It's whale shark season, and January is the height of it! We'll be meeting in the city of La Paz, in the south-eastern coast of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico, for a week of exploring the area, starting with these huge creatures. Whale sharks are usually about 39 ft. long, but fully grown can reach an incredible 65 ft., and weigh up to 20 tons ~ the largest fish on the planet! Our little group will be guided by my friend, Jay, a marine biologist, and expert on whale sharks. We will be supporting his research and learning a great deal more than if we just went with any of the guides on the street. I believe that sustainable wildlife tourism raises awareness about threatened species, and here is an opportunity for us to experience something most never do, and at the same time, contribute to it's well being.
Whale sharks are listed as endangered and their populatons are currently decreasing. They face a range of threats, including vessel strikes, bycatch, fisheries, finning, tourism, and climate change. The city of La Paz (our home base) is on a protected bay which is an important seasonal shelter and feeding area for a population of juvenile whale sharks. Some adult whale sharks return annually to the area, however each year is considerably variable. It is believed that some individuals reside here year-round, taking full advantage of the protection from predators and enjoying the plankton-rich water. The population feeds close to the city of La Paz in the shallows along the mogote, a large sand spit that forms a natural harbour protecting the inner-most part of the bay, just minutes from the city by boat. Whale sharks are filter feeders and pose no danger to humans; we will be snorkeling with them as they swim along the surface of the Bay.
From our whale shark interaction, we'll head to the spectacular island of Espiritu Santo for a picnic lunch. The island is uninhabited, but was targeted for a huge casino development in the 1990's. The iconic Tim Means, who founded the first eco-tourism company in the area in 1974, organized a group to block the sale and purchased the island, then donating it to the government so that it will never be built on.
There is another island next to it called Partido, where we will snorkel around the rocks with friendly sea lions! |
On our way back to La Paz, we will drive through the eastern side of the Sierra de las Lagunas mountains, stopping for breakfast in the historic mining town of Santiago. My old friend, Edgar, knows these mountains like the back of his hand, and he'll take us on an easy hike to some hidden swimming holes surrounded by huge granite boulders. He also has many rancher friends deep in these mountains, and we will have lunch at one their rustic homes, and learn to make tortillas!
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Our whole week, we will be immersed in the beauty of nature in this fabulous area around the city. The next day, we will take our van just an hour from town to the fishing village of La Ventana. We will be "glamping" for a night in large tents with comfy beds, and real bathrooms, and have a great little restaurant on site. This is the middle of wind-surfing season and people come from all over the world to take advantage of this bay. We will see some of them from the private beach in front of our camp.
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After lunch, about one hour before we reach La Paz, we'll stop at the best preserved mining town in North America, El Triunfo. The village was informally adopted by Christine Walton (head of Walmart, who lives in La Paz), and there are now two spectacular museums we will visit: Ruta de Plata ~ an interactive history of the people and town, and the brand new Cowboy Museum. The first cowboys in the Californias came from Baja in the early 1700's and this museum is a wonderful depiction of their lives. Some of their descendants still live in the mountains north of Loreto and are protectors of the 11,000 year old cave paintings there, but that's another story...
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We will be exploring more of what Jacques Cousteau called the "world's aquarium"as we drive south from La Ventana to the Cabo Pulmo Marine Park, next to a small village, for one night. The Park was established 30 years ago and has become a model for governance for Marine protected areas ~ the reef is one of the few in the world that is thriving. We will take a panga (small boat) to three or four sites along the huge reef to snorkel among coral, lots of tropical fish, sea turtles, and maybe more (whales, huge manta rays, dolphins...).
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Our last day, we'll drive just 40 minutes east of La Paz to Tecolote Beach for a day of intense relaxation, fresh seafood, and fresh air. If you like, there is a ranch nearby where you can rent horses. The Sea of Cortez is my favorite body of water, and it is so salty that it is extremely easy to float. That is my favorite activity here! And, just staring at the peaceful turquoise blue. But, you can also swim, paddle board, work on your tan, or take a siesta.
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This adventure is limited to 10 guests only.
Price: $1995 USD per person, double occupancy.
Includes: all lodging, ground transport, some meals, professional guides, all entrance fees (museums), tolls, and tours (whale sharks, Espiritu Santo, snorkeling at the Marine Park, all equipment, hike in the Biosphere. Not included: airfare, tips, horse or paddle board rental, most meals.
This is not a physically demanding trip, but it does require getting in and our of our van, unassisted, the ability to swim at an intermediate level, to be comfortable snorkeling, and to have recently experienced easy to moderate hiking, including some boulder hopping, on unmaintained mountain trails.
To reserve your space with a non-refundable $750 USD deposit, click on the green button below, which will take you to a secure site.
Price: $1995 USD per person, double occupancy.
Includes: all lodging, ground transport, some meals, professional guides, all entrance fees (museums), tolls, and tours (whale sharks, Espiritu Santo, snorkeling at the Marine Park, all equipment, hike in the Biosphere. Not included: airfare, tips, horse or paddle board rental, most meals.
This is not a physically demanding trip, but it does require getting in and our of our van, unassisted, the ability to swim at an intermediate level, to be comfortable snorkeling, and to have recently experienced easy to moderate hiking, including some boulder hopping, on unmaintained mountain trails.
To reserve your space with a non-refundable $750 USD deposit, click on the green button below, which will take you to a secure site.