Isla Espiritu Santo Kayak Sojourn

Day 0 - Arrival in La Paz, Evening Orientation Meeting

Check into rooms (NOT included in trip cost). You're on your own for sightseeing or shopping until the evening pre-trip meeting in the 7 Crown Centro hotel lobby, where we'll answer questions and let you know the meeting time for the next day. Dinner is on your own in town, and we highly recommend a stroll at sunset along the waterfront malecon walkway. There are a variety of restaurants with ocean views, or look up our local restaurant guide for details.

Please see our Baja Travel Guide for full details on travel to and from Baja.

• Accommodations: Not Included
• Meals Included: None

Day 1 - Panga Ride to Espiritu Santo Island, Paddling Orientation, Kayak and Camp

You'll board a boat for our shuttle to Espiritu Santo island. Upon arrival to the beach, your guides will teach you the basics of paddling and thoroughly review safety procedures. You won't leave shore until all participants feel comfortable in the boats, and then you will kayak to the first night's campsite. Our motorized support boat carries all the heavy gear, food and water so your kayaks are light and easy to paddle.

• Accommodations: Beach Camping
• Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Days 2-4: Sea Kayak, Snorkel, Hike, Wildlife Watch and Beach Camping

Awake to freshly brewed coffee and tea as the sunrise spills golden light onto this serene desert island. After a warm breakfast prepared by your guides, you'll pack your belongings into the kayaks for the morning paddle. Expect to kayak about 4 hours per day, including floating rest stops, moving along the coast to a new campsite each night. You'll enjoy a long lunch break between the morning and afternoon paddle, and occasional floating rest stops while kayaking. During lunch and before happy hour, you'll have plenty of opportunities for snorkeling with Baja's plentiful reef fish, hiking the island's arroyo trails, or just relaxing on the sandy beaches. Enjoy stunning landscapes, unique geology, and watch as the subtle nuances of the Baja desert landscape unfolds into a natural masterpiece through interpretive hikes and talks by your highly-educated guides. At night, the lack of light pollution reveals constellations you've never seen!

Enjoy the stars through the comfort of your tent, or sleep underneath them on the sand. When the moon hides behind the canyon peaks, you can even see brightly-glowing blue bioluminescence in the water.

• Accommodations: Beach Camping
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Snorkel with Sea Lions at Los Islotes, Return to La Paz

After a final breakfast, you'll take a short motorboat ride to visit the friendly sea lions at Los Islotes. This colony is accustomed to people snorkeling among them, and curious pups are often eager to interact with people. After getting your fill of whiskers and flippers, the panga will drive you back to La Paz and the hotel (ah, showers!). *Please note: Most of our tours on Isla Espiritu Santo include a trip on the first or last day of the kayak tour to snorkel with these playful animals. The timing of this day will be determined by your guides and the weather forecast. Due to the length of the boat ride to and from Los Islotes, you likely will not kayak on this day.

You're invited this evening to join your group and guides for a farewell dinner at a delicious local restaurant (not included in the trip cost). Recount your tales and toast your new friends before relaxing into a real bed.

• Accommodations: Not Included
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: OPTIONAL: ADD A DAY TO SWIM WITH WHALE SHARKS  

Note: If you are not extending your stay to swim with whale sharks, day 6 will be your departure day. 

Extend your stay in La Paz a day before or after your kayak tour for a chance to swim with whale sharks. These plankton-eaters are the world's largest fish, and can reach lengths of up to 42' (13 m)! Whale sharks migrate into the bay of La Paz from October through April, where the shallow water of the bay harbors the favorite treats of these filter-feeding animals. Meet your guides bright and early to get a head start on the water in search of these peaceful creatures. The tour is approximately four hours, depending on the number of whale sharks present, so you'll have time to spend the afternoon exploring La Paz's beautiful Malecon. 

