Espiritu Santo Island

This is the perfect escape for the novice to advanced sea kayaker seeking the pace and feel of a true vacation. This island in Baja is a paddler’s dream, offering unique scenic beauty combined with abundant wildlife viewed from above and below the water’s surface.

Kayaking and camping along the shores of Espiritu Santo Island allows us the opportunity to explore beautiful white sand beaches, canyons adorned with hanging fig trees, shower from a freshwater well, boulder up arroyos, and snorkel among friendly sea lions and tropical fish.

2012 Dates:  October 13-20, 21-28; November 19-25 (7-day), December 22-28 (7-day), December 29-January 4 (7-day)

2013 Dates: January 5-11 (7-day), 19-25 (7-day); March 4-10 (7-day), 11-17 (7-day), 16-23, 23-30; April 1-7 (7-day), 13-20,

Highlights

• Snorkel among friendly sea lions and tropical fish
• Explore beautiful white sand beaches, canyons adorned with hanging fig trees
• Spectacular campsites with big sandy beaches
• This island in Baja is a paddler’s dream

Read more about sea kayaking and snorkeling in Baja

• About Holiday

  

  Find out more about Holiday River Expeditions

• The Food

  

  Learn more about the great food

• The Gear

  

  Gear description

Sample Itinerary

This is the perfect escape for the novice to advanced sea kayaker seeking the pace and feel of a true vacation. This island in Baja is a paddler’s dream, offering unique scenic beauty combined with abundant wildlife viewed from above and below the water’s surface.

Kayaking and camping along the shores of Espiritu Santo Island allow us the opportunity to explore beautiful white sand beaches, canyons adorned with hanging fig trees, shower from a freshwater well, boulder up arroyos, and snorkel among friendly sea lions and tropical fish.

Moving camp every other day, depending upon winds, allows us the opportunity to explore and camp on three of the island’s beautiful turquoise bays and white sand beaches that make up its west coast. Enjoy snorkeling, hiking, fishing or perhaps practicing your paddling skills in one of the many protected bays along the island’s west coast. In an attempt to circumnavigate this spectacular island, weather permitting, our final days paddle will lead us south below the towering cliffs of the island’s east coast. Of course there’s always the option of relaxing on the beach with a good book and soaking up the warm Baja sun.

Motorized support skiffs are used to carry heavy equipment from camp to camp so your kayaks are light and easy to paddle. One skiff will accompany the kayakers for safety or to accommodate tired paddlers with a ride, yet remains out of ear shot so that you’ll forget it’s there while enjoying the serenity of the island. The skiffs also facilitate exploration of distant outlying islands and favorite fishing and snorkeling spots.

ITINERARY

Day 1:  Fly to La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Evening on your own to explore La Paz and dine at one of its many fine restaurants.

Day 2:  Breakfast at hotel. Pick up rental gear and transfer by boat to the island of Espiritu Santo (approximately 2 hours). Lunch upon arrival at camp. During lunch we will give a camp orientation followed by sea kayak instruction and paddling. The sea kayak orientation includes a mandatory wet exit or “dunk test.” So get ready to have some fun as we all take the plunge! It’s a piece of cake! B/L/D

Days 3 – 6:  Kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, fishing and relaxing along the shores of the enchanted island of Espiritu Santo. Guided kayak excursions of 4-10 miles are offered daily along the west coast and to outlying islands. Camps are located in protected bays along the west side of Espiritu Santo Island. Other guided activities from camp include hiking into canyons draped with fig trees, fishing for sea bass or skiff excursions to nearby snorkeling “hot spots” including a sea lion rookery where we join these graceful creatures, swimming alongside them while enjoying their playful and curious nature first hand. B/L/D

Day 7:  After lunch we transfer back to La Paz by motorized boat, check into the hotel where you can enjoy a hot shower and have time to take a walk into downtown La Paz or an afternoon siesta before meeting for the farewell dinner that evening. B/L/D

Day 8:  Transfer from hotel to the La Paz airport (approximately 20 minutes) for departing flights.

