Baja Women-only Whales and Kayaking Tour 2022
Dates: January 30 – February 5, 2022
Number of Days: 7
Cost: $2500+
HIGHLIGHTS of the Baja Whales and Kayaking Adventure include:
* Three wonderful days of whale watching in Magdalena Bay
* Camping under the stars for two nights while listening to the waves of the Pacific Ocean
* Kayaking the pristine waters near Loreto, Mexico in the Sea of Cortez
* Snorkeling and swimming in water where upwards of 30 species of fish may be seen
* Enjoy locally-prepared and authentic Mexican cuisine
Just announced! This is a small group tour and will sell out. Please register ASAP in order to secure your spot!
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Secure your spot by registering with a deposit via PayPal by clicking on the Register Now button. You can sign in as a guest and do not need a PayPal account.
Note: Cancellation fees apply. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before registering.
Baja Women-only Whale Watching and Kayaking Adventure Itinerary
Our trip begins in the laid-back town of Loreto (population about 20,000), located on the east coast of the Baja Peninsula. It’s just over four hours north of La Paz and about six hours north of Cabo San Lucas. There are a number of flight options from the U.S. that fly directly into Loreto. We meet on the afternoon of Sunday, January 30th.
Day 1
Sunday, January 30, 2022
Meals: Dinner
Our exciting adventure begins upon arrival in the charming town of Loreto. From the airport, you’ll head directly to the hotel (on your own) where you can unpack, relax poolside or grab a drink from the bar prior to our welcome dinner. The hotel is located on the malecon (boardwalk) of Loreto close to the town square. There are many shops and cafes nearby to enjoy and explore and you’ll feel completely safe doing so.
We’ll have dinner at a nearby restaurant and overnight at Hacienda Suites Hotel or similar in Loreto.
Day 2
Monday, January 31, 2022
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we’ll depart by shuttle for the two-hour drive to Puerto Lopez Mateos, Magdalena Bay on the Pacific Coast. It’s here that we’ll head out via skiff to Santo Domingo Island. Along the way, we’ll have our first whale watching session before arriving at Whale Camp!
At camp, we’ll unload our gear and settle into our large tents before we enjoy a hearty lunch. Afterwards, our guides will lead us on a hike across the dunes that stretch to the Pacific Ocean. Back at camp, our naturalist guide will talk to us about…whales!!! Their migration, feeding, nursing, and pretty much any and all things we want to know about whales, in particular the gray whales we’ll be seeing in these waters.
We’ll have dinner under the stars and overnight at Whale Camp. *Note that there are limited single tents available for an additional charge (see single supplement cost at bottom). These will be assigned on a first come/first served basis.
Day 3
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning you’ll wake up to the sound of birds chirping and waves lapping along the shoreline. If you’re up early enough, you can grab a coffee (sorry, no Starbucks here!), stroll along the beach and watch the whales offshore as our guides prepare a hot meal.
We’ll depart after breakfast for the first of two whale watching sessions today. Again we’ll head out by skiff where we’ll get to see the whales up close and personal. We’ll take a break back at camp for lunch before heading out again in the afternoon for more whale watching!
Once again we’ll have dinner under the stars and overnight at Whale Camp. *Note that there are limited single tents available for an additional charge (see single supplement cost at bottom). These will be assigned on a first come/first served basis.
Day 4
Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today after breakfast, we’ll enjoy another whale watching excursion before returning to Puerto Lopez Mateo by skiff. We’ll have a chance to explore the local shops at the port for souvenirs before heading out to enjoy a seafood lunch (vegetarian options available) at a local restaurant.
After lunch, we’ll check back into our hotel where you can grab a shower (yay!) and then take a stroll along the waterfront before our orientation meeting for the kayaking portion of our tour.
We’ll have dinner at a nearby restaurant and overnight at Hacienda Suites Hotel or similar in Loreto.
Day 5
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll drive north (about 25 minutes) to a beach from which we’ll make our way to beautiful Isla Coronado. You may travel either on a 
small fishing boat or kayak the two miles to the island. Both options will be available! (If kayaking, we’ll have a short orientation and kayak safety talk before setting out. Expect to be kayaking for about an hour there and back.) Either way, our destination is this volcanic island that is part of the Loreto Bay National Marine Park.
This beautiful region has expansive white-sand beaches and a sea lion colony. To make the most of our visit, we’ll have a naturalist guide sharing their extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna of this area.
From the main beach, we’ll take a one-hour hike to enjoy the landscape and beauty of the island before enjoying a picnic lunch.
Afterwards, we’ll all board the boat to circumnavigate the island, stopping along the way to swim and snorkel (both are optional). This is the Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of California) and it’s here that we may see upwards of 30 species of fish!
