The boardwalk in La Paz's Malecon district is ideal for strolling. And following our 5-day camping adventure in the sand and sun of Magdalena Bay, a day casually walking the boardwalk was welcomed. We were up early to try and beat the height of the afternoon heat -- 9:30 AM and it was already in the mid-eighties. The kids had a handful of pesos burning a hole their pockets and they did a little bargaining with street vendors for souvenirs. We took pictures along the pier. We stopped for ice cream at a small shop called La Fuente and people-watched while our hands grew sticky with melted lime sorbet and chocolate chip ice cream. The boardwalk was lined with sand sculptures of familiar Disney characters and local marine life; Samuel and Faye posed for a picture next to an eight-foot tall sea horse and turtle the size of a small car.
"Don't touch," I said and pointed to a nearby sign that repeated No Tocar.
"Mom," Faye responded. "I got to touch real turtles, remember?"
"I do."
Dinner that night was joined by Jaime Campos and Chris Pesenti from RED Sustainable Travel and Adventure Life partners. Between bites of the best mushroom burger I have ever eaten, we talked a little shop, but mostly I reminisced about our Baja adventures that week. (I overused the word "awesome", talked with my hands and made a lot of grand gestures, which occurs when I talk about something I find ... well, awesome.) It was a perfect way to finish our family vacation: new friends in a new favorite destination that the Conways are certain to frequent again and again.
To read additional entries from our family Mexico adventure, click here.
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.