Mexico: Baja Kayaking Adventure

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in the net of wonder forever.”

JACQUES YVES COUSTEAU (WHO DESCRIBED THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA WHERE WE DO OUR BAJA KAYAKING AS THE WORLD’S AQUARIUM)

Imagine waking up to the sound of water lapping up against the shore and opening your tent to take in the breathtaking sunrise on a pristine beach on one of the Baja Peninsula’s most beautiful islands, Espiritu Santo. You then enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast featuring a local specialty before spending the morning sea kayaking on the brilliant turquoise and tranquil Sea of Cortez. In the afternoon you engage in a hike, learn about the area’s history and geology from our local expert guides, or view the amazing aquatic life while snorkeling in a protected bay. Happy hour on the beach is proceeded by dinner and then a session of star gazing, seeing the skies like you potentially never have before. This is just a peek at what you can expect from your Baja Kayaking Adventure.

Baja Kayaking

The most important thing to know about the kayaking is that it is relaxed rather than difficult or physically taxing. We begin our adventure with a motor boat transfer from La Paz, the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, to Espiritu Santo Island. We paddle for about 3 hours each day, leaving plenty of free time to snorkel, explore one of the world’s most diverse natural aquariums, and hike into the interior of the island to discover the fascinating rock formations and remarkable plant life.

Isla Espiritu Santo is the perfect place for beginner kayakers, those who have some experience but are not used to multi-day trips, and those who are more advanced. We start with kayaking instruction, including what to do in the very rare case of your kayak tipping over. (Don’t worry – kayaks are built to be stable and we have not experienced this on any of our tours.) We have protected bays along the island to explore and our pace is moderate, both because we are on vacation and because our goal is to spot wildlife and enjoy the scenery. Our pace is moderate. Kayaking is perfect for those of all ability levels and we can even pair you with a stronger kayaker in a two-person tandem kayak.

Isla Espiritu Santo

While known for its tourist beach resorts in “Cabo”, Baja, California is the second longest peninsula in the world and has a wealth of other attributes. The state of Baja California Sur is sort of Mexico’s frontier, having the second smallest population of the country’s 32 states and only being admitted as a state in 1974. The Pacific Ocean is on the west side of the peninsula and a mountain chain runs down the spine but it is the gorgeous aquamarine, tranquil Gulf of California on the east side that is our destination. Espiritu Santo Island is a part of the Gulf of California Islands Flora and Fauna Protection Area which works to preserve the natural splendor of the area. While on the island you will have the chance to observe over 200 species of plants and more than 70 species of animals including the juancinto (little squirrel), the babisuri (ring-tailed cat), the black hare, and the sand snake. While on the water, there are over 50 species of aquatic birds, more than 15 species of marine mammals, and countless fish that we might come across during our paddling voyages.

Other Activities

Yes, this is a kayaking tour but our days are filled with other activities as well.

• Hiking on one of the designated trails of the island
• Going on a nature walk with our local guides to learn about geology, flora, and fauna
• Snorkeling in the protected bays and at a sea lion rookery
• Learning about the ancient peoples who lived in the area while searching for arrowheads, knives, “scrapers”, and other tools which we can frequently find
• Star gazing at night as we pick out constellations and view the milky way, which is not visible to city dwellers
• Optional swimming with whale sharks, the largest fish species in the world who are docile (and vegetarian)

Camping Life

This is tent camping with added creature comforts. We are supported by a motor boat and have a captain, cook, and one or two local expert guides with us. We are served three meals each day consisting of dishes such as local Mexican favorites and more international cuisine. Happy hour comes with margaritas or pina coladas while beer and wine is available for dinner. We have a solar shower to rinse off. We pitch our tents and sleep on soft sandy beaches and with no cell phone service, you might find you sleep better here than at home!

Safe Travel in Mexico

We meet you at the airport in San Juan del Cabo, which is small and efficient, and provide a shuttle directly to our hotel in La Paz. Our local guides are with us in La Paz and throughout the trip. We shuttle back to the airport at trip’s end. For many of our trip participants, traveling to Mexico has all the culture of a foreign country but the same ease as if you were traveling to our hometown airport in Billings, Montana.

However, our American guides and some of our past trip participants choose to spend additional time in Baja California. We have rented cars, driven around the island on our own, made hotel reservations, eaten in roadside cafes, and hiked on isolated trails all with a sense of perfect security. Our experience is that while you always need to exercise awareness while traveling, Baja California is very safe.

Baja Kayaking Trip Reviews

Don’t take our word for it. Check out these Baja Kayaking Adventure reviews from one of our recent trips.