Intro to Kayak Expeditioning

6 Days
Beginner
$2199

Imagine if water were not an obstacle but a magic carpet that could carry you to enchanted places. With a sea kayak, it is!

When you leave the shore, you enter a new realm with surprising new perspectives. You gain the potential to bring the horizon to you, then discover new ones. Like anything worthwhile, navigating the new realm has a learning curve. Safety. Start here. Efficiency. Go further with less effort and let your dreams expand. Where will your magic carpet take you?

Learn in the context of a camping trip, planning each day, packing the kayaks, and applying skills in the conditions that arise. On the Intro to Sea Kayak Camping trip, get off to a solid start with our fun, capable, certified coaches and learn in a spectacular natural setting.

Skill Level

No experience necessary. Moderate activity

Basic kayaking experience helpful but not required.

Average paddling conditions
  • Average Daily Distance: 1-5nm (1-4 hours of paddling)
  • Max Daily Distance: 8nm
  • Wind: calm to 8kts; force 2; no whitecaps
  • Seas: up to 1′
  • Crossings: up to 3nm
  • Surf landings: none
  • Rescue skills: You will learn comfortable wet exit and assisted re-entry
    As your skills improve, especially on longer Getaways, you may find you want slightly more challenging conditions, in which case there may be opportunities to try them out.

SELF-SUPPORTED CAMPING TRIP IN SEA KAYAKS

All itineraries are subject to weather, Port closures, and other fun factors intrinsic to “Adventure” tourism.

Day 0. Meet in Loreto for a pre-trip briefing and to fit your equipment.

Day 1. Taxi ride from your hotel to the launch. Begin with a 1-hour introduction to paddling. Sit in the kayak and develop comfort with your balance. Hold the paddle and use it to go, turn, and stop. Fall out and get back in. Have a breather, then learn the fundamentals of packing, followed by an inspired practice session. Inspired because you’re about to stuff everything in there and go kayaking! Put your new paddling skills to use for an hour or two. Once on the island, become familiar with camp systems, and learn to put up your tent. Enjoy a well-deserved and delicious camp dinner!

Day 2. Wake up on a beach. Life is good! Leave camp set up and explore the shoreline by kayak after breakfast, adding more paddling skills to your bag of tricks. Increase your steering prowess. Check out the wildlife along the way. Magnificent frigate birds, dolphins, pelicans. Stop at a beach for lunch and relax for a moment in the beauty of the National Park. Return to camp for dinner, reflection on the day, and a look at maps and forecast to plan the next days. Savor the amazing view of the stars before you drift off to sleep.

Day 3. Pack up and cross to Isla del Carmen. Practice strategies for traveling as a pod on the water, like dolphins, independent while together. Arrive at camp by lunch, and take the afternoon to develop balance skills, bracing with the paddle, and ways to assist each other on the water. Another delicious dinner!

Day 4. Optional sunrise paddle. Leave camp set up to practice and explore in lightweight kayaks. Steering with momentum. Ready to start your roll? Take the afternoon sun as an invitation to snorkel and see the explosion of color and life just under the surface. After dinner and a reflection on the day, dive deep into the night sky for a spectacular show of stars, planets, and the moon in one of her various phases.

Day 5. Sip fresh-brewed hot coffee as the aroma of hot-cooked breakfast wakes up your appetite. After breakfast, cross back to Danzante Island for more spectacular snorkeling and an appreciation of colorful geology. Play some paddling games to help consolidate the learning you’re accumulating.

Day 6. Let the sun wake you up with a smile. Recognize the magic of a new day and raise a fresh-brewed toast to whatever it has in store! Pack up and enjoy a final few miles of paddling to the take-out. Return to hotels/campground for that well-deserved shower

Day After. Relax in Loreto. Or head home with warm Baja memories, a great bag of skills, and inspiration for your next trip.

 

Travel to Mexico

You need a valid passport for international travel.

You do not need to obtain a travel visa in advance of your vacation in Mexico. During your flight you will fill out an immigration form and a customs form which you will present to the immigration and customs authorities, respectively. Your The cost of your tourist visa is included in your flight. If you are driving into Mexico, stop at the border to purchase a tourist visa for approx. $25USD. This is required for driving into the southern state of Baja, where Loreto is located.

Pre-Trip Meeting

The evening before your trip is a pre-trip meeting at our Expedition Base in Loreto. Exact time will be included in your registration follow-up emails, but it’s typically around 5pm, which gives time for you to get in and settled after your flight.

Launch Day Logistics

We’ll pick you up at your hotel with taxi and guide.

Luggage

The luggage that’s not coming on your trip can be left securely with your hotel. The hotels listed on our Lodging page all provide this service free of charge. Check with the proprietors if you’re staying elsewhere. You may also leave your luggage with us for a modest fee.

Weather

Your safety is our top priority, and we comply with the local Port Captain who dictates when we can move about on the water.

Loreto offers a delightful escape from cold or wet northern winters. The peak kayak-camping season falls between October and early May. Temperatures can vary widely between day and night in the desert, and Loreto is no exception. Average highs are 70-80s (mid to high 20sC) and lows in the 50s (teens C).

October and late April are quite warm and settled. December through February have the greatest potential for Baja’s famous Norte winds which can last a few days. November and March are transitional. Summers are hot and humid, which makes them grand for in-water activities but a bit toasty for beach camping.

The evening before your trip is a pre-trip meeting at our Expedition Base in Loreto. Exact time will be included in your registration follow-up emails, but it’s typically around 5pm, which gives time for you to get in and settled after your flight.

