Kayaking in MexicoIn the early hours of our cruise, we learned that the ‘scheduled itinerary’ of the ship was actually ‘the plan from which to deviate.’ This mindset suited me well, as,in my opinion, true adventure doesn’t come without surprise. Cruising one morning on our way to our next destination, our captain and crew took the opportunity to change course and sail into a different harbor. Our new destination was Isla Monsterrat, an island previously unexplored by the ship, crew, or company. Access to the island normally blocked by high winds, the weather conditions happened to be perfect. On deck, we eagerly watched as the guides from our ship took a zodiac to the island, then stepped into zodiacs, ourselves. What we found was a stretching beach with rocky coves, vibrant snorkeling, high views of the surrounding sea, and an abundance of white sand. Excitement hung in the air as we explored the island with our guides, half expecting to find buried treasure or the skeletal remains of a ship. In the end, we left the island not with diamonds or rubys, but with pockets full of seashells, high spirits, and a sense of ownership over our own jewel of Cortez.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
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