Itinerary: 8-Day Whale Watching & Birding Tour

8-DAY TRIP OVERVIEW

Your first day and night will be hotel-based in the quaint seaside town of Loreto. The next 5 nights will be spent at our uniquely situated Pacific Coast Whale Camp, located in the heart of the whale calving area on Magdalena Bay, or Magdalena Bay. You’ll return to Loreto for your last night at the hotel and your final day in town before departure.

Your group will be hosted by our experienced naturalist guides, who all either live in or have traveled extensively in Baja, and have intimate knowledge of the area’s rich natural history. As skilled kayak instructors, they also provide training for those guests interested in developing their paddling skills. Whether you want to study the area’s unique bird, fish and plant life or work on your kayak roll, our guides will be at your service.

ITINERARY

Day One: Our friendly local transportation service greets you at the airport and transports you to your hotel in the charming town of Loreto. To help you prepare for the next leg of your adventure, a Blue Waters representative will meet with your group in the evening to discuss trip details and answer any last-minute questions. Participants are free to join each other for dinner and an evening on the town or a relaxing stroll along the palm-lined waterfront of Loreto.

Day Two: After breakfast, you’ll be transported by van from the hotel through the desert toward Baja’s picturesque Pacific coast. In the late morning, our guides greet us at the edge of Bahia Magdalena. We load our gear into our kayaks and accompanying panga (motorized fishing boat), then have an introductory paddle lesson. We then paddle off through the beautiful mangrove to our beach island home, where we settle into camp and surrender into Baja time.

Days Three – Six: We spend much of these four days in the presence of gray whale mothers and calves. Mornings, we’ll visit the whales by panga, thrilling to the proximity of these majestic creatures. Afternoons, we’ll have opportunities to walk the expansive sand dune beaches and paddle in the extensive mangrove estuaries, observing bird life at every turn. Our guides are excited to share their knowledge of the area’s natural history and marine ecology, and are ready to help you develop your kayaking skills. You can even have your own private self-rescue training sessions right off our camp’s beach! Evenings, after a delicious Mexican home-style dinner, kick back into your camp chair and enjoy great company as oranges, reds and golds splash across the sky and water in another magnificent Baja sunset. Browse the camp library in our spacious geodesic dome, or sit outside by the quiet evening waters as we identify early spring constellations, marvel at the water's bioluminescence, and listen for the sound of whales blowing off-shore.

Day Seven: On our final morning at camp, the group may choose to go whale watching one last time. Afterwards, we pack up and paddle back to the peninsula, where a van awaits to transport us to our Loreto hotel in time for a hot shower and an evening on the town. On our final night, we’ll enjoy exploring Loreto’s quaint streets and local culture, filled with shops, restaurants, cafés, and friendly local people.

Day Eight: Depending on your departure plans, you may find time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, visit the mission, or further explore the myriad shops of Loreto. Our van will transport you from your hotel to the airport in plenty of time for your flight.