Participate in sea turtle monitoring and learn about the conservation efforts in the area. Explore the bay and mangrove canals by panga, learn about local fishing techniques, walk along the sand dunes, and take a boat excursion to encounter friendly gray whales. Deluxe camping accommodations on the coast provide a perfect setting for activity and relaxation on this leisurely-paced Baja trip.
Highlights
Head out into Magdalena Bay by Panga to watch for Gray Whales
Join the monitor team as they collect data about the sea turtle population
Camp on an island in Magdalena Bay
Swim and snorkel in the turquoise waters of the Baja Peninsula
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Your driver will be waiting for you at the Los Cabos airport to take you on the 2.5 hour scenic drive to La Paz, where you will be able to explore in the afternoon before the welcome dinner, where your guides will brief you on the week ahead. Take a good night's rest, tomorrow the adventure begins!
Visit Espíritu Santo Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to turquoise water, multitudes of fish species, and resident sea lions. Less than one hour from La Paz, this natural paradise will amaze you with breathtaking island scenery and rich marine life. Jump in the water to snorkel with the sea lions and observe tropical fish.
After a tasty lunch, our world-class nature guides will interpret the natural and cultural history of this unique place. Explore some of the astounding nature trails that take you into the heart of the island before returning to La Paz for dinner.
Depart from La Paz early in the morning en route to Magdalena Bay, Jewel of the Pacific. This bay is home to a staggering number of migratory and marine birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals including the migratory gray whales. Breakfast will be provided en route at one of our favorite local ranchos.
Continue on to your secluded island camp, searching for whales along the way. After happy hour, learn about the important sea turtle restoration project which will be the focus of tomorrow’s activities. Get a good night’s rest, tomorrow the search for turtles begins!
Wake up early and grab a cup of coffee on your way to watch the fisher-conservationists prepare the nets used in the sea turtle monitoring. Return to camp for breakfast and to learn more about the gray whales, their incredible migration, and the importance of Magdalena Bay for breeding and calving to these magnificent creatures. After breakfast, head out in pangas to look for gray whales. Friendly whales often approach the boats, and the mothers are known to push the young calves closer, which can make for an incredible interaction between two species. After lunch, you will have the chance to accompany the monitoring team to check the nets for turtles. Captured sea turtles will be brought back to camp where you will help take measurements and other important data before releasing them back into the wild. The monitoring continues through the night under the brilliant starry sky.
Day 5: Sea Turtle Monitoring | Gray Whale Observation Gray
Head down to the beach to finish measuring and weighing sea turtles before releasing them back into the wild. After breakfast, bid farewell to your hosts and head out in search for whales. Today, you'll explore the magic of the greater Magdalena Bay complex: its vast, rolling sand dunes and winding mangrove canals teeming with birdlife. You'll have another chance to look for whales, too--make sure your camera is handy to capture images of these magnificent giants. After a picnic lunch on a secluded barrier island, head back to the mainland where your driver will be waiting for you to return to La Paz.
Day 6: Continue Gray Whale Observation | Back to La Paz
After a relaxed morning, head to the town of Todos Santos located on the Pacific coast. Your naturalist guide will take you through the estuary to spot birds, and with luck you’ll be able to see humpback whales from the beach. Continue with a guided walk around the quaint town, and then you are on your own to enjoy its architecture, shops and fantastic restaurants before heading back to La Paz.
Your driver will pick you up at your hotel early in the morning to transport you to the marina to try on your snorkeling gear and wetsuit. Head out on the water for the short trip to the whale shark observation zone. On the way out of the bay, your guide will brief you on whale shark ecology and regulations for snorkeling. You’ll have the chance to get in the water accompanied by your guide to snorkel alongside one of these marvelous creatures.
Back on land in time for lunch, explore La Paz: tranquil, scenic, and a great town to get to know on foot. During the walking tour you will visit cultural and architectural sites of interest, learn about the history of La Paz, meet some of its people, and along the way stop to try many of the local delicacies. Take in the Mi Ciudad mural project, a treat for the eyes with murals from local and regional artists on display around the city.
Day 8: Return Home
1 Breakfast
After breakfast head to the airport for departure back home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Notes
Select a Date
Child Discounts are available.
Rates based on set departure dates. Private tour options available. Contact us for details.
Initial deposit is 35%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
KC Chan
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
9 hours ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
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
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.