B/L/D indicates meals included in trip cost

*Although we do our best to adhere to the above itinerary, it is subject to change for reasons beyond our control including weather.

Trip Details

Trips Include:
All accommodations in Baja including hotel stays based upon double occupancy, all meals and beverages (including cold fruit juices, soda, beer and “happy hour” drinks) at camp and farewell dinner on final night, all transfers between hotels and camps, trip equipment including tents, instruction, naturalists, guides and cooks.

Not Included:
Airfare, airport transfers, gratuities, single supplement for hotel and/or tent, sleeping bags and pads, snorkeling equipment (these items can be rented in La Paz. Please see prices below under Personal Gear and Rentals). Single supplement for hotel and tent accommodations is $95/$115 or $195 for the combination trip. Single tent in camp is $25 or $75 for Mag Bay trips. If you book as a single person, but are willing to share we will try to find you a room mate of the same sex, but if we can not the single supplement fee will apply.

Qualifications:
Our expeditions are designed to be fun, active, adventuresome and educational. If you enjoy the outdoors, have a sense of adventure and are fairly fit you should have no problem participating in any of our expeditions even if you have never kayaked or camped. Some trips spend more hours kayaking while others are more multi-activity oriented. We have a wide variety of trips and therefore suggest you check out each trip description or talk to our office prior to choosing a trip to be sure you choose the right expedition according to your interests and kayak skill level.

Personal Gear and Rentals:
Sleeping bags with pads and snorkeling equipment may be rented in Baja. Costs per trip are: Sleeping bag with pad $20 / Sleeping bag or pad separately $15/ Snorkel gear $15 / mask, snorkel or fins separately $10 / wetsuit $15 / Wetsuits are highly recommended for trips in November through May. The wetsuits we rent are 3mm thick, long-sleeved, short pants with a zipper up the front. If you tend to get cold easily, we recommend you bring a thicker and/or long sleeved wetsuit during the months of Dec, Jan and Feb. Payment for rentals will be collected in Baja prior to your trip departure in cash or traveler checks.  SINCE THE BAJA COAST TRIP STARTS IN LORETO, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU GIVE US YOUR SIZE ON YOUR TRIP APPLICATION FORM. THIS WAY WE CAN OUTFIT YOU CORRECTLY FOR LIFE JACKETS, WET SUITS AND SNORKEL EQUIPMENT WHICH WILL BE BROUGHT UP FROM LA PAZ. For all other trips originating in La Paz, we will size you when you arrive in our office. Dry bags are not necessary on skiff supported trips, as your bags will be transported by skiff from camp to camp, not in the kayaks. We do suggest bringing a small dry bag to keep personal items such as a camera or dry clothes from getting wet when kayaking or riding in the skiffs. Snorkeling is available only on sea of cortez trips, not Magdalena Bay whale watching trips. We no longer provide kayak seat pads and highly recommend you bring your own. If you are vertically challenged (under 5’3″ tall) we recommend you bring a seat pad that adds a couple inches of height while sitting in the kayak seat as our shorter clients have exclaimed how much comfort this adds to their paddling experience. You may also want to bring along a pair of paddling gloves to prevent getting blisters.  If you think you might want to join a night snorkel, to observe the nocturnal creatures of the sea, on fall trips (when the water is warmest), bring along an underwater flashlight with fresh batteries.

Extra Gear Storage:
We have a storage room available at our hotel, the Posada LunaSol/Mar Y Aventuras office in La Paz, for safe keeping of any personal gear you do not want to bring on a trip. If you are on a trip between La Paz and Loreto, any extra gear can be transferred from La Paz to Loreto or from Loreto to La Paz by our staff.

Kayak Equipment:
Our fleet of kayaks on each trip is comprised of approximately 2/3 double kayaks and 1/3 single kayaks. Most are made by SEDA products of fiber glass construction and ALL are equipped with rudders. We do have a few rotomolded or plastic boats in our fleet for variety in seat construction as some of our guests find the plastic boat seats more comfortable. Based upon your experience, size and group composition your guide will help determine what kayak you will paddle, double or single, fiberglass or plastic. As well we encourage the group to rotate kayak seats so everyone has a chance to paddle to their desire. If you are particularly tall (over 6’2″) or large (over 200 pounds) please let us know well in advance as we may have to arrange a special kayak to be brought to camp. We offer exclusive use of a single kayak on most trips for a fee of $50, although, you must be fit and experienced in kayaking and screened by our office. This option is NOT available on the Islands or Magdalena Bay portion of the Combination trip (single kayaks are available for the Kayaking Espiritu Santo Island portion). Light weight Swift and Nimbus paddles, PFD’s (Personal flotation device otherwise known as a lifejacket), nylon spray skirts, paddle floats and bilge pumps are all provided on our expeditions.

About the Area

Fishing:                    
We offer fishing as a side activity on our Sea of Cortez trips only, not on our Magdalena Bay whale watching trips. If you want to fish, please come prepared with your own lures. Small minnow-type lures are suggested such as a Rebel jointed Fastrac or mid size Rapala Magnums (4.5 to 5 inches or 9-12cm in length). Suggested colors include: blue/silver, black/silver, black/gold, green mackerel/gold or blue mackerel/silver. We supply the rod and reel. Fishing is done by trolling behind a motorized skiff (two rods at a time) from one to two hours before breakfast on certain mornings or from your kayak.

IMPORTANT!
FISHING PERMIT INFORMATION

Fishing permits are required for anyone who plans to fish during our kayak trips. This includes fishing from either our motorized skiff or your kayak.

Permits cost $15/day or $30/week.

To get a permit, you must fax a copy of your photo ID to our La Paz office at least one week in advance of your arrival. Our staff will pick up your permit and when you arrive in La Paz you must reimburse our office for the cost of the permit.
Please be sure to indicate whether you want a one day or one week permit.
The fax number for Mar Y Aventuras when dialing from the US or Canada is: 011-52-612-123-0559

Gratuity Guideline:
Many people ask, “should I tip the guides and how much?” Tipping is voluntary and any amount you leave is greatly appreciated! If you would like to leave your guides a generous tip showing appreciation for an excellent job, 10% of the trip cost is standard in the adventure travel industry. Gratuities are pooled and distributed among your trip guides and staff evenly. If you do choose to leave a tip please leave cash only. No traveler’s checks, personal checks or credit cards can be accepted.

Loreto / La Paz Money Situation:
Loreto is a small town (10,000 population) where very few businesses accept credit cards or traveler checks and only one ATM machine is available that is not always operating. La Paz is a large cosmopolitan city (200,000 population) and has many ATM machines. Often you have the choice of receiving money in US dollars or pesos. Keep in mind that accessing these machines can be a hassle and they do not always work. Some businesses accept credit cards and travelers checks but you’ll be surprised how many do NOT even in La Paz. US dollars are accepted at most establishments so it is not necessary to change your dollars into pesos before you arrive. We recommend bringing plenty of cash and in small bills such as 1′s, 5′s, 10′s and 20′s to use for rentals, restaurants, tipping and other incidentals.  

Camping facilities:

Sea of Cortez trips:  We camp on gravel and sand beaches along the coast and islands of Baja. On skiff supported trips a large dome tent is set up by our staff and used for cooking. A shade tarp is also set up for taking breaks from the noon day sun. Chairs are provided but not dining tables. Quality 4 person tents are provided for double occupancy but it is not necessary to sleep in a tent and many folks choose to sleep out under the starry night sky.

