RE: [Paddlewise] Baja

Flying in and renting kayaks your choices are pretty much Loreto and La Paz.
Nicest paddling in the La Paz area is probably Isla Espirto Santo just to
the north. The outfitter will either take you and pick you up from the north
end of the peninsula or for a larger fee take you across the 5 mile exposed
open crossing out to the island.

There is great paddling north, south and east of Loreto. The beaurocracy of
the new park might be more of a hassle now. I haven't been there since that
was instituted. The rules seem overly strict on where you can go on land
now. To me one of the wonders of Baja was the freedom it offered. I'm afraid
the park has probably ruined the Loreto area for me. I was at Espirto Santo
a little over a year ago and had a wonderful time then. At some times of the
year it gets pretty heavy use but I didn't see another kayak party for a
week in December.

Things to take with you in April include. Your own shade tarp, long sleeved
T-shirts, Wide brim hat and plenty of sun-block. Plan on 1 gallon of water
per person per day. A mask, snorkel, fins and waterproof (maybe a
"returnable") cameras are nice. Good ankle high boots or walking shoes for
hiking on the rugged rocky terrain. A bird identification book if you like
identifying wildlife. Temperatures should be well into the 90's and the sun
can become quite oppressive by afternoon. Water temperatures will probably
still be colder than you might expect (est. 65F) so a Farmer John wetsuit
can extend your comfortable snorkeling time and help prevent sunburn. I'd
paddle in the morning and look for shade and snorkeling grounds in the
afternoon. Winds usually are not a problem after mid-March (and before the
summer hurricane season). Expect breezes up to only 15 knots in the
afternoon rather than the 30 to 40 knots that are common in the winter (and
you will be hopeful they show up to help relieve the heat). Be careful of
cactus spines (and if gathering "wood" scorpions). If wading shuffle your
feet to avoid stepping on a sting-ray, don't touch any spiny fish, or toxic
coral.
Baja is a fantastic place, take way more film than you think you will need.

Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com


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