Baja Women-only Whales and Kayaking Tour 2023
Dates: February 7 – 13, 2023
Number of Days: 7
Cost: $3,495
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! Don’t delay in registering for this tour as it WILL sell out!
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 Tuesday, February 7th.
Day 1
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
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 near 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 La Mision Hotel or similar in Loreto.
Day 2
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
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
Thursday, February 9, 2023
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
Friday, February 10, 2023
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today after breakfast, we’ll enjoy another whale watching excursion before returning to Puerto Lopez Mateos 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 La Mision Hotel or similar in Loreto.
Day 5
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll drive south (about 20 minutes) 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 is located in the Loreto Bay National Marine Park. We’ll be paddling about an hour there and an hour back. ** Note there is no option to boat to Isla Danzante so everyone will be getting their hearts pumping today by kayaking!
We’ll paddle via Punta Coyote (punta is point in Spanish) where we’ll 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.
We’ll have dinner at a nearby restaurant and overnight at La Mision 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
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll head to San Javier Mission (about 50 minutes away). Located in the tiny town of San Javier (population just over 100), the big draw here is the restored church which is now maintained by the National Institute of Anthropology and History.
We’ll tour the mission and then have lunch at a charming nearby restaurant. Afterward, we’ll return to Loreto for time to wander the town (on your own) for final souvenir shopping.
We’ll have dinner at a nearby restaurant and overnight at La Mision Hotel or similar in Loreto.
Day 7
Monday, February 13, 2023
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 relax and enjoy the waterfront one last time before departure.
You may choose to arrive a day or two 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.
________________________________________________________________
* JUST ANNOUNCED! Don’t delay in registering for this tour as it WILL sell out!
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.
Costs
Land costs: $3,495
Single supplement: $495
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, 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 7, 2022.
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 Whale Watching and Kayaking 2023 itinerary (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!