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 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.

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 the short drive to our launch point and boards pangas for the crossing to Isla Carmen. On the ride there is frequently an opportunity 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 2007:  November 11-18, November 18-25, November 20-27, December 20-27, December 23-January 01 (10 Day Special ), and December 27-January 03 2008.

Special 10 Day Christmas / New Year Trip ( December 23 2007-January 01 2008) USD1465.



Dates 2008: January 03-10, January 20-27, January 27-February 03, February 03-10, February 10-17, February 17-24, February 24-March 02, March 02-09, March 09-16, March 16-23, March 23-30, March 30-April 06, April 06-13, April 13-20, April 20-27, November 16-23, November 23-30, November 25-December 02, December 21-28, December 24-January 02 2009 (10 Day Special), December 28-January 04 2009 .

Special 10 Day Christmas / New Year Trip ( December 24 2008 -January 02 2009) USD1515.

Price Indication per person: 

2007:USD1215 except Special
2008: USD1260 except Special

Single Supplement: USD75                                  Email for current price