Whale Watching - Isla Carmen - Kayaking

Isla Carmen dominates the Parque Nacional Bahia Loreto. The island has a wealth of bays and beaches making up its serpentine coastline, Carmen is some of the Baja's best sea kayaking.

The waters around Isla Carmen are the winter range to an abundance of Fin and Blue Whales. You can lie in your sleeping bag under a sky glistening with stars and listen to the sonorous breathing of great whales just offshore.  The snorkelling and paddling is some of the finest in Baja. As with all the islands of the Sea of Cortez, bird life abounds on Isla Carmen. Ospreys nest high on headlands, brown pelicans congregate on partially submerged reefs and blue footed boobies roost on white seaside cliffs.  The terrain includes broad turquoise bays and towering headlands backed by 1000 ft high russet peaks.  The group size is 12 maximum

Itinerary.

Day 1 You are met at Loreto airport and transferred to your hotel. Your guides will meet the group at 8 PM in the courtyard of your hotel for an orientation and discussion of trip details.

Day 2   The group meets outside the hotel at 7:00 AM to board vans for a short drive to our launch point for the crossing to Isla Carmen. On the crossing there is often a chance to observe Fin and Blue whales. The balance of the day is devoted to orientation, kayak instruction, and snorkelling.

Day 3  Passing under the cliffs that lie south of Bahia Salinas we explore numerous coves and beaches before coming to our camp at beautiful Arroyo Blanco. After landing there are excellent opportunities to both explore the Arroyo and snorkel.

Day 4  Setting off southward along Carmen's east coast past the island's highest peaks. When a sighting presents an opportunity we'll paddle offshore to observe the Blue and Fin Whales that frequent these waters as part of their winter range. After making camp at Punta Baja there is time for swimming, snorkeling and exploring this long expanse of white sand beach.

Day 5 A day paddle along the channel between Isla Carmen and Isla Danzante provides great whale watching and frequent encounters with large groups of dolphins. Returning to the beach in the late morning there is ample time for whale watching, snorkelling, or simply relaxing in this idyllic location.

Day 6  We cross to Isla Danzante where our route takes us around the northern tip of this fortress-like island and into picturesque Honeymoon Cove where we'll stop to swim, snorkel and have lunch. Later in the afternoon we'll paddle south along the coast of Danzante to our last campsite from which we have an unobstructed view of sunset over the Sierra Giganta.

Day 7  A short paddle this morning takes us to Rancho Ligui. Here we are met by vans for transportation back to Loreto. This evening there is an optional no-host group dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 8  After check out from the hotel it's time to catch a taxi to the airport.
 

Additional Activities in this region of Mexico:  Hiking in the Copper Canyon
Culture elsewhere in Mexico: The culture & ruins of Chiapas

Dates:

January 4 - 11 2009, January 18 - 25, January 25 - February 1, February 1 - 8, February 8 - 15, February 15 - 22, February 22 - March 1, March 1 - 8, March 8 - 15, March 15 - 22, March 22 - 29, March 29 - April 5, April 5 - 12, April 12 - 19, April 19 - 26, November 8 - 15, November 15 - 22, November 24 - December 1, December 20 - 27 & December 27 - January 03 2010



Price Indication per person:  USD1295 + USD15 National Park Fee

Single Supplement: USD90                                   Email for current price