Experience Baja and the Sea of Cortez

Highlights

• Experience “glamping” on Isla Espiritu Santo in the Sea of Cortez, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for some of the best marine life viewing in the world
• Swim with sea lions at the Los Islotes colony and come face-to-face with the playful pups
• Snorkel with whale sharks in the Bay of La Paz
• Experience gray whales up close in Magdalena Bay
• Hike, kayak and paddleboard with sea turtles and a stunning array of aquatic life in the Sea of Cortez

Your Expert Trip Hosts

Daily Itinerary

Tuesday, March 4

Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos, Mexico — Los Colibris Casitas

Arrive on your own at San Jose del Cabo (SJD). Todos Santos Eco Adventures staff members will be waiting to pick you up for the transfer to Todos Santos, a 90-minute drive. At Los Colibris Casitas, unpack and settle into your lovely accommodations with fantastic ocean views. Then enjoy your welcome dinner at Iker’s Colibris Café.

Wednesday, March 5

Todos Santos

We’ll start off our adventure with a guided historical tour that takes you through the rich and varied history of Todos Santos, from its founding by missionaries, through the booming sugar years, to its current incarnation as an artists’ colony, agricultural center and surfing hot spot. We will visit the studios of working artists who make their homes in – and gain their inspiration from – Todos Santos. We will finish our tour with lunch at a terrific local restaurant. In the evening, we’ll be joined by local mezcal experts for a tasting of different types of mezcal, followed by a Mexican cooking class.

Thursday, March 6

Magdalena Bay — Mar y Arena

We'll drive our longest stretch — 4.5 hours — to Magdalena Bay. We will stop for lunch in a local restaurant on the way and then head out on the water for 3 hours of interacting with the amazing gray whales that migrate here this time of year. We'll have dinner and spend the night in a local hotel. 

Magdalena Bay is the largest wetland ecosystem on the west coast of Baja and one of the most important in North America. The World Wildlife Fund ranks it as one of the most important coastal habitats in Mexico. The Bay is the prime calving ground for gray whales. January to March is the perfect time to see and interact with many whales, including mothers and calves. Magdalena Bay also has mangrove forests, barrier beaches and sand dune islands, all of which contribute to the incredible scenery and biological diversity of the area.

Friday, March 7 

Magdalena Bay to La Paz - Hotel Catedral

We'll have breakfast, then get in 3 more hours of time in the water with gray whales. We then head to La Paz with a celebratory lunch stop on the way. We'll check into our hotel, Hotel Catedral, then head out on the town for a terrific dinner. 

Saturday, March 8 - Monday, March 10

Glamping on a UNESCO world heritage site: Isla Espiritu Santo — Camp Cecil

We're off to Isla Espiritu Santo and Camp Cecil today! After breakfast we'll head to our bodega to get snorkeling gear and wet suits, then it's on to the boats and out into the Sea of Cortez!

Camp Cecil is on Isla Espiritu Santo which is in a National Marine Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the best marine life viewing destinations in the world. Whales, dolphins, whale sharks, sea turtles, manta rays and plenty of beautiful tropical fish inhabit the surrounding waters, while a terrific range of bird species including blue-footed boobies, reddish egrets, great blue herons and yellow-footed gulls frequent the island’s skies and shores. The island itself is stunning, with magnificent towering cliffs, spectacular sandy bays, amazing lava rock formations and rock art left by the now-extinct Guaycura and Pericu people. There’s even an endemic ring-tailed cat, the babisuri. It’s a remarkable place to explore. We’ll spend the days kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, swimming with sea lions, stand-up paddle boarding, bird watching and exploring hidden lagoons and desert beaches.

Monday, March 10

La Paz - Hotel Catedral

We'll depart Camp Cecil and head for one of our most exciting adventures yet — swimming with the whale sharks. They are the largest fish in the world at up to 59 feet and 15 tons. Please note that we will have to transfer from our Camp Cecil boat to a boat specially permitted for the whale shark area. Once we finish with the whale sharks, we'll have lunch at the restaurant on the sea, then head to check into Hotel Catedral on the main square in La Paz. We can enjoy a stroll around the town of La Paz in the afternoon, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Tuesday, March 11

Cabo San Lucas— Airport to home

Say adios, but not goodbye! Following a final breakfast, transfers will be provided back to Cabo for departures.

