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Baja & Beyond - Camping and Kayaking on the Sea of Cortez
Destination: Mexico
| Activities: Snorkeling, Boating, Wildlife, Hiking, Stand Up Paddle-boarding, Kayaking
Baja beach bliss! Baja California Sur is a gorgeous region of Mexico, and with white sandy beaches, moderate temperatures and incredible flora and fauna, there is something for everyone. We will have an evening in the charming town of Todos Santos before driving then boating to our exclusive tent camp on the National Park Island of Espiritu Santo. The Sea of Cortez is one of the most diverse seas on earth, and each day will be a choose your own adventure schedule, as packed to the gills or as low key as you'd like it to be. This is the perfect vacation for adventurous nature lovers to relax and experience the 'Galapagos of North America'. This trip is a true wilderness camping experience with the added benefits of chef-prepared meals and expert guides to facilitate activities and wildlife viewing. Maximum group size: 12
Highlights
- Experience incredible marine wildlife by boat, kayak and stand up paddle board
- Relish delicious local food
- Learn about the flora that inhabit the Mexican National Park of Isla Espiritu Santo
- Snorkel in paradise and swim with sea lions
- Camp under the stars with the ocean lapping near your toes
- Explore the artsy and charming town of Todos Santos
Departures and Prices
| January 11 to January 17, 2025 |
| $3795.00 - FULL |
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Inclusions
- All transportation during itinerary including roundtrip airport transfer
- All accommodations including 2 nights at the Los Colibris Casitas and 4 nights tent camping on Isla Espiritu Santo
- All meals from dinner on day 1 through breakfast on final day
- Daily happy hour on the Island
- All activities as described on the itinerary and related equipment (snorkel, kayak, stand up paddle board)
- Local bilingual naturalist guides who are certified Wilderness First Responders, NOM-9 graduates and Leave No Trace certified
- Entrance fees and permits
What's not included: Travel to and from Mexico, alcoholic beverages (outside of happy hours on the Island), snacks, guide gratuities, and travel insurance.
Trip Documents
Trip Info
This trip is designed for women in good condition who want an active vacation in a warm winter environment. Our days can be full but we build in down time (and Happy Hours!) to relax. You also have the option to opt out of activities if you want more downtime. No snorkeling experience necessary but you must be able to swim comfortably in open water. Four nights of the trip will be tent camping. Rating: [1] 2 3 4 5.
We'll snorkel, swim, kayak and stand up paddle board in the calm turquoise waters of the Sea of Cortez, off the coast of La Isla Espiritu a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
All accommodations on Camping on the Sea of Cortez are shared, there are no single supplements available. Two nights will be spent at Los Colibris Casitas. With “the most stunning view in Todos Santos,” Los Colibris Casitas is perfect for nature lovers who appreciate both beauty and tranquility. Los Colibris Casitas.
Every room has a magnificent view of the Pacific ocean, a freshwater estuary and a palm grove oasis to the front, and the Sierra de la Laguna mountains to the side and back. From your casita you can watch fishermen cast their nets on the beach in the early morning light, enjoy the magnificent Baja sunset in the evening, and delight in the vast expanse of a star-filled sky at night. Los Colibris is just a 10-minute walk to 70 miles of pristine, virtually empty beach, and a 5-minute drive to the delightful restaurants, artists’ galleries and shops of Todos Santos.
The rest of the trip will be spent at Isla Epiritu Santo Biosphere Reserve near La Paz, Mexico. While on the island you can have an immersive experience in Baja Sur's pristine wilderness while also camping under the stars with real mattresses, soft linens, chef-prepared meals, and daily happy hour.
Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.
DAY 1
Fly into Los Cabos International Airport/San Jose del Cabo (SJD) by 2PM where you’ll be met by our local guides and transferred to Todos Santos, a truly magical place with a vibrant and artsy culture. Situated between the Sierra de Laguna Mountains and the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean, you’ll find your home away from home for the night at the locally owned and operated Los Colibris Casitas. With “the most stunning view in Todos Santos,” Los Colibris is perfect for nature lovers who appreciate both beauty and tranquility. Once settled at the hotel, we’ll go out for our first group dinner at a local restaurant. During dinner our guides will go over logistics for the week and a safety orientation. (D)
Overnight:Los Colibris Casitas
Overnight:Los Colibris Casitas
DAY 2
Hello sunshine! Take an early morning hike down to the beach or enjoy the infinity pool before breakfast and our transfer to Isla Espiritu Santo. From Todos Santos we’ll drive for about an hour northeast across arid mountains on the Baja peninsula to the Sea of Cortez side. From the bustling port town of La Paz, we’ll climb aboard a boat for a scenic 90 minute ride to our exclusive beach camp. Here we settle in for a few glorious days of uninterrupted relaxation. We’ll camp on the beach in tents with real mattresses and luxury linens, where the sounds of the waves crashing will lull you to sleep each night and birdsong will serenade you out of bed in the mornings. Today we’ll get an instructional primer in each of the available activities (kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and snorkeling) and have our first taste of a ‘sea to table’ freshly caught cuisine! (B, L, D)
Overnight: Isla Espiritu Santo
Overnight: Isla Espiritu Santo
DAY 3
Espiritu Santo is a pristine 31 square mile island that was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1995. Mexico declared it a national park in 2007, thus ensuring its environmental protection for generations to come. The waters of the Sea of Cortez that surround the island are home to a stunning plethora of marine wildlife including: sea lions, whale sharks (don’t worry - they are filter feeders, they strain tiny food like plankton from the water!), dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays and beautiful tropical fish. Don’t spend all of your time looking down, though! This area also has fantastic bird watching; you may see herons, turkey vultures, cormorants, pelicans and more. At the end of the day, collapse into your comfortable tent.
