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8 Day Loreto Kayaking & Whale Watching Combo Tour

3 x 5 Combo, 3 days of whale watching and 5 days of Sea kayaking in Baja, Mexico

Our 8-day kayaking and whale watching combo tour is the ultimate Baja experience, combining watching the gray whales as they test the waters of the Pacific Ocean with their calves, exploring the beautiful desert islands in the Sea of Cortez by kayak and snorkeling along isolated coves in warm, turquoise waters.

It's truly the ultimate Baja tour. Enjoy 3 days of plush beach side camping at our exclusive Gray Whale Camp on Santo Domingo Island in Magdalena Bay; where you will get four chances to go eye-to-eye with gray whales then cross the Baja Peninsula to spend five days kayaking from the quaint town of Loreto.

January through March, hundreds of gray whales mate and bear their young in the protected waters of Magdalena Bay after traveling over 5000 miles from the Bering Strait. A motorized skiff will take you swiftly and safely into the deeper parts of the bay, where you won't just view the "mommy and me" action, you may be able to actually pet some of the whales that swim by. Staying on the island at our camp provides you with the opportunity to be delighted by a host of other wildlife such as dolphins, seals, sea lions, sea gulls, pelicans and more often right from camp! Plush camping allows you to relax and enjoy the scenery while your professional naturalist guides provide you with dinner, drinks, and plenty of education.

After you have had your fill of breaching, and spy hopping whales then head back over to Loreto for five days of Baja sea kayaking and camping on remote islands in Loreto Bay National Marine Park, where the surrounding water is a sanctuary for blue-footed boobies, fin and blue whales, dolphins and sea lions. The Sea of Cortez is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers the perfect blend of Baja kayaking, hiking and snorkeling. Abundant wildlife, massive whales, sunny weather and warm, crystalline waters make the Sea of Cortez one of the best winter adventure destinations in North America and Mexico.

With each of these tours, your first and last nights will be hotel-based in Loreto with an extra hotel night between kayaking and whale watching. While you will be responsible for booking your hotel stays before and after your tour, the hotel night in between activities is included in your tour cost. We recommend booking at the Hacienda Suites in Loreto, as this is where your orientation meetings and pick ups will be for your tour, but feel free to explore the varied and charming accommodation throughout Loreto. All activities are led by naturalist guides, who dish out tasty chile relleno and margaritas in tented beach camps at days end. You'll bring home a lifetime of memories.

Note on Itinerary: Approximate paddling distances listed and can vary depending on group size and weather. We will do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above. However, the itinerary may change due to reasons beyond our control such as wind, waves or inclement weather. Please Note: Although there is a very good chance we'll see whales and other marine life throughout the week, the frequency, proximity, and quality of sightings will ultimately be determined by the wildlife.

Itinerary

Day 0: Welcome to Loreto in Baja!

Upon your arrival in Loreto take a quick cab ride to your hotel and check into your room (Not included in trip cost). Spend your afternoon exploring the beautiful town of Loreto. You can tour the historic Mission located in the center of town, stroll through the local market and dine on authentic Mexican cuisine before meeting your guides in the Hacienda Suites hotel lobby for an evening orientation meeting.

Accommodations: Not Included
Meals Included: 0 (travel day)

Day 1: Whale Watching in Magdalena Bay

At 7:30am SHARP a van will arrive to transport you two hours to Puerto Lopez Mateos, Magdalena Bay on the Pacific Coast. Here you will have your first whale watching session as you take a federally-licensed skiff from Puerto Lopez Mateos out to Santo Domingo Island where Whale Camp is located. Upon arrival to camp you will have a chance to unload your gear and settle into your pre-assembled tent before sitting down to a hearty lunch. After lunch, your guides will lead you on a hike across the dunes of Santo Domingo Island to the Pacific Ocean where you can then meander down the beach back to camp for happy hour and dinner under the stars.

Accommodations: Camping
Meals Included: L, D

Day 2: Whale Watching in Magdalena Bay

Arise to the sounds of birds chirping and waves lapping the shore as coffee and tea are prepared to great you and the morning sun. Feel free to stroll along the beach, sip your coffee, and watch the whales as your guides prepare a hot breakfast. You will have two whale watching sessions by federally-licensed skiff today, with plenty of time for dune walking, hiking, and relaxing on the sand while whales frolic offshore. You can also elect to do birding tours in the mangrove areas of the lagoon instead of whale watching, or part whale watching, part birding sessions.

Accommodations: Camping
Meals Included: B, L, D

Day 3: Return to Loreto

You will enjoy one final two hour whale watching session after breakfast in the morning before returning to Puerto Lopez Mateo by skiff. Take a few minutes when returning to Puerto Lopez Mateo to explore the small local shops at the port and possibly purchase a commemorative token before heading out to enjoy a hot seafood lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch check back into the tour hotel (Hacienda Suites, Included in Trip Cost) for a shower or stroll along the waterfront malecon before your second orientation meeting, located in the lobby of the tour hotel, for the kayaking portion of your tour.

Accommodations: Hacienda Suites hotel
Meals Included: B, L

Day 4: Time to go kayaking

Please eat breakfast and be packed by the meeting time, where you will be shuttled to the kayak put-in site. After loading the boats, your guides will teach you the basics of paddling and thoroughly review safety procedures. The group won't leave shore until all participants feel comfortable. You’ll make 50-minute, 2 to 3-mile crossings to the off-shore islands where you’ll have a chance to snorkel and hike before lunch, and then kayak to your first night's campsite. Several campsites have desert arroyo hikes which offer spectacular views as well as some of the desert flora unique to Baja.

Accommodations: Camping
Meals Included: L, D
Paddling duration: 3-4 hours

Day 5-7: Camping and kayaking in the Sea of Cortez

The days begin with spectacular sunrises and end with delightfully cool evenings, enjoying sunsets, star-gazing, moonrise, or even bioluminescence in the sea on moonless nights. You will paddle and explore the scenic cliffs and coves of Danzante and Carmen in the Loreto Bay National Marine Park/UNESCO World Heritage Site. Camping on sandy beaches allows for superb swimming, tide pooling, snorkeling, beachcombing and hiking. Plan to paddle to a new camp site every day, wind permitting, with one layover day at the same site. Roomy dome tents are provided, although with Baja's lack of insects you may be tempted to sleep out under the stars. Several campsites have desert arroyo hikes which offer spectacular views as well as some of the desert flora unique to Baja.

Accommodations: Camping
Meals Included: B, L, D
Paddling duration: 3-4 hours per day

Day 8: Return to Loreto

After a final breakfast, you will paddle to the take-out site and unpack your kayak while the guides prepare lunch. A van will return you to the hotel mid-afternoon to relax and clean up. In the evening, you are invited to join your group for an optional final farewell dinner (no host) to say good-bye and toast new found kayaking skills and friends.

Accommodations: Not Included
Meals Included: B, L

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Dive Discovery
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(415) 444-5100
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