Panga Supported Kayaking Tours
Sea Kayak Adventures is proud of our reputation for providing superlative guest service. It’s not just what we do, but is intrinsic in the values we hold. Giving you genuine and sincere guest service is woven into the fabric of our DNA!
Some years ago, this philosophy of guest service led us to the practice of operating our trips with full motorboat (panga) support in Baja California Sur. Having this support creates a lot of advantages, including a large measure of added safety. Thus, on all our trips with 4 or more guests, there is a panga that accompanies the trip along with one or two staff that are in addition to our kayak guides. Having a panga also gives us the option of offering a ride to any guest that is feeling tired and needs a break from paddling. While this doesn’t happen often, it’s a welcome reprieve when needed.
Panga on route Day 1 from La Paz to Isla Espiritu Santo
Added Comfort with Panga Support
Our motorized pangas vary from about 24 to 32-feet (7-10 meters) in length and carry the bulk of our camping gear and food. This means that in your kayak, you carry only your personal gear, sleeping bags and pads, making your kayak lighter and easier to paddle.
The use of pangas allows us to carry large coolers with ice that keeps both food and drinks cold. It means your meals are fresh and extra delicious. Our guides are skilled cooks and giving them the resources provided by having coolers and more fresh food is an important differentiating factor in our trips.
Normally the panga stays near the group in the morning, but importantly, is out of sight and sound, so as to not disturb the tranquility of the sea and nature. It reaches our lunch beach ahead of the group and the crew on board start preparing lunch. This allows your guides more time to share their knowledge of the area’s cultural and natural history. Those keen to learn may want to learn about the life cycle of a manta, or current rules regarding commercial fishing in the Gulf of California, or why blue whales visit every February and March.
Camp Set-Up Made Easy
After lunch the panga typically goes ahead to the evening’s camp and sets up tents and the kitchen. Imagine arriving at camp to find tents already up, a cozy dining area with tables and chairs, and amenities like a camp toilet with a privacy tent (detailed camp toilet video here). Watch below to see how our team, with the support of our panga, transforms a remote beach into a comfortable, welcoming camp so you can focus on relaxing, soaking up the Baja landscape and enjoying your adventure.
Note: The only time the panga does not travel ahead to set up camp would be on a windy day with waves, when we might rather keep the panga more available for safety reasons.
Increased Flexibility
Another bonus in having a panga is the opportunity for wildlife viewing. As an example, we sometimes see a blue whale spout in the distance. If we are stopped on a beach when we see this, we can invite people onboard the panga and motor in the direction of the spout, of course observing all applicable whale watching regulations and protocols. It’s a real thrill to see a blue whale surface and then dive! Another example would be seeing a pod of dolphins in the distance, and if our group is eager to get a closer look, we can do that using the panga. The flexibility and added mobility that a panga provides is a huge benefit.
Our pangas are staffed by a panguero (captain) and in most cases, also a “assistant panguero.” Our panga assistants are locals who generally want to progress and become kayak guides someday. However, English language skills are often a barrier. By working with us as a panga assistant, we are giving people the opportunity to learn English and improve their guiding skills. Usually, it takes two to four years as a panga assistant before someone becomes an assistant kayak guide. We are proud of this system which allows young people an opportunity to progress within our company.
We have our own fleet of pangas to support our trips and sometimes we hire other pangas as needed. We look forward to sharing with you the benefits of a panga-supported kayak tour!