• Accommodations: Not Included
• Meals Included: None

Day 7: Return Home 

Visit the hotel cafe or a local restaurant for breakfast before your departure. Depending on your flight arrangements, you may have time for a morning promenade on the malecon of La Paz bay to say your farewells to Baja. If you're flying via San Jose del Cabo, ensure that you have adequate time in your itinerary to shuttle from La Paz to Cabo.

• Meals Included: None

Day 0 - Arrive in La Paz

Arrive in La Paz at your leisure. Direct flights are available, or fly to Cabo San Lucas and transfer north three hours on a shuttle bus. Check into your room at the Seven Crowns Centro Hotel (not included in trip cost) and explore La Paz on your own. In the evening we have an orientation meeting and give you your dry bags to pack. We provide everything you need in terms of camping gear (tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, pillow), snorkels, masks, and wetsuits.

Please see our Baja Travel Guide for full details on travel to and from Baja.

• Accommodations: Not Included
• Meals Included: None

Day 1: Transfer to to Espiritu Santo, Kayak, and Settle Into Camp

Meet your guide at the designated time in the morning, dressed ready to kayak. We transfer to the harbor and take our motorized boat about two hours to the island of Espiritu Santo. Once there we have a kayak orientation to familiarize you with your kayak and trip safety, and soon, start our paddle. We enjoy lunch on a beach along the way, with time to take a dip in the warm, clear waters of the Gulf of California.

By late afternoon we arrive at our camp on Isla Espiritu Santo. There is time to explore on land, or underwater by mask and snorkel. Your guides will accompany you and are happy to help you learn how to snorkel if you are not practiced.

Soon it’s time for appetizers while we watch an amazing sunset. Dinner is served under the open sky, prepared by our staff with fresh, local ingredients.  After dinner, enjoy the stars and when tired, retire to your tent. 

• Accommodations: Beach Camping
• Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Kayak, Snorkel, and Explore the Coast of Espiritu Santo

The day is a mix of sea kayaking on the clear blue waters of the Gulf of California, walking up desert arroyos and swimming or snorkeling to discover marine wonders. The coastline of Isla Espirtu Santo is perfect for kayaking with many protected bays. The water in the bays gets shallower you move closer to shore, providing wonderful views of the sea bottom. There are many sparkling white sand beaches on the island and we choose one of these for lunch.  

We arrive at our next camp with time to enjoy this wondrous landscape. You might want to hike above camp for stunning views of the island and surrounding sea. Or you may wish to snorkel among darting tropical fish. Or just relax and catch up on a book or visit with new friends. Dinner, stargazing or moon-watching and overnight at our beach camp.

• Accommodations: Beach Camping
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Snorkel, Paddle, and Explore Desert Scenery

Similar to the day before, we enjoy another superb day of sun and water. We paddle along the coastline, marveling at the desert beauty, wildlife, and crystal seas. There is a magical sense here as the desert is so full of life. Tiny flowers, running lizards, various cacti, and succulents weave a tapestry of color and intrigue. Underwater is an entirely different ecosystem where patient observation rewards one with new discoveries. 

We spend another evening at camp with appetizers, a lovely sunset, and dinner. 

• Accommodations: Beach Camping
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Snorkel with Sea Lions at Los Islotes and Return to La Paz

If we haven’t done it yet, we head out early to snorkel with the young sea lions at Las Islotes. This is home to a large sea lion rookery. Keeping our distance from the main rookery, we swim at a location where the younger sea lions usually engage with us. They love to play, swirling in the water, and if you dive and swirl too, they tend to stick around longer and play more. Being face-to-face with a young sea lion is a thrilling experience, and this is often a real highlight of the trip! Afterwards, we return to camp to finalize packing, perhaps take a short walk, and then are met by our panga to return us to La Paz by early afternoon.

On this Baja kayak tour, each day’s weather determines our activities and schedule. Sometimes, afternoon winds mean that it’s best to kayak in the morning only. Or a cooler day may make for perfect hiking conditions. We encourage you to come with a flexible attitude and understanding that nature is the one in charge. We reserve the right to substitute other activities if weather prevents the trip from going as planned.

• Accommodations: Not Included
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch