Desert and Sea Photography

6 Days
Intermediate
$2199

Join us for March 2026 Fullmoon!

Great images are equally about what’s behind the camera as what’s in front. Place the camera in one of the world’s stunning landscapes known for its charismatic wildlife and unique plants, focus on a bucket-list lifetime trip, and you’ve got a story to tell.

Join photography coach Neil Schulman in exploring the Loreto National Marine Park by kayak and imagination. Whether you’re a dedicated photographer or a tourist with a camera, enjoy the camaraderie of discussing pictures and the art of seeing. Develop your eye for capturing adventure, wildlife, scenery, and life’s best moments.

Desert and Sea Photography includes all the things you love about the Sea Kayak Baja Mexico’s regular trips–enjoying being on the islands and coastal beaches with kayaks and friends and time to explore, savoring delicious meals with an unbeatable view, refining paddling skills, andspending time with family and friends. Learn about the cycles of nature between the world’s youngest ocean and its second-longest peninsula.

Desert and Sea Photography is a Explore-level trip that takes place in the Loreto National Marine Park on Danzante and Carmen Islands. These island is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage listing of the Islands of the Gulf, which calls this listing the richest and most varied of any island-sea property on the World Heritage list. The coast is mountainous and photogenic!

It’s an amazing place to photograph, to paddle, and to just be!

Skill Level

Basic kayaking experience is required . This includes a calm capsize, wet exit (flip over and get out), and assisted deep water re-entry. We can recommend an instructor near you if you’d like to use this trip as a goal and start your kayak training now. We also invite you to arrive a day early and take a Safety Review class with us the day before your trip if you’ve done some paddling but haven’t practiced safety skills recently. This class will cover your prerequisites and build confidence.

Average paddling conditions
  • Average Daily Distance: 4-8nm (2-4 hours of paddling)
  • Max Daily Distance: 12nm
  • Wind: calm to 212kts; force 3; beginning whitecaps
  • Seas: up to 2′
  • Crossings: up to 4nm
  • Surf landings: up to 1′
  • Rescue skills: comfortable wet exit (fall over & get out); assisted deep water re-entry
  • British Canoeing standard: Paddle Discover, Paddle Explore, Sea Kayak Award
  • American Canoe Association standard: Level 1-3

Please reach out with your questions. We’re happy to help you prepare!

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. Set out the gear (snap a photo of the mountain of stuff that can’t possibly fit into the kayaks) and dive into the team sport of kayak packing. Miraculously, it fits! Short paddle to camping beach. Tasty lunch and afternoon exploration and/or photography workshop. Finish your first day on the island with a delicious dinner you wouldn’t believe could be cooked on a beach! 4-6 nautical miles.

Day 2. Wake up on a beach. Life is good! Morning sunrise photo session. Paddle with stops at interesting beaches on Carmen Island. Look for shells embedded in the limestone cliffs. Discover the abundance of underwater life by snorkeling the rocky reefs. Approx. 6nm.

Day 3. Leave camp set up and explore more of Carmen’s coastline. Sea caves, volcanic cliffs. Underwater, too, discover the abundance of underwater life by snorkeling the rocky reefs. Ten percent of the fish species found here live nowhere else on earth! 2-10nm.

Day 4. Sip fresh-brewed hot coffee as the aroma of hot-cooked breakfast wakes up your appetite. Layover for custom coaching, discussing and reviewing photos, paddling empty boats, hiking, snorkeling, or just lying on the sand and soaking in the moment. Start learning that roll from one of our talented guide/coaches!

Day 5. Optional sunrise paddle. Cross to Danzante Island for more spectacular snorkeling and an appreciation of colorful geology. Dive deep into the night sky for a spectacular show of stars, planets, and the moon in her various phases. So many great stories to capture in pixels.

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 and images on the way to the take-out. Return to hotels/campground for that well-deserved shower. 6nm.

Day After. Relax in Loreto. Or fly home with great memories. Keep in touch with Neil and your traveling companions to share photos and comments about them.

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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