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Isla Carmen Circumnavigation

Kayaking in Mexico with Sea Kayaking Adventures, Inc.

Highlights

  • Sea Kayak Adventures is the only company to offer this classic 10-day paddle
  • A guides' favorite it is suitable for those with some prior experience but not mandatory
  • Best chance of paddling with blue or fin whales; we have even paddled with a whale shark, since the back side of Carmen is 5 miles out to sea

Full Description

Experience a remote area few people see. Encompassing 60 miles of coastline within the Loreto Bay National Marine Park, circumnavigating Isla Carmen in a sea kayak is one of Baja's best adventures. The Sierra Giganta Range plunges into the Sea of Cortez, creating a stunningly beautiful backdrop during your Baja kayaking trip.

Cliffs of red-hued basalt rising sharply out of the sea and the bold outlines of towering cacti provide the backdrop for paddling sea kayaks 60 miles on this little known, classic 10-day circumnavigation of Baja California's Isla Carmen, the largest island in Loreto Bay National Marine Park in the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California).

Although tour groups visit the southern tip of Carmen, the rest of the island remains mostly wild and untouched," says Sea Kayak Adventures president Terry Prichard.  "Plus, the marine life blows people away - over 280 species of reef fishes, as well as scores of dolphins, sea lions, and five of the big whale species ply the surrounding waters.  We are the only company to offer this tour."  You can be among the few to paddle along Carmen's rocky cliffs through crystal-clear water, coves with sandy beaches, reefs, and sea caves (including Cueva Blanca, where kayakers can explore the cave's deepest recesses).

The islands of Baja's Sea of Cortez have been called "Mexico's Galapagos" with their volcanic ash layers, fabulous rock formations, crystal waters, and teeming wildlife.  The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers the perfect blend of kayaking, hiking and snorkeling.

Here you'll snorkel with brilliant king angelfish and lobster, watch plunge-diving blue-footed booties, and search for 60-foot whale sharks - the world's largest fish.  Pause midway at Salinas Bay to visit an abandoned 19th century salt mine and coral chapel. Afterwards, swim with dolphins in the bay's 72-degree water.  You will paddle about four hours per day, broken up by lunch and rest stops, during your Baja sea kayak tour.

A two-day paddle rounding the island's remote north shore leads to Balandra Bay, where you can hike an arroyo into the island's desert interior past saguaro-like cardon cactus and wild figs in the company of desert iguanas and big-horned sheep.  From your tented camps in sheltered coves, watch vermillion skies as they illuminate the banded layers of the Sierra de la Giganta range, the plume of a whale lingering in the still air, and leaping manta rays flopping back into the glassy water as guides dish out margaritas and tasty chili rellenos.

The expedition begins with your arrival in Loreto and, after an adventurous ten days of paddling, you'll arrive at the take-out site near Puerto Escondido.

Includes:

  • 2 nights' hotel
  • 10 days paddling
  • 9 nights camping
  • Airport transfer in Loreto upon arrival and taxes
  • 3 guides
  • All kayak gear and instruction
  • All meals while kayaking
  • All camping gear including sleeping bags, pads and tents,
  • Library
  • Tables and chairs
  • Shade tarps

Excludes:

  • Airfare to Loreto
  • $25 national park fee
  • Tips for guides
  • Transfer back to airport
  • Personal items
  • $20 snorkel gear rental

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Fly to Loreto from Los Angeles. You'll be met by our ground service and transported to our hotel in Loreto. Group orientation meeting with trip leader at 6 PM. Dinner on your own in town.

Day 2

After breakfast the group meets outside the hotel to board the van for the drive south to our launch point near Puerto Escondido. At the beach the guides will give a comprehensive sea kayak instruction and then we'll paddle the loaded kayaks to our first campsite.

Days 3-10

Each day's paddle is 7-8 miles; or 3 to 4 hours of moderately paced paddling, stopping every 2 hours to rest. We'll spend the afternoons exploring by foot and snorkel. Activities include a nature hike up an arroyo, as well as opportunities for beach combing, wildlife viewing, photography, stargazing, and swimming in crystal clear waters.

Day 11

After a final lunch, we break camp and paddle to our take-out site around 2 PM. Load van and proceed to Loreto. Check into hotel. No host farewell group dinner at a favorite local restaurant.

Day 12

You are on your own for transportation to the airport for your flight homeward. You can use C&C English-speaking, air conditioned van transport for $8 each, or taxis (Spanish-speaking) are easily found, approximately $5-6/person; BUT depart for the airport no later than 2 hours before flight.

About The Operator:

Sea Kayaking Adventures, Inc.

Headquarters:

Coeur d'Alene, ID

Since the beginning, Sea Kayak Adventures has created simply outstanding sea kayaking trips and incredible wildlife encounters for outdoor-minded travelers by offering not only fun and excitement, but also inspiring adventures designed to rejuvenate your body and spirit. We're all about getting away from everything, learning new things, observing wildlife, meeting great people and introducing you to a new way of travel. So that you can experience the dream vacation you deserve, we emphasize unparalleled customer service, superb sea kayaking and whale watching destinations, and unbeatable support and camaraderie from each of our SKA guides. We serve gourmet meals and provide all the equipment needed.

Sea Kayak Adventures is actually three companies- we are fully licensed and permitted by the Mexican and Canadian governments to operate in their waters, including national parks in Mexico and provincial parks in BC Canada. We maintain offices in these countries, pay all the required fees and taxes and we are committed to the hiring, training and development of local personnel. Our office in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA handles your reservations and takes care of you before and after your trip.

In 1993 Terry Prichard and Nancy Mertz Prichard, after working as sea kayak guides for many years in Baja and the Pacific Northwest, created Sea Kayak Adventures. We wanted to share our love of nature and exciting work with others in our own way. Meeting great people, kayaking close to whales, sleeping under the stars. Being intimate with nature. It's an incredible experience.

We operate at all times with environmental ethics in mind. We hire local highly trained guides exclusively in Canada and 90% local in Mexico (some of our Canadian guides lead our tours in Mexico) well on track to our goal of grooming fully certified marine biologist guides and Mexican trip leaders for all tours in Mexico. We put as much money as we can into the local economy of our destinations. We were the first company to design and implement porta potties for double kayaks, which is now standard in the industry in Loreto, Baja and first to go carbon neutral. We run mostly self-supported tours (ie no motorboat support) thus rely on the greater carrying capacity of double kayaks. Some of our Baja tours are motorboat-supported - i.e. a motorboat goes along, usually going ahead to camp each day with the camp gear, which can carry more amenities than a self-supported trip, so you do have your choice there. We have 1-2 single kayaks on each trip for guests to rotate into (we do not guarantee exclusive use of single kayaks). Our guides are eager to help you learn and develop your paddling skills.