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4 Day/3-Night Conservation Adventure

Camp Cuevas, El Pardito Island, Sea of Cortez

(this is actually the iBrochure for Camp Cecil but the tents and dining experience are exactly the same. Camp Cuevas iBrochure coming soon!)

In the heart of the Sea of Cortez there is a tiny island called El Pardito - a place where time slows down and the ocean whispers its ancient tales. For generations, the Cuevas Family has been the guardians of the sea, proving that tradition and conservation can go hand in hand.

Felipe and Juan Cuevas are key figures in the story of El Pardito, a place where the ocean isn’t just a livelihood—it’s a legacy. Their deep connection with the sea and its creatures is a reminder that sustainable fishing is not just possible, but essential. Now, Juan and Felipe will accompany small group departures on a 4 day/3-night conservation adventure and share their extraordinary knowledge of the islands, the Sea of Cortez and its many diverse inhabitants. Travelers join them to find hammerheads, swim with sea lions, night snorkel in bioluminescence and meet the large population of eastern Pacific hawksbill turtles in the mangroves near their home that first inspired their journey into conservation.

The Cuevas family on El Pardito will host guests for two meals and a tortilla making class. The camp is on a secluded beach on the breathtakingly beautiful Isla San Jose where travelers enjoy chef-prepared meals, daily happy hour, large dome tents with real beds, and plenty of kayaking and paddle boarding. A dreamy retreat into the luxury of nature - with some of its most passionate protectors.

Camp Cuevas operates annually with 12 set departures scheduled from mid-April to late June. To get a sense of a visit to Camp Cuevas, here is a brief itinerary overview:

Day 1:

9:00 AM meet at bodega in La Paz
10:00 AM: Board boat for El Pardito with sightseeing along the way. The Sea of Cortez is very active with lots of marine life this time of year.
12:30 PM: Arrive at El Pardito, the Cuevas family home on a tiny island in the Sea of Cortez. Lunch with the Cuevas family and trip orientation.

In the afternoon we’ll transfer to our secluded camp on a beautiful beach of nearby Isla San Jose – spectacularly beautiful. Afternon activities could include a hike, snorkeling and most certainly happy hour and a chef-prepared dinner.

Day 2:

Fantastic breakfast at camp, followed by a trip to Las Animas, a local seamount that attracts hammerhead sharks, fur seals and a vast array of other wildlife that we don’t always see elsewhere in the Sea of Cortez. A fabulous morning of marine life encounters with the Cuevas brothers sharing their deep knowledge of the area. We’ll have a nice lunch and siesta at camp, then a wonderful kayak paddle in the afternoon along the coast of the island, taking in the incredible geological features of the island and the spectacular birdlife. Happy hour awaits us upon our return, followed by dinner. Stargazing tonight (and every night!)

Day 3:

After breakfast we’ll take in one more great activity from camp, maybe a hike, maybe some paddleboarding, maybe more kayaking – we'll see we feel! After lunch Juan and Felipe will then escort us to their home on El Pardito where we’ll jump in the kayaks there and head to the lush mangroves near their home where they will introduce us to the population of Eastern Hawksbill turtles that they discovered and have been protecting from poachers ever since. They had the mangroves declared a no-catch area for fishermen as part of their effort to aid the recovery of fish stocks and species in the Sea of Cortez. They will be sharing their journey from hunters to conservationists along the way.

This evening their mother will lead a tortilla-making class and host us for dinner with the family. Afterwards we’ll go night snorkeling with the Cuevas family and check out the bioluminescence. A truly spectacular day.

Day 4:

Breakfast then transfer to La Paz with sightseeing along the way. We’ll be back in La Paz around 12:30 PM.

For more information
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Dive Discovery
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1 800 886-7321
(415) 444-5100
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