Our Expedition Base is located near the center of Loreto, on Nicolas Bravo 2 doors south of the tall concrete auditorium. It is staffed at designated meeting times and during store hours.

Directions

Go to the waterfront, and turn south on the Malecon (the waterfront road/walkway). At the end of the road and walkway, turn inland (right) one block, then turn left. Pass the tall concrete building on the right, and one house. Our name is painted on the outside wall. We will be prepared to meet you at the pre-arranged meeting time, or during store hours.

 
  • National Park permits
  • Single sea kayaks; doubles available for partners
  • PFD (life jacket)
  • Paddle
  • Spray skirt
  • Set of Drybags various sizes
  • Healthy camping meals
  • All kitchenware
  • Purified drinking water
  • Sanitation system, toilet paper & hand sanitizer
  • Library of field guides
  • Transfer to launch and back
Kayaks

Single kayaks with skegs (not foot-operated rudders) are the standard on all our trips. If you would like to paddle a double with your partner, just let us know! We are happy to provide them.

What’s Available for Rent
  • Tent
  • Camping mattress
  • Sleeping bag
  • Helinox camp chair
  • Kokatat PFD-mounted hydration system
  • Paddle jacket
  • 2mm Shorty wetsuit and neoprene jacket
  • Mask, fins, snorkel
What’s Not Included
  • Lodging in Loreto
  • Airport transportation
  • Meals in town
  • Tips for guides

If you’re paddling a single kayak, the hatch openings you’ll be packing into are 10″ and 8″ across. These are performance kayaks, designed for the joy of paddling. Your joy in packing will be proportional to how “minimalist” you can pack.

Food, water, and kitchen equipment will be shared among all paddlers. Please plan on fitting your personal equipment into 1 or 2 hatches (there are 3: front hatch, day hatch, and rear hatch).

Baggage Limits. Just like the airlines.
  • Camping mattress: diameter 6″ length 20″
  • Tent: total diameter 8″ length 20″
  • Sleeping bag: diameter 9″ length 11″
For paddling
  • 2 liters of water in bottle(s) and/or hydration system
  • Sunscreen and lip protection
  • Sunglasses with strap
  • Strap for regular glasses
  • Hat for sun
  • Non-cotton long-sleeve shirt for paddling
  • Quick-dry shorts/pants
  • Water shoes or sandals with heel strap
For Camping
  • Camping gear: tent, mattress, sleeping bag (available for rent)
  • Towel
  • Bathing suit
  • Camp T-shirt (s)
  • Warm camp shirt
  • Windbreaker jacket
  • Long warm pants
  • Socks
  • Underwear
  • Warm hat for evening
  • Beach / light hiking shoes
  • PJs
  • Head lamp
  • Bug repellent
Personal
  • Passport
  • Toothpaste & tooth brush
  • Sunscreen, Reef-safe please!
  • Camera
  • Spare batteries for everything
  • Any clothes you’d like in town
  • A few Ziplock bags of various sizes
  • Medications (2 sets; leave one in hotel luggage)
  • Personal first aid, OTC meds you might want
  • * Print-out of medical history and list of medications
  • * Copy of health insurance card, travel insurance contacts, passport, emergency contacts
  • Ziplock the above * items and keep them with you
  • Sense of adventure!
Optional
  • Comb or brush
  • Binoculars
  • Solar lantern
  • Sarong or wrap
  • Journal, book
  • Shampoo, soap (NOT Dr Bronners soap! It doesn’t work in salt water. Trust us.)
  • Handi-wipes and a ziplock to responsibly manage the used ones
  • Fishin’ stuff & lots o’luck (pre-purchase your fishing license online)
  • Paddling gloves
  • Compact beach chair (available for rent)
  • Lifejacket-mounted hydration system (available for rent)
  • Paddle jacket (available for rent)
  • Wetsuit (2mm shorty & neoprene top (available for rent)
  • Mask, fins, snorkel (available for rent)
  • Your own paddling gear if preferred: Life jacket, paddle, spray skirt (bring skirt to meeting to test fit on our kayaks)

Tips for your guides/coaches/captains are always appreciated! Fifteen percent is typical, but completely at your discretion. Tips may be added to your credit card bill if you’d like (5% fee), or handed in cash to your lead guide at the end of the trip, to divide among the guide and captain team. Mexican pesos are ideal, but unmarked US dollars with no rips or physical damage are also good in any denomination.

Tips for taxis are included in the trip price.

Thank you!

Payment
  • Deposit: half of the trip price will hold your spot
  • Balance: due in full 30 days prior to trip
Cancellation
Before 30 days advance of trip:
  • Full refund minus $250
  • Full credit for other trip within 12 months.
Within 30 days of trip:
  • Full credit for other trip within 12months
  • No refund for any reason
Within 7 days of trip:
  • Half credit for other trip within 12 months
  • No refund for any reason

If we cancel a trip, we will refund the full trip amount.

Low enrollment
  • We will not cancel a trip that has 5 or more people on it.
  • We will guarantee your trip to run with 4 people for a 5% surcharge.
  • We will guarantee your trip to run with 3 people for a 10% surcharge.
  • We will guarantee your trip to run with 2 people for a 25% surcharge.
  • The surcharge will be included with the payment of your balance one month before trip if nobody else has signed up by then.
  • If more people join trip within that month, we’ll refund the surcharge or portion of it that pertains to the final number of paying participants.
  • If feasible, you may switch to a comparable trip.

Please INSURE your trip with Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) insurance.

Ready to book your adventure?

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