RASA LILA

Trip Outline

When: February/March 2022 - TBD

Length: Approximately 10 days - TBD

Group Size: No more than 8

Style: Adventure, Boutique. Includes 1-3 day sea kayak excursion, suitable for beginners and a 1-2 day trip to the canyons of Sierra de la Laguna with a farm stay in tents. All camping gear including tents, sleeping bags and inflatable mattresses will be provided. Accommodations elsewhere will be chosen from curated B&Bs or inns with local charm and beauty.

Physical Rating: Moderate.

Starting Point: San Jose del Cabo Airport (SJD) or Loreto (LTO) - TBD

Ending Point: San Jose del Cabo Airport (SJD)

Note: The highlights listed below are possible destinations for the trip. The final trip will include some of them, but not all of them, depending on the length of the trip and the preferences of the participants. We will pick one kayak trip, either near Loreto or near La Paz.

Highlights

Los Cabos

The twin towns of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas are the most visited destination in the Baja peninsula. We will sample some traditional Mexican culture in the the old town of San Jose and explore the amazing seascape of Los Arcos in Cabo San Lucas. We will also take advantage of an excellent selection of restaurants in the area.

Todos Santos

The charming town of Todos Santos on the pacific coast is home to boutique B&Bs, eclectic art galleries, a sizable community of expats and the now famous Hotel California. We will take a guided nature walk along the cliffs to a beautiful beach for the sunset and have some free time for shopping and walking the town. Lots of great places to eat in town.

Loreto

One of the designated Pueblos Magicos, Loreto is one of my favorite places in Baja. One of the earliest missions in the Californias was established in Loreto in 1698 and it still anchors the charming center of the pueblo. On the Sea of Cortez, across from the offshore islands of Isla Coronado, Isla Carmen and Isla Danzante, it is a popular destination for sea kayakers and sport fishermen. Among its many charms is wandering its dirt streets and the seafront sampling its famous baja-style fish tacos, often made with fresh or smoked Marlin. We might take a trip to the nearby Mission San Javier and a delightful oasis in the desert. We will stay in one of the charming inns with lots of local color before we embark on a 1-3 day kayak trip to the islands, guided by a professional kayak touring company.

La Paz, Espiritu Santo

La Paz is the most populous town in the sparsely populated state of Baja California Sur and is also the capital of the state. It has an interesting historic centro or downtown around the Mission church of Catedral de Nuestra Señora de La Paz, where you can observe the everyday life of the locals, check out one of the local parks and grab some tacos from one of the many local eateries. Another popular pastime for locals and tourists is to stroll on the beautiful malecon (promenade) along the water. From La Paz, we will embark on a 3 day sea kayak trip on the west coast of the Espiritu Santo island, one of the most spectacular sea kayak experiences I have ever had, with crystal clear water, white sand beaches, wonderful snorkeling, towering pink sandstone cliffs, hiking in the arroyos and stargazing at night. The island is a natural reserve and uninhabited. It is only accessible by professional kayak touring outfitters. Our outfitters will provide all the camping and kayaking gear. I love this island and have done 3 kayak trips there, one of which was a longer trip that circumnavigates the island.

Sierra de la Laguna and the Canyons

Between La Paz and Los Cabos lies the majestic Sierras de la Laguna, the highest mountain range in the peninsula. It is high enough that it occasionally snows on the summits and there are evergreen trees that grow at higher elevations. These mountains offer excellent options for hiking and exploring the many canyons and waterfalls in the mountains. We will visit a magical canyon that is a wonderland of giant white granite boulders and pristine green-blue water that runs through the canyon. There will be many opportunities to jump into the inviting pools. We will stay a night or two at one of the off-grid farms along the canyon, where they grow mangoes, oranges and many other crops. We will sleep in tents in a garden like setting and enjoy delicious home cooking made by the Doña, the lady of the farm in her outdoor kitchen, with many ingredients sourced from the farm.

Bahia Magdalena

Every year, between January and April, the California Grey whales migrate from the northern pacific ocean to the estuaries of Bahia Magdalena to calve. The females give birth to the calves in the calm waters of the estuaries and spend several weeks there with the calves before rejoining the males in the open ocean to start the migration back north. It is a great opportunity to observe these gentle giants and their adorable babies.

Sample Itinerary 1

Overview: Loreto (LTO) - Bahia Magdalena - La Paz - Todos Santos - Los Cabos - Sierra de La Laguna - Cabo Airport (SJD)

Approximate Price: $1300 (Double), 1600 (Single), includes all accommodations, kayaking including meals in camp, canyon trip, transportation by private van, any meals included in accommodations. Note: this is just a guess right now.

Day 1: Arrive in Loreto (LTO). Group dinner.

Day 2: Activities in and around Loreto: Steinbeck Canyon hike, Mission San Javier, Oasis. We will probably do these activities with a local tour company.

Day 3: Depart for Loreto Bay. Sea Kayak to Isla Danzante, arriving at camp around 11 am. Paddle, snorkel, hike, overnight at camp.

Day 4: Sea Kayak from Camp. return to Loreto. Free time in Loreto.

Day 5: Drive to Adolfo Lopez Mateos on Bahia Magdalena (2 hrs), Whale watching boat trip (2-3 hrs), drive to La Paz (3 hrs). We will do this trip with a local tour company.

Day 6: Explore La Paz, Playa Balandra (0.5 hrs)

Day 7: Drive to Todos Santos (1.5 hrs). Free time.

Day 8: Nature walk on the cliffs, free time.

Day 9: Drive to Cabo San Lucas (1 hr), explore El Arco. Drive to San Jose del Cabo (45 min)

Day 10: Day trip to Sierra de la Laguna (1.5 hr), explore the canyon, return to San Jose del Cabo

Day 11: Depart from SJD