Accommodations

Los Colibris Casitas, Todos Santos

Boasting the most stunning views in Todos Santos, the casitas are built on the side of a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean and only a short walk down to the beach. Each beautifully appointed casita has private outdoor spaces, and guests of the property can enjoy the infinity pool, hot tub and yoga sky deck.

Camp Cecil, Glamping on Isla Espiritu Santo

We have a tented camp on one of the island’s most beautiful beaches, featuring walk-in dome tents with mattresses, pillows, sheets and beach towels. There is a kitchen tent where our on-site chef will make wonderful meals for you every day. There are also cabañas for the sun showers and compost toilets.

Mar y Arena, Magdalena Bay

Simple and on the waterfront, the rustic cabañas of Mar y Arena offer a place to relax, dine and refresh after a wonderful day on the water with the gray whales of Magdalena Bay. All the hotels in Magdalena Bay offer only basic amenities as the gray whales are in the lagoons around these small fishing towns for such a short period of time. The luxury is in the experience, not the hotel. 

Hotel Catedral, La Paz

Located in La Paz, Hotel Catedral La Paz is near major attractions in the city. Rooms are neat and are equipped with TVs, bathrooms and safety deposit boxes. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

Please note: We have selected small, locally owned properties with limited space to enhance this group tour. The maximum group size will be 14 participants plus one Shedd Aquarium host in eight rooms for the duration of the trip. We regret that single supplements are not available. If you are a solo traveler and wish to share a room, we will make every effort to find a same-gender roommate for you.

Getting There and Getting Home

Fly into Los Cabos International Airport in San José del Cabo (SJD), Baja California, Mexico, on Feb. 28. All transfers (car and boat) are accommodated once you arrive in Mexico. Fly home the morning of March 6 out of SJD.

Participant Qualifications

This trip is limited to 14 adventure-oriented, conservation-minded travelers. Participants should be in good health, able to swim and able to get in and out of boats. This trip is intended for participants ages 14 and up. We regret that single supplements are not available.

Program Fees

A 50% nonrefundable deposit is required to reserve your space. Balance is due 60 days before the trip start date. Once you complete the 50% deposit to hold your space, Todos Santos Eco Adventures will send you the following documents to complete/review:

• Traveler questionnaire
• Participant waiver
• Packing list

Reservation and Cancellation Policies 

A nonrefundable 50% deposit is required to hold a reservation. Full payment is required 60 days prior to the start date of your trip. This payment is non-refundable so all travelers are strongly advised to purchase travel insurance. If you or TOSEA has to cancel your trip due to official COVID-19 travel restrictions, your full payment will be applied to a future stay any time within the 48 months following the date of your original reservation. The same rates as your original reservation will apply.

Insurance

All guests are strongly advised to purchase travel insurance. We recommend Global Rescue.

Delays and Weather Events

The cost of delays is not included if any trip is delayed or cancelled due to bad weather, trail conditions, road conditions, transportation delays, government intervention, sickness or other contingency for which Todos Santos Eco Adventures or its agents cannot make provision. If you are unable to get to Camp Cecil de la Isla due to a weather event, we will provide alternate activities but there are no refunds for weather problems. As indicated above, we strongly urge all guests to purchase travel insurance.

Nature requires Flexibility

Your guides may alter the timing of activities to best suit the conditions and assure that you see the most wildlife.

Due to the nature of wildlife programs, itineraries are subject to change. We cannot fully predict where wildlife will be, and our specific itinerary will depend largely on the weather conditions each day. The itinerary provides examples of the sorts of experiences that we’ll seek during the week, but please come with flexibility. Our guides adjust the itinerary accordingly to maximize your opportunities to enjoy Baja wildlife. Shedd Aquarium partners with responsible operators that follow rules and regulations in place to protect wildlife

Questions?

Email Shannon Fuller for more information.

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