Later in the afternoon, we’ll return to the main beach and either kayak (if that’s how you arrived) or take the boat back to the mainland.
We’ll have dinner at a nearby restaurant and overnight at Hacienda Suites Hotel or similar in Loreto.
HIGHLIGHT! Sea kayakers come from around the world to paddle the turquoise waters of the Sea of Cortez. While you should be in good physical condition, you don’t need to be an experienced kayaker to paddle these gentle waters!
Day 6
Friday, February 4, 2022
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, after breakfast, we’ll get out on the water once again–this time heading to Isla Danzante! With input from our guide (and our weather app), we’ll decide the best launching point for our boats (we’ll drive there via shuttle) before paddling east 
towards the island which, like Isla Coronado, is located in the Loreto Bay National Marine Park. Again, we’ll be paddling about an hour there and an hour back. ** Note there is no option to boat to Isla Danzante so we’ll all be getting our hearts pumping today by kayaking!
We’ll paddle via Punta Coyote (punta is point in Spanish) where we’ll stop for a short hike to see cactus and other desert plants. We’ll also take some time to snorkel, swim and have our picnic lunch here!
In the afternoon, we’ll paddle back to our launch point and return (via shuttle) to Loreto for the evening.
** Note that we will likely schedule Covid-19 tests for this day, in time to get results back for our departing flights. Cost of the test is on your own and should be under $50.
We’ll have our final dinner at a nearby restaurant and overnight at Hacienda Suites Hotel or similar in Loreto.
HIGHLIGHT! Punta Coyote is a spectacular and quiet cove where we may see dolphins and plenty of seabirds.
Day 7
Saturday, February 5, 2022
Meals: Breakfast
We’ll have one final breakfast at the hotel before checking out. Most flights depart around mid-afternoon and, because the airport is close by and small, you’ll have time to wander around Loreto for last-minute shopping and lunch.
You may choose to arrive days early or stay late to extend your trip. If this is the case, you might consider venturing on to La Paz or Cabo, but note that neither are anywhere near as relaxing as Loreto! Also note that flights might be limited on some days of the week.
** Itinerary subject to change without notice.
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Just announced! This is a small group tour and will sell out. Please register ASAP in order to secure your spot!
Secure your spot by registering with a deposit via PayPal by clicking on the Register Now button. You can sign in as a guest and do not need a PayPal account.
Costs
Land costs: $2,650 (8 people), $2,500 (11 – 14 people)
Single supplement: $475
Interested in sharing the cost with another fabulous traveler? We do our best to pair up our tour participants so you can avoid the single supplement. However, priority is given to the first deposits received. If you’re interested in sharing, please send in your deposit as soon as possible in order to take advantage of this benefit. (Why a single supplement? See this FAQ page for an explanation.)
Booking and Payment Details
Price includes: Accommodation, no fewer than 17 meals, activities as outlined and tips for local guides.
Price does not include: Flights to/from Loreto, Mexico, shuttle to/from airport, travel insurance, Covid-19 tests (if required), purchases of personal nature such as souvenirs, laundry and beverages.
This trip is limited to 14 women and requires a $500 deposit to secure your spot.
Minimum bookings required: 8 people (minimum not yet reached!)
Final payment is due no later than December 30, 2021.
We love checks as it helps keep our costs down by avoiding credit card fees. If you’re able to pay the deposit or full amount by check or wire transfer, we’ll not only love you more but we’ll send you a free gift from the She’s Bold Shop. ** If you live outside of the U.S., you’ll receive your gift during the tour.
Here’s our mailing address:
WanderTours
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116
Note: Cancellation fees apply. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before registering.
The fine print
Baja Whale Watching and Kayaking Registration Form (online)
Baja Itinerary Fall 2022 (PDF)
We have partnered with Travel Insured International so that you have the ability to purchase “cancel for any reason” insurance. We HIGHLY recommend travel insurance (no matter who your provider is) to protect your travel investment from any future issues.
For questions, please contact Beth at:
beth (at) wandertours (dot) com
206-317-1860
Trip Leader: Denise Kittleson
Denise is an outdoor enthusiast and traveler who finds ways to spend time in nature year-round. She nordic skies in the winter and hikes, bikes, and kayaks the rest of the year. She’s joined Beth on several WanderTours including Bhutan, Morocco and biking in Idaho, and has always enjoyed connecting with the other fascinating women on these trips.
When she’s not traveling and adventuring, Denise spends her time as an emergency room nurse, cooking, reading and hanging out with her family and friends. She is super excited to meet everyone in Baja and share her love of the ocean and sea kayaking!