Mag Bay Wildlife Journey

10 Days
Intermediate
$3,999

This trip is tremendous in its scope and beauty, but it’s the expertise of our guide Marcos Simental, his deep local knowledge, and passion for sharing it that ultimately inspired us to put together one of the most rewarding trips we’ve ever done.

It’s truly an expedition, traveling by sea and exploring day by day. No other outfitters do this trip.

Magdalena Bay is the meeting place of two significant ocean currents. This vortex creates a massive upwelling of nutrients, which supports astonishing biodiversity. It is among the largest lagoon systems and richest estuarine waters in the world, inviting a tremendous variety of wildlife to the feast. Playful sea lion pups, thousands of migratory birds, nesting seabirds, grey whales, sea turtles…

This is a motor-supported trip. Our route runs with the prevailing wind. Try out a sail! We will have a resupply about halfway through. On resupply day, we will spend an hour or 2 in the motorboat watching gray whales which migrate from Alaskan waters each year to breed and calve in Pacific lagoons such as this one.

Skill Level

Intermediate; frequent paddler. Challenging activity.

Average paddling conditions
  • Average Daily Distance: 8-12nm (3-4 hours of paddling)
  • Max Daily Distance: 15nm
  • Wind: calm to 16kts; force 4; prevalent whitecaps
  • Seas: up to 4′
  • Crossings: up to 7nm
  • Surf landings: up to 3′
  • Safety skills: learning to assist others, becoming an asset to the group
  • British Canoeing standard: Coastal Sea Kayak Award
  • American Canoe Association standard: Level 3Please reach out with your questions. We’re happy to help you prepare!

Sample Itinerary – Mag Bay Wildlife Journey
PANGA-SUPPORTED CAMPING TRIP IN SEA KAYAKS

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. Drive to San Carlos and enjoy a delicious lunch of locally caught seafood. Load the motorboat and the kayaks in the early afternoon. Paddle across the bay and into the beginnings of mysterious mangrove mazes. Camp at La Duna Grande “Big Dune” 6nm.

Day 2. Paddle along a crescent isthmus of scenic sand dunes to Estero Magdalena, a mangrove estuary. Start to appreciate the richness of the life supported by these waters as you pass Bird Island. Add to that as you beachcomb for odd shells during a stretch-break on a sandy beach. 12nm.

Day 3. Layover in the estuary camp. If the Pacific Surf is good, hire a truck from the nearby island village of Magdalena and move the kayaks a mile across the isthmus to play! It’s also a nice walk to the pacific side and back. There are more mangrove mazes to explore nearby, with bountiful bird life.

Day 4. Paddle south to camp at the mouth of the bay looking towards Isla Margarita. Again ride the ebbing tide but with dramatically different scenery. Here we skirt the mountainous flank of Isla Magdalena along a rocky coast. The typical north wind may give us a nice push and perhaps some wind-waves to ride. 10nm.

Day 5. Layover to play again, this time in the current, swell, and rocks of the dynamic mouth of this immense estuary system. Our motorboat will bring a resupply of food and water and take us whale-watching. Hike the hillside for panoramic views across to Isla Margarita.

Day 6. Cross the 3nm-wide mouth at the last of the incoming tide to another dramatic mountain island, Margarita. White ibis, heron, long-billed curlew number among the thousands of migratory birds to hang out in this rich estuary.13nm.

Days 7-8. Continue downwind along Margarita island to the southern end, to camp on an uninhabited barrier island “Creciente” near the southern pass. Enjoy front row seats for the passing grey whales.

Day 9. Layover at Isla Creciente. Visit a magnificent frigate bird nesting area in the mangroves. They are wildly entertaining in their mating antics. Surf kayaks in the breakers on the sand bar if it’s lumpy or explore the rocky southern tip of Margarita island with its playful sea lion pups if it’s calm.

Day 10. Paddle with the incoming tide to Puerto Chale. Transfer to a taxi for a 4 hour ride back to Loreto. Lunch in Constitution on the way. Meet for farewell dinner in Loreto. 8nm.

Day After. Relax in Loreto. Or fly out with great Baja memories to share!

 

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. It’s a 3 hour ride to the launch in San Carlos, on Baja’s Pacific side, and approx a 4 hour return ride to Loreto.

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.

The weather varies considerably between Loreto on the Gulf of California and Bahia Magdalena, on the Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula, where this trip goes. Water temperatures are significantly cooler. Dew and morning fog are common.

 

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.

  • Protected area 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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