Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Loreto by air.  At the Loreto airport, you'll be greeted by our ground service and transported to our hotel in Loreto.  Check into pre-assigned rooms (included in trip cost).  You're on your own for sightseeing or shopping until eve pre-trip meeting (6 or 8 pm) in the hotel lobby, where we'll answer questions and let you know the meeting time for the next day.  Dinner is on your own.

Day 2: Loreto Bay National Marine Park. In the morning we'll meet after breakfast then you'll board our van and ride to the launch site. We'll teach you the basics of paddling and thoroughly review safety setting out procedures before launching kayaks. Paddle to our first night's campsite on Isla Danzante.

Day 3: Isla Danzante, Loreto Bay National Marine Park. Our day begins with a spectacular sunrise as guides serve fresh-brewed coffee. We'll spend the day exploring the waters surrounding Isla Danzante by kayak, allowing plenty of time to snorkel, hike, swim or relax with a good book. Evenings find us feasting on delicious fresh food and enjoying margaritas as the sun sets over the Sea of Cortez.

Day 4: Return to Loreto. After breakfast, we break camp and paddle to our favorite snorkel spot to savor the last moments of this incredible getaway.  We return to Loreto after lunch and check into the hotel.

Day 5: Loreto to Magdalena Bay Turtle Monitoring. After breakfast, travel across the peninsula to the fishing village of Puerto San Carlos on Magdalena Bay, and make a brief stop by the Magdalena Baykeeper office, the local conservation group working to protect the area’s green turtles, for an orientation to the research they are conducting.  Head out by panga to Conchalito, a tiny shell island that will serve as your campsite, as well as the sea turtle monitoring base for the next 3 days. Enjoy lunch as you are introduced to your guides and afterwards, settle into camp. In the afternoon, you will receive an orientation to hands-on sea turtle monitoring with Grupo Tortuguero.

Put your marine biologist hat on, because now is your chance to accompany the team on the water to capture and collect data on foraging sea turtles before releasing them back into the wild. The monitoring teams will work through the night, with rotations, checking the nets every two hours, but you can participate as much as you like; they can always use a helping hand, or enjoy a complete night's rest. The time is yours.

Day 6:  Isla Conchalito, Magdalena Bay. Monitoring continues with checking the nets. Enjoy an early coffee and take in the birds, marine mammals and other natural wonders that surround your island. Or, sleep in until breakfast and then grab your clipboard and head down to the beach to measure and weigh the captured sea turtles. This data provides vital information to sea turtle biologists who study the health and growth rates of these creatures, as well as their movement throughout the region. After lunch, we leave on the boats for a trip to the sand dunes of Santa Maria Bay to explore by foot its deserted beaches and dunes before returning to camp as the sun sets.

Day 7:  Magdalena Bay to Loreto. Enjoy an early breakfast before heading out in the pangas to visit with local fishermen to see what they are catching and learn about local/traditional fishing techniques. Continue on and navigate through narrow mangrove canals to arrive back at Puerto San Carlos. Meet your taxi driver at the Baykeeper office before heading back to Loreto for a free afternoon shopping or exploring the town.  Overnight at hotel in Loreto.

Day 8:  Departure Day. Return home with wonderful memories of kayaking in the Sea of Cortez and of helping save endangered sea turtles.

More information from Great Bear Nature Tours:

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