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Whales, Sharks, etc.

Whales, Sharks, etc.

Great White Sharks: Guadalupe, Mexico | Farallon Islands, California | S. Africa | S. Australia

Whale Watching: Whales, Whales, Whales | Sea of Cortez Wildlife Cruise

Magdalena Bay Whale Watching Basecamp | San Ignacio Lagoon Whale Watching Basecamp

Whales: Minke Whales | Dolphins | Gray Whales | Humpback Whales | Whale Sharks

MAGDALENA BAY WHALEWATCHING & SEA KAYAKING BASECAMP -- Mexico

Along the west coast of the Baja Peninsula, three lagoons provide the California Gray Whale with protected waters at the end of their annual migration from the Arctic. The surreal landscape of the ever changing sand dunes provides a dramatic background for Baja's most celebrated and magnificent visitors, the gray whales.

Modeled after a "tented safari", the Whalewatch Basecamp provides double occupancy walk-in tents with comfortable cots, full meal service in our kitchen tent, and "Baja" fresh water showers. Activities to enjoy while at camp are slide shows and natural history lectures, whale watching from outboard powered skiffs, beach combing, birdwatching, and exploring the mangrove estuaries by skiff or sea kayak. A library of Natural History guidebooks is available for customer use. We strive to provide a high level of amenities and services using ecologically and technologically appropriate means. Naturalist leaders are drawn from both sides of the border and may include professional naturalists or students with a special emphasis on gray whales.

Magdalena Bay, like the other whale lagoons is closely regulated by agencies of the Mexican government to insure that human activities do not adversely affect the whales. Baja Expeditions and it's staff have a special commitment to protecting the land and sea environment, Baja's premier natural resource. Our activities are fully permitted and sanctioned by the appropriate agencies of the Mexican government. All participants will be advised of company and government policies designed to protect the environment and will be expected to comply fully.

PLEASE NOTE THIS ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME

Our daily itinerary is flexible, allowing us to take advantage of unexpected natural history opportunities. While we make every attempt to follow our general itinerary, the weather is unpredictable and dictates our day's activities. Delays in flights, van or skiff transfers may occur in the event of poor weather.

Day 1... Arrive in La Paz, Mexico at any time. Use Taxi Voucher to transfer to Los Arcos Hotel. Check with the hotel front desk for your welcome letter which will inform you of any last minute changes. Rooms based on double occupancy. You are on your own for sightseeing and dinner.

Day 2... Meet in the lobby of the Los Arcos Hotel at time to be determined, packed and ready to go. A light breakfast will be provided at our store. Transfer by bus or van to Magdalena Bay (appx. 4 hours), lunch served en route. Boat ride to our basecamp, orientation, dinner and evening presentation.

Day 3 5... Days are spent primarily whale watching from skiffs. Hours of whale watching are to be determined by the permits issued by the Mexican Government. Other activities which are available to you are; hikes led by naturalist, birdwatching, sea kayaking in the mangrove estuaries or relaxing in camp. Informal lectures on the preservation and conservation of the flora and fauna of the region.

DAY 6... Morning activity, such as whale watching, hiking or just relaxing. Lunch at camp. Transfer overland back to La Paz. Arrive La Paz by late afternoon and transfer to the Los Arcos Hotel. Dinner on your own.

DAY 7... Group vouchers for taxis to airport for departures.

Group Size: Up to 16 people

Trip fee includes:

• 2 nights hotel
• airport transfers
• all meals beginning with breakfast on Day 2 and ending with lunch on Day 6
• sleeping bag, liner and pillow
• beer, wine and happy hour beverages in camp

Trip fee: $1,350 per person double occupancy

2007 trip dates:
Jan 30-Feb 5
Feb 3-9; 7-13; 11-17; 15-21; 19-25; 23-March 1; 27-March 5
March 3-9

San Ignacio Lagoon Whale Watching Basecamp

Along the west coast of the Baja Peninsula, three lagoons provide the California Gray Whale with protected waters at the end of their annual migration from the Arctic. San Ignacio Lagoon, the most remote of the three, lies midway between Scammons Lagoon to the north and Magdalena Bay to the south. Surrounded by low dunes and bordered by mangrove lined estuaries, San Ignacio is a surreal landscape which provides a dramatic background for Baja's most celebrated and magnificent visitors, the gray whales.

Modeled after a "tented safari", the Whale Watch Basecamp provides large cabin-style canvas tents with vinyl flooring, comfortable cots and foam pads, sleeping bag, complete with liner, pillow and pillow case.

Meals are masterfully prepared in our full service kitchen. Activities to enjoy while at camp are slide shows and natural history lectures, whale watching from outboard powered skiffs, beach walks, bird watching, and exploring the mangrove estuaries by skiff or sea kayak. A library of Natural History guidebooks is also available for your use. We strive to provide a high level of amenities and services using ecologically and technologically appropriate means.

Your crew consists of both American and Mexican guides, skiff divers and cooks. Many times the crew will include guides who work in our other programs like scuba diving, sea kayaking or natural history cruises. Naturalist leaders are drawn from both sides of the border and may include professional naturalists or students with a special emphasis on gray whales and the Baja environs.

San Ignacio Lagoon is part of the Vizcaino Biological Reserve. Like the other whale lagoons it is closely regulated by agencies of the Mexican government to insure that human activities do not adversely affect the whales. Baja Expeditions and its staff have a special commitment to protecting the land and sea environment, Baja's premier natural resource. Our activities are fully permitted and sanctioned by the appropriate agencies of the Mexican government. All participants will be advised of company and government policies designed to protect the environment and will be expected to fully comply.

Itinerary

Our daily itinerary is flexible, allowing us to take advantage of unexpected natural history opportunities. While we make every attempt to follow our general itinerary, the weather is unpredictable and dictates our day's activities. Delays in flights or van transfers may occur in the event of poor weather.

Day 1... Meet in the lobby Hanalei Red Lion Inn, in San Diego (time to be determined). You will transfer by bus to the airport to board our private chartered flight to San Ignacio. Overland shuttle to the basecamp at the Lagoon from the landing strip is 1 to 6 hours contingent on weather. After orientation to camp procedures, there will be time to relax or explore before happy hour and dinner. A presentation on whales and conservation efforts of the region is planned after dinner.

Day 2-4... Days are spent primarily whale watching from skiffs. Other activities, which are available to you, are; desert walks led by naturalist, bird watching, sea kayaking in mangrove estuaries, or relaxing at camp.

Day 5... Breakfast in camp and departure to meet incoming flight at the landing strip. Arrival back in San Diego is planned for early afternoon. Upon arrival you will be transferred back to the hotel. If you are planning your domestic flight home this evening please schedule your departure for after 6:30.

We reserve the right to change the itinerary at any time

Trip fee: $2,095 pp dbl occ

Group size: Up to 24 travelers

Trip fee includes:

• Charter flight from San Diego to San Ignacio Lagoon and return
• sleeping bag, liner and pillow
• all meals beginning with lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 5
• beer, wine and happy hour beverages in camp.

2007 trip dates:
January 19-23; 27-31; 27-31
January 31- February 4
February 4-8
February 8-12
February 12-16
February 16-20; 20-24
February 24-28 SOLD OUT
February 28-March 4
March 4-8; 8-12; 12-16
March 16-20 SOLD OUT
March 20-24
March 24-28
March 28-April 1
April 1-5
April 5-9
April 9-13

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