When you think of camping, you may think of roughing it in the wilderness. Though we'll be in tents we'll enjoy the unique experience of a makeshift beach-front cafe where our on-site chef prepares our meals and serves a daily happy hour! Margarita, anyone? (B, L, D)
Overnight: Isla Espiritu Santo
Overnight: Isla Espiritu Santo
DAY 4
Each day our local guides will plan excursion options around and across the island based on the tides, winds, and weather. With a diversely colored strata proudly displaying the island’s geology, our camp is so much more than just a gorgeous beach. The island originated from tectonic elevation and you can see as much in its surface of volcanic rocks and marine sediment. The high ground reaches nearly 2,000 feet above sea level and is studded with cardon cacti, an ecological cousin to the mainland saguaro cacti. The Pericú people who inhabited the island thousands of years ago left funerary caves, rock art and fish hooks made of seashells. In 1535, the island was christened “Island of the Pearls” after the rich pearl oyster beds found along the western shores and was then baptized and renamed as “Espiritu Santo” or “Holy Spirit” a century later. Although hiking on the island is minimal, excursions may take you to lava rock formations, interesting cave art, alluring hidden lagoons, and tranquil beaches. (B, L, D)
Overnight: Isla Espiritu Santo
Overnight: Isla Espiritu Santo
DAY 5
The island has rightfully earned the nickname “the aquarium of the world”. Both beginner and experienced snorkelers alike will all revel in being able to swim with colonies of sea lions and watch teeming underwater activity on colorful reefs. We will see such tropical fish as barracudas, groupers and parrotfish among others. In case you grow tired with crystal clear turquoise waters, there’s also kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding to mangrove swamps and bays with virgin beaches accompanied by spectacular desert views! (B, L, D)
Overnight: Isla Espiritu Santo
Overnight: Isla Espiritu Santo
DAY 6
Last morning on the Island - time to soak up the birdsong, melodic crashing waves, and breathtaking beauty of this incredible gem before we leave. Around midday we’ll boat back to the Baja mainland and return by private transport to Todos Santos for a celebratory dinner in town and an overnight stay back at Los Colibris Casitas. (B, L, D)
Overnight: Los Colibris Casitas
Overnight: Los Colibris Casitas
DAY 7
It has been an incredible week of playing, relaxing and connecting and now it’s time to say goodbye. After breakfast we’ll drive from Todos Santos to Los Cabos, where you can plan to fly out any time after 1PM. (B)
4.7
(7 reviews)
5
4
3
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1
*These are the unfiltered reviews of women who have been on this trip in answer to the question "What made this trip special for you?". We take reviews very seriously and often tweak itineraries based on feedback. Please feel free to contact us about any questions you have.
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Frances F.
1 year ago
Diana V.
1 year ago
Emily and Octavio were terrific! It was a fun trip with a lot of different activities. The TOSEA crew were wonderful, I felt as if I was at a five start Michelin restaurant!
Donna G.
1 year ago
Traveling with my good friend, the camp was great and the food was exceptional. Loved swimming with the sea lions.
Sue M.
1 year ago
Jennifer W.
1 year ago
Great group of people in an amazing place with a local guide and staff that went truly above and beyond any expectations. Octavio our local guide from TOSEA is one of the best humans I have ever met. Not only did he share his passion for his country, culture and the environment he made us feel like we were part of his family. What a gem. All of the TOSEA staff were truly exceptional. Please pass that along to the owners of TOSEA.
Katherine P.
1 year ago
Camping spot on the island in the sea of Cortez + hotel in Todos Santos
Libby D.
2 years ago
The guides were helpful, informative, & tried to meet everyone's needs. Food was fresh & delicious. Loved cocktail hour different every night
- Is this trip on the beach or in the mountains?
This trip takes place in the coastal town of Todos Santos and the Isla Espiritu Santo, a national park and bioreserve in the Sea of Cortez. The hotel where we stay in Todos Santos, Los Colibris Casitas, is a short and steep hike away from the beach but the rip tide is strong here and swimming is not recommended but there is plenty of beach and swimming time once settled at our island camp. If you would like mountain time while in Baja and horseback riding, we recommend checking out our Baja Mountain Bliss - Where do we eat?
We will be eating a few meals out at small local restaurants and the rest will be prepared on site at Camp Cecil of the Isla using lots of delicious farm to table ingredients. - What are the bathrooms like on the island while camping?
There are two composting bathroom cabanas and two solar powered shower cabanas. - Can I charge my cell phone while on the island?
Yes, there are battery powered charging stations for your small electronics in the dining area while on the island. - What dietary preferences or restrictions can you accommodate on this trip?
If we know well in advance, we can accommodate vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-sensitive diets. If you are vegan, we ask that you bring some additional protein bars; and if you are gluten-sensitive, please bring some gluten-free snacks. If you have severe allergies, Celiac disease and/or other significant dietary restrictions, please call the office before you register.
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