Baja Sea Kayaking & Whale Watching

Our fleet of sea kayaks are primarily doubles (tandems). One or two single kayaks may be brought along to be used on a shared basis. The kayaks are made by Seda and by Seaward and are of fiberglass construction with rudders. Based upon your experience, size, and group composition, your guide will help determine what kayak you will paddle. We encourage the group to rotate kayak seats so everyone has a chance to paddle to their desire.

A lightweight Swift or Nimbus paddle, PFD (personal flotation device), and a nylon spray skirt are provided to each paddler, while each guide also carries a paddle float and bilge pump. If you’re of short stature (under 5’5″ tall), you may want to bring a seat pad that adds a couple inches of height while sitting in the kayak seat, as this may improve your paddling experience. If you are over 6’2″and/or over 200 pounds, please let us know in advance and we will arrange a kayak with a large cockpit.

We offer exclusive use of a single kayak on most trips for a fee of $50 per kayak. You must be fit and experienced in kayaking and screened in advance by our office. Inquire with your OARS Adventure Consultant to learn more.

Hotel Accommodations

We include lodging the first, middle, and last nights of your trip in La Paz at Posada LunaSol – a charming hotel with a fountain pool, breakfast cafe, and rooftop terrace with views of La Paz Bay. Located in a safe neighborhood, Posada LunaSol is within convenient walking distance to the malecon (seaside walk) where restaurants, shops, and bars abound.

La Paz is a bustling town and true to Mexico’s spirited lifestyle, sounds of the surrounding residences and streets may be heard at night.

Camp Life

While at Magdalena Bay, a barrier island on the Pacific coast of the Baja Peninsula, we camp on the leeward side. Nestled in sand dunes, our camp faces the bay and often provides a great view of whales and dolphins as they swim by. A small mangrove estuary is a short paddle from camp and provides a peaceful kayaking experience while you observe its abundant bird life. The Pacific Ocean is a 20-minute walk across the majestic windswept sand dunes and provides the lovely sound of waves caressing the beach 24 hours a day. The kitchen and dining area consists of large MASH-style wall tents that offer protection from the sun and the wind. The tents are furnished with tables and chairs for eating or relaxing and feature solar-powered lighting in the evenings.

Some chaise lounges offer the opportunity for sunbathing on the beach. Solar sun showers are available for showering in private shower stalls. Large (10’x12′) walk-in tents are provided for sleeping accommodations, each complete with two cots, sleeping pads, pillows, and table with light. These tents are provided for double occupancy, while smaller backpacking-style tents may be used for singles. The toilets are self-contained porta-potties that flush with water. They are set up in private stalls behind camp and emptied daily.

On Espiritu Santo Island, we camp on a white sand beach sandwiched between a shallow, protected bay and the towering cactus of the Southern Sonoran Desert. Large kitchen and dining tents are provided complete with dining tables and chairs for protection from the sun and wind and feature solar-powered lighting in the evenings. A large tarp provides additional shade on the beach. Walk-in tents are provided for sleeping accommodations, each complete with two cots, sleeping pads, pillows, and table with small solar light. These tents are provided for double occupancy, while smaller backpacking-style tents may be used for singles. A private solar shower area is set up for rinsing off the salt after you bathe in the sea with biodegradable soap. The toilets are self-contained porta-potties that flush with water. They are set up in private stalls behind camp and emptied daily.

Meals & Beverages

We serve a combination of the best of American and Mexican traditions prepared with local fresh ingredients. Barbecued chicken, fresh fish Vera Cruz style, grilled steak tacos accompanied by guacamole and a variety of Mexican salsas, plus fresh soups and salads prepared for lunch are just a few examples of our tasty menu. The skiffs allow us to bring large blocks of ice to store fresh produce and chill canned beverages you bring on the trip. Each evening, we serve a cocktail and appetizer for “happy hour” so you can enjoy the spectacular Baja sunset while sipping an ice-cold margarita!

We need to know as soon as possible about any dietary restrictions we must consider in planning your trip. If you have food allergies or necessary restrictions, we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

The weather during the whale watching season (late January through early March) tends to be cool with a chance of wind and some rain. Water temperatures are in the mid 60’s °F and daytime air temps range from the 60’s to 80’s °F. The weather at Magdalena Bay on the Pacific coast can be windy and chilly, although calm sunny days are common, while conditions at Espiritu Santo Island, on the Sea of Cortez, are typically calmer. 

Average Air Temperatures in La Paz

Reservations and Deposit

A $500/person deposit is required at the time of reservation. Deposits may be made by check, money order, or Visa/Mastercard (American Express and Discover incur a 3% processing fee). Prices are in US Dollars and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Payment of the deposit establishes your acceptance of our complete Terms and Conditions. Individual departures and trip capacity are strictly limited by the managing agency.

Canceling your trip after your deposit is processed will incur cancellation fees because OARS has absorbed costs on your behalf and will turn others away who would like to book the spaces we’re holding for you. Final payment is due 90 days before departure. Accounts on which final payment has not been received 80 days before the departure date will be canceled without exception.

Cancellations and Refunds

Your deposit is fully refundable, less a 3% processing fee, for 7 days after you book when you submit a deposit 7 days or more before the final payment due date.

If you must cancel your reservation after the rescission period described above, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the schedule below. We regret we cannot make exceptions to the cancellation policy for any reason, including foul weather, poor air quality, wildfire activity, acts of terrorism, civil unrest, or personal emergencies. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to consider purchasing a travel protection plan.

Requests to transfer a date will be treated as a cancellation, per the terms above.

Canceled Trips

OARS International and the outfitter Sea & Adventures, Inc. reserve the right to cancel any trip due to insufficient registration or other factors that make the trip impractical to operate. Do not make nonrefundable travel arrangements unless you have spoken to your Adventure Consultant regarding the status of your trip.

If a trip must be canceled or postponed due to force majeure (factors outside the control of OARS), OARS will provide full credit for payments made toward future travel, or a refund less a 5% service fee plus any nonrefundable payments made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers. OARS will make good faith efforts to recover deposits made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers, however, we can’t guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made. OARS is not responsible for expenses incurred by participants in preparation for a canceled trip.