Weather:
Spring and fall are the most ideal times for enjoying the Sea of Cortez. The strong northerly winds blow longest and strongest from late Nov through early March so spring and fall are characterized by calmer, warmer days.
Fall trips (Oct & Nov) offer warm (80-85 degrees F), clear (visibility up to 80 feet) waters for great snorkeling with daytime highs in the 80′s and 90′s and little chance of rain or strong wind. An added attraction on fall trips is the opportunity to observe the Baja desert in bloom which follows the rainy season of August and September.
Winter trips (Dec, Jan & Feb) tend to be cooler with more chance of wind and some chance of rain, water temperatures are in the mid 60′s and daytime highs from the 60′s to 80′s. The weather in Magdalena Bay on the Pacific coast during whale watching season in mid winter does tend to be windy and chilly. Daytime highs may be in the 70′s but with the wind may feel more like the 50′s.
Spring trips (Mar, Apr & May) offer 68-75 degrees F waters with warm calm days being common, air temps are in the mid 80′s to 90.
Summer in Baja (June-September) is hot and humid with chance of hurricanes.

Insects:
Due to the dry desert nature of Baja and most of the beaches we camp on, it does not tend to be buggy. Although, certain years can provide sufficient precipitation to support mosquitoes, gnats and no-see-ums. It is a good idea to bring some form of insect repellent along just in case, especially on fall trips (October, November) which follow the rainy season.

Delays:
Sea & Adventures and Mar Y Aventuras are not responsible for any costs incurred due to delays that may occur due to transportation (airline), weather, road conditions, government intervention, sickness or other contingencies for which we are unable to control.

A Special Request:
If you have any old clothes or shoes you’d like to donate, please bring them along and we’ll distribute them to the fishing villages we visit. Warm type clothes like rain jackets and fleece are especially appreciated by the fisherman as well as T-shirts, pants, and shoes (sneakers, Tevas or hiking boots, all sizes). Kids’ clothes and shoes are also needed. Muchas Gracias!

Getting Here

Airlines:
The airlines that fly to both Loreto (LTO) and La Paz (LAP) are Aero Mexico (800-237-6639) and Alaska (800- 252-7522).  For trips originating and departing from La Paz, there is the option to fly into San Jose del Cabo, also called Los Cabos (SJD) and take a three hour bus ride to La Paz. Some of the airlines that fly to Los Cabos (SJD) are Alaska, American, Continental, American West and US Airways. Expedia.com is a good web site to find the best deals from your area. If you need more suggestions, feel free to ask our US booking office or contact a travel agent.

Bus Service between Cabo and La Paz:
If you plan to take the bus from Cabo to La Paz, please keep in mind that they can be unreliable especially if you arrive into Cabo in the evening with only a couple of buses leaving that evening.  If taking the bus to La Paz, please allow plenty of time and flexibility.  To alleviate any stress of buses possibly being cancelled and/or full (especially around holiday times) you can hire private transport (keep in mind this is considerably more expensive).  If you are interested in sharing a private transport service to take you to La Paz and wish to share it with other passengers arriving at the same time, please inquire with our US booking office.  Here is a transport service we recommend http://www.bajaonly.com/

Holiday River Expedition's Travel Agents - Mateja Harrington & Cindy Swenson with Cruise and Travel Masters are happy to assist you with your travel plans. Contact Mateja or Cindy to take the work out of "Getting Here".

Toll Free - 800-264-0557 (You must ask for Mateja Harrington or Cindy Swenson)
Email Attention Mateja or Cindy: askus@cruiseandtravelmasters.comivider-short">

• America West Airlines 800-235-9292
• American Airlines 800-433-7300
• Continental Airlines 800-525-0280
• Delta Air Lines 800-221-1212
• Frontier Airlines 800-432-1359
• JetBlue Airways 800-538-2583
• Northwest Airlines 800-225-2525
• SkyWest Airlines 800-453-9417
• Southwest Airlines 800-435-9792
• United Airlines 800-241-6522
• United Express 800-241-6522
• US Airways 800-435-9792

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FROM SALT LAKE CITY to Green River, Vernal or Blanding, Utah
Rental Cars

Once in Salt Lake City most of our guests rent-a-car and drive to our meeting points.
All rental cars are located in both terminals of the Salt Lake City Airport.

