I wanted to see if anyone had advice on a trip to Baja California and the Sea of Cortez. I want to take my girlfriend on a kayaking trip. I am not sure if it will happen this year or not. If it does not we will just go backpacking instead, so no loss. I have never been to Baja so I was looking for people to share their advice with me on the subject. Particularly places to go, experience with rental outfits, and any other suggestions. Thanks. Albert *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
[Moderator's Note: Content unaltered. Excessive quoting (including headers/footers/sig lines/extraneous text from previous posts, etc.) have been removed. Please edit quoted material in addition to removing header/trailers when replying to posts.] Albert, My wife and I went down there on our honeymoon. We were with the outfitter Tofino, out of BC. I understand that Northern Lights has done trips down there also. My son has done part of the Baja with some buddies when he was at Stanford, they provisioned and rented on their own. The boats they got were pretty sketchy. They also had water problems....not enough and not too clean. Unless you know your way around, I would suggest going with an outfitter. For us, the start out point was Loretto, a very pretty town. Our trip was fine, the paddling was pretty easy, the food was good and the bird watching was beyond belief. Best Regards, Tony Reynes -----Original Message----- From: Albert Kottke Subject: [Paddlewise] Baja Advice I wanted to see if anyone had advice on a trip to Baja California and the Sea of Cortez. I want to take my girlfriend on a kayaking trip. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
You might contact Gini Callahan, who guides in Baja: http://www.columbiariverkayaking.com/ I would echo the advice of others on using an outfitter. Lots of local knowledge to benefit from. Over Christmas of 1986, I spent a week or so near Loreto ... a magical time, and definitely a highlight of my paddling experiences. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I wanted to see if anyone had advice on a trip to Baja California and > the Sea of Cortez. I want to take my girlfriend on a kayaking trip. > I am not sure if it will happen this year or not. If it does not we > will just go backpacking instead, so no loss. > > I have never been to Baja so I was looking for people to share their > advice with me on the subject. Particularly places to go, experience > with rental outfits, and any other suggestions. Backpacking in Baja does exist, but seem less popular than biking. If you are going to use kayaking outfitters, they are moslty concentrated in Loreto (and there are 1 or 2 in Mulege), and trips are almost always southbound, due to prevailing winds - from Mulege to Loreto, or from some point north of Loreto again to Loreto. Part of the route is accessible by road, so expect some "traces of civilization" (i.e. garbage). Very little kayakers and power boats of all kinds between Bahia de LA and St Rosalia, - stretch is too long for an outfitter's organised groups. Paddling south from Mulege to Loreto without a guided group, but using rental kayaks, is probably cheaper and (in my opinion) more interesting than paddling in group, and should take about a week including 1 or 2 days of rest in Ensenada San Juanico (I think, proper name is Ensenada San Basilio) and Isla Coronados. Propane is easier to find in small size stove canisters, than more expensive MSR/Primus canisters or white gas, and it will cost 2-3 times more than in the USA (like most of camping supplies there). Do carry extra food and water, because 2-3 days storms happen all year round. Suitable campsites are (reportedly) shown on Ed Gillet maps, which I can't get anywhere. By now I don't think I need them for Mulege-Loreto stretch, anyway. Baja Topo Atlas is widely available and costs $25. You may want to check this trip itinerary and journals, most of good campsites are mentioned there with GPS coordinates: http://www.caske2000.org/caske/maps/bajaroute.htm. Probably, fresh water, delays due to storms and "human factor" (i.e. theft of valuables and food if left unattended) are the most issues that have to be considered in self-supported trips there. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I wanted to see if anyone had advice on a trip to Baja California and > the Sea of Cortez. I want to take my girlfriend on a kayaking trip. > I am not sure if it will happen this year or not. If it does not we > will just go backpacking instead, so no loss. > > I have never been to Baja so I was looking for people to share their > advice with me on the subject. Particularly places to go, experience > with rental outfits, and any other suggestions. Hi, There is a very good outfitter in La Paz that has kayaks, PFD's, support motor boats, guides, and runs 5 days trips to Isla Espiritu Santo, kayaking from Loreto to La Paz, or from Mulege to Loreto, in the different modalities, that is cooking included, few days camping, one day visit, only guidance, etc.. He usually has backup boats, on land following personnel, etc.. He has all the facilities like a good, nice inexpensive hotel in La Paz, big transportation vans to take you to and from the airport, etc. His name is Ricardo Amador. The company "Mar y Aventuras". His e-mail is mya_at_kayakbaja.com His web page is http://www.kayakbaja.com/ I have taken a trip with them and I am very satisfied with their friendly, experienced, honest attitude. Best Regards, Rafael El cayucochief Mexico *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Something I forgot to mention. There are (of course) kayaking outfiiters in La Paz. Somehow I didn't think of it as of *kayaking trip*, because there was no *destinaton* there. What they are doing, is ferrying kayaks, kayakers and gear on mothership 20 miles to Isla Espiritu Santo, and stay there for a few days. A lot of beachcombers are ferried there too every day (and back to La Paz after an hour or two). In November through March there must be less people there. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
You might try this outfit. http://www.tourbaja.com/paddlsth.html We did a tour with them a few years back and it was great. They also offer some hiking in the hills of Baja so you can get a pretty good taste of the country. Christopher G. Madden maddencg_at_earthlink.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi, Rafael et al, The name Ricardo Amador sounds familiar...is that the "outfitter/guide" on the Trailside John Viehman "Sea Kayaking in Baja" video? sandy kramer miami *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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