SUP CLASSIC ISLANDS – SKIFF SUPPORTED

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 the charming shops and rich selection of restaurants.

The day begins with breakfast at our favorite local café. You’ll then take a van to the launch at Puerto Escondido, 16 miles south of Loreto, where you will receive lessons in kayaking and stand up paddle board as well as our safety orientation. Afterwards, we’ll load a light day bag on our board, leaving the rest for the panga. Depending on the conditions, we will either make the three-mile crossing to Isla Danzante, or be delivered to the north end of the island to paddle down its length.  We set up our first camp on the island.

The sun rising over the Sea of Cortez and casting its light on the jagged promontories of Isla Danzante and the Giganta Range to the West is a sight to behold. 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 to the northeast to Isla del Carmen. Keep an eye out for pods of dolphins or even a blue whale during the crossing.  After setting up camp on Isla del Carmen, the afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. Stand-up paddle boards, sea kayaks, snorkeling equipment, and relaxing chairs are all available.

After a hearty Mexican breakfast, it’s time for a day trip! We explore the coves, reefs, and cliffs around Isla del Carmen, and eventually make an afternoon stop at a secluded beach for an afternoon of snorkeling and sunbathing. Upon returning to camp for the night, your guides prepare a feast of yellowtail, herbed rice, mixed green salad and tortillas.

After two nights on Isla del Carmen, we’ll cross back to Isla Danzante in the morning to set up camp at a new location surrounded by massive rock formations. There’s more opportunity for exploration and relaxation, and another delicious meal as sunset changes the colors on the rock faces of the Sierra de la Giganta range.

Our final crossing takes us back to the Baja Peninsula and our last campsite. Much of this trip takes place near an area known to scientists as “The Blue Whale Triangle” due to the large numbers of Blue whales sighted in the area, so keep an eye out throughout the week! Once we make it across the channel to the peninsula, you’ll have one last afternoon to explore the campsite’s rocky shoreline, dotted with enormous boulders. The snorkeling is excellent, and at night you will have the opportunity to paddle out and view bioluminescent sea creatures beneath the mirror like waters.

The sun rises over the Sea of Cortez one last time, making fiery colors briefly appear on the turquoise-hued water. Bid goodbye to this magnificent piece of the planet. 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. Once we’ve all enjoyed a final snack or seaside lunch, it’s back to your hotel, your head filled with the past week’s experiences your heart looking forward to your next adventure.

This morning you’ll enjoy exploring our warm and magical pueblo of Loreto on your own time. Perhaps enjoy a delicious breakfast of Huevos Rancheros and fresh local fruit juices at one of the many outside cafes. Don’t miss visiting the 300+ year old Mision Nuestra Senora de Loreto and her museum right off the central plaza. Most flights home are mid day or later, so you’ll have plenty of time for discoveries and creating a list of things to see and do on your next visit.

For now, it is not goodbye…but rather Hasta Pronto!