• Alamo Rental Car 801-575-2211
• Budget Rental Car 801-575-2821
• Dollar Rent a Car 801-575-2580
• Thrifty Rental Car 801-265-6677

Salt Lake City to Green River 180 miles
Salt Lake City to Blanding 300 miles
Salt Lake City to Vernal 180 miles

Shuttle Service to Green River or Blanding, Utah from Salt Lake City (Vernal is on a Charter basis only)

• Moab Luxury Coach 435-940-4212

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FROM DENVER to Green River, Vernal or Blanding, Utah
Air Service to Vernal (VEL), Utah from Denver, Colorado

• Great Lakes Aviation 800-554-5111
• Alamo Rental Car in Vernal 888-426-3299

Air Service to Moab (CNY) (52 miles south of Green River), Utah from Denver, Colorado

• Great Lakes Aviation 800-554-5111
• Thrifty Car Rental in Moab 800-373-0277

Gear & Clothing Checklist

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT LIST

Winter weather in Baja is usually sunny and warm. Temperatures range from 60-90^oF during the day and from 45-70⁰F in the evenings. From late November through early March strong winds are common and there is some chance of rain. October, April and May are hotter with possible day time temperatures reaching 90^oF and rain is rare.

The following list includes clothing for December through early March, the coolest time in Baja. It can be chilly so don't forget your heavy fleece jacket and hat. For trips in Oct, April and May pack for hotter daytime temperatures and warmer nights (lightweight fleece jacket or sweatshirt and forget the hat).

Water temperatures range from in the 80's in October and early November to the 60's in December through March and in the 70's in April and May. We highly recommend at least a shorty type wet suit from late November through May for snorkeling on all Sea of Cortez trips. There is no snorkeling in Magdalena Bay.

CLOTHING

• Sunhat with strap                                                          
• Warm hat for evenings*
• T-shirts
• Shorts (quick dry are best)
• Long sleeve shirt
• Fleece jacket &/or sweatshirt
• Waterproof windbreaker
• Swimsuit
• Light weight long pants
• Rain pants*
• Socks
• Sneakers or lightweight boots
• Aqua socks or Teva type sandals
• Light weight long underwear*
• Casual town clothes

MISCELLANEOUS

• Sunglasses with strap
• Small day or fanny pack
• Water bottle
• Beach towel
• Toiletries
• Flashlight
• Sunscreen
• Lip balm with sunscreen
• Small towel &/or washcloth
• Zip lock bags for personal garbage in tents
• Earplugs in case of snoring neighbors or wind flapping tents.
• Biodegradable Soap/Shampoo for salt water (Campsuds, Joy or Dawn work great). 

EQUIPMENT

Snorkel gear** (mask, snorkel & fins) for Sea of Cortez trips only.  Wet suit** (for snorkeling late Nov-May trips NOT for paddling) Most wetsuits are 3mm long sleeved, short pants with a front zipper.  Sleeping bag and pad**

** Available for rent in Baja

We suggest bringing a kayak seat pad and small dry bag to keep personal items such as a camera and dry clothes from getting wet when kayaking and riding in the skiffs. We also recommend paddling gloves, especially on the longer kayaking trips.  For fall trips when the water is the warmest, if you think you might want to join a night snorkel to observe the nocturnal creatures of the sea, bring an underwater flashlight with fresh batteries.

*For December through mid-March trips only - Synthetic fabrics (i.e. polar fleece & capilene) not cotton are best for keeping warm in wet environments.

Optional items: Although we provide plenty of food and some snacks, if you have a high metabolism you may want to bring along a few of your own favorite snacks, camera with plenty of memory and batteries, binoculars, paddling gloves, pocket knife, insect repellent, pillow & a good book!