DAY 1: ARRIVAL

Flights to Loreto International Airport (LTD) in Baja California Sur state typically arrive mid-afternoon. You’ll have time to unwind and get in the proper groove before gathering with your fellow paddlers for a welcome dinner and trip orientation. 

The historic Mission of Our Lady of Loreto is located in the center of town (as is the Jesuit Missions of Loreto Museum) and the local market is always fun to poke around. You can also fill the hunger gap with some authentic local Mexican eats before dinner or feel the sea’s embrace on a walk along the malecón. Don’t miss out on the chocolate clams–it’s a local specialty. 

We’ll gather for dinner tonight at a nearby restaurant and share stories of what brought us all magically together.

Meals included: Dinner, Olé!
Tonight’s sweet sleep: Hotel Oasis

DAY 2: ISLA CORONADO

Today we’ll dip deeply into island life and explore Isla Coronado, the second smallest island of the Loreto chain. After breakfast at the Oasis Hotel we’ll grab our gear for the day, meet in the lobby at 8AM and transfer (in a shuttle van) to the marina located 20 minutes south of town. Our 8:30AM boat crossing will take 45 minutes–it’s the ideal time to absorb the sun, surf and horizon ahead. 

There will be a refresher tutorial on safety procedures, basic strokes and hot tips for the day ahead. Then it’s play time in the surreal Sea of Cortez! Today will be totally dedicated to paddling, snorkeling and hiking.

From the near-blinding white powder beach, there’s an optional 3-hour, 6km (3.6 mile) out-and-back (roundtrip) hike up Volcan Coronado, a small stratovolcano on the northern tip of the isle. This walk begins on a boardwalk and then shifts to a well-travelled path. The trail then becomes more technical with lava rock and boulders with cairns marking the way. Curving ever upwards on switchbacks, the last 15 minutes are steep and the most challenging as the terrain becomes sandy with loose stones underfoot. The reward? The panorama of the undulating desert hills of Baja California Sur and the expansive Gulf of California await. 

For those who would like to ease into the day at a gentler, flatter pace, there’s an optional 1.6 km (1 mile) interpretive eco-walk that will focus on desert plants and their adaptations.

We’