airport and Loreto airport.
Aero Mexico Airlines, (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 direct flights between San Diego airport and Loreto airport on Sundays and Thursdays.
Starting February 17, 2005, Alaska Airlines, (800) 252-7522, will offer direct flights between Los Angeles and Loreto airports on Sundays and Thursdays. Demand is high during the winter/spring season and it is essential to make reservations early.
Car: The approximate driving time from San Diego to Loreto is 16 hours. The driving time between Cabo and Loreto is seven hours.

Car Rental: You can rent a vehicle on a weekly basis from any of the major car rental agencies in Cabo or La Paz. There's a Budget car rental agency in Loreto. Secure parking is available at the hotel in Loreto.

Bus Service: Aquila Transportes operates between San Jose del Cabo and Loreto (8 hours, cost: $30) as well as La Paz to Loreto (5 hours, cost: $20). Purchase tickets at the bus station (no English spoken).

Health: No immunizations or vaccinations are required for Mexico. Water on the trip is filtered for your extra protection. Fresh fruits and vegetables are good and plentiful. The restaurant food in Loreto is good and bottled water is easily available.

Weather: The weather in Loreto is generally mild in the winter with day-time temperatures averaging 70 to 85 degrees and night-time temperatures averaging 40 to 55 degrees between December and mid-March. Spring day-time temperatures average 75 to 90 degrees and night-time temperatures average 50 to 65 degrees between mid-March and May. Loreto is in a desert where the possibility of rain is very small, but it can happen. Winds can occur anytime but are more frequent from December through February. Magdalena Bay air temperatures are a little cooler than on the Sea of Cortez side of the Baja Peninsula. Water temperatures in the Sea of Cortez range from 65 degrees in December to 73 degrees in May requiring the use of a shorty 3mm wet suit for extended snorkeling.

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