FAMILY BASE CAMP
Kayaking, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Hiking, and Whale Watching on the Sea of Cortez
ADVENTURE TYPE
Kayaking, Hiking, & Stand Up Paddle
EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
Beginner
AGE MINIMUM
9
DESTINATION / LOCATION
Isla del Carmen, Baja Mexico
COST
8 Paddlers – $1,795
9 Paddlers – $1,695
10+ Paddlers – $1,595
TRIP DATES
Call for dates
Highlights
- Take your family on an unforgettable adventure
- Kayaking, snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding all available
- Fewer camps gives everyone more time to play
- Kid-friendly staff helps keep children engaged
- Beautiful campsites and delicious meals
FAMILY KAYAK TRIP ON THE BAJA PENINSULA
To book your custom family base camp trip we do require a minimum of 8 guests. If your family group is smaller, consider flying down with favorite friends or extended family members to share the adventure of a lifetime. Just call us to discuss what dates work best for your group.
Most of Sea Trek’s trips are designed for people age 14 and up, and it’s expected everyone can keep up with the group. However, we realize that many parents want to give their children an appreciation of the outdoors, and a custom family base camp trip in Baja is an excellent way to do that while allowing a pace that works for your family.
The family base camp trip provides a little bit of everything: some whale watching, some kayaking, some stand up paddling, some snorkeling. The major difference is that, rather than breaking camp and moving to a new location every day, family trips will stay at two of the best campsites on Carmen and Danzante. We have found that families get more out of the week if they are allowed to settle into a few places.
On Carmen and Danzante Islands, our kid-friendly staff will make sure that the children are as active as they want to be. They can go snorkeling, fishing, paddling, beachcombing, make sand castles or hang out. Parents can be off duty or involved depending on their inclination at the time, and of course our staff provides food and drinks.
ITINERARY
Your adventure begins with a Pre-trip orientation with your guides, in the afternoon before launch day. We will communicate and coordinate in advance with all guests the time and location for a comfortable outside meeting at a convenient location in town. At this orientation session, our guides will explain the trip logistics in more detail, and answer any questions you may have. Afterward, you are free to explore Loreto’s 300+ year old history and enjoy our charming shops and rich selection of restaurants.
We will pick you up from your hotel and transport you to our launching point. We will load all of our gear into a Mexican motor boat called a Panga. We will then paddle, depending on conditions, to our first camp. Your guides will point out Los Candeleros Islands, small rocks jutting above the water that serve as a home to cormorants, boobies, and ospreys. After paddling along the coast of Isla Danzante, we make a second crossing, this time to Isla del Carmen, located northeast of Danzante. Keep an eye out for pods of dolphins during the crossing, or even a blue whale! After setting up camp on Isla del Carmen, the afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. Stand up paddle boards, snorkeling equipment, and relaxing chairs are all available.
After a hearty Mexican breakfast, it’s time for a day trip! We explore the coves around Isla del Carmen, and eventually make an afternoon stop at a secluded beach, which you are free to explore via hiking, paddle boarding, or snorkeling. Upon returning to camp for the night, your guides prepare a feast of yellowtail, herbed rice, mixed green salad and tortillas.
We have spent two nights on Isla del Carmen, so in the morning we’ll cross back to Isla Danzante to set up camp at a new location, this one surrounded by massive rock formations. There’s more opportunity for exploration and meditation among these rocks, and another delicious meal as the sun sinks beneath the turquoise-colored waves
Another day on Isla Danzante will give you additional time to contemplate the natural beauty all around you. The waters of the Sea of Cortez are breathtaking, often appearing a light turquoise color, and the desert landscape is a sharp red, especially the cliffs and rocks that dot the island. Spend your time snorkeling, paddle boarding, or hiking to a promontory that gives you an excellent 360-degree view of the islands and Baja peninsula.
Today is our final crossing, back to the Baja Peninsula. The sun rises over the Sea of Cortez one last time, making fiery colors briefly appear on the turquoise-hued water. We’ll have breakfast, pack up, and paddle back to Puerto Escondido for the take-out, where a van will be waiting to take us back to Loreto and your hotel.
Your guides can help you arrange transportation so you show up at the airport on time. If you need to leave early to make a flight, you can leave right away. If you leave later, you can take some more time to explore La Paz before saying adios.
Destination
This trip begins at Loreto. Located on the lower part of the eastern gulf coastline, this town has long been a destination for people seeking a wilderness adventure.
While many people with the time and patience enjoy driving into Loreto from San Diego via Federal Highway 1, the easiest way is to fly into the nearby international airport. Alaska Air/Horizon flies directly to Loreto from Los Angeles, and AereoCalafia offers direct flights into Loreto from Tijuana. You can also try reaching the town by flying to La Paz or Cabo, and getting a connecting flight or other form of transportation from there. Contact us for more information on traveling to Loreto.
More Info
Accommodations
Hotel accommodations are not included in the trip package. You will want to book accommodations for at least the night before the first published day of the trip, and then again for the night of the last published day of the trip. On some trips you are welcome to fly out on the same afternoon that the trip ends, as long as the flight departs at 4 pm or later. For our confirmed clients, we are pleased to offer the services of our preferred Travel Planners, to assist with all of your flight and hotel needs. Although limited in number, visitors to Loreto have lodging choices that range from Luxury to budget. Our travel planner will assist you in determining lodging that fits your preferences. Our Travel planners are seasoned Baja veterans, and will help you find the best flight arrangements as well, so that your trip planning is smooth and efficient.
Packing List
You’ll be provided a detailed, official packing list upon reserving a trip with Sea Trek, but you may wish to keep the following list in mind while you prepare:
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JOIN THE ADVENTURE
Covid Vaccination required of all Baja Trip participants.
Ages 9 years old and up. Please call for questions about kids under 9 years old.
If you have any questions feel free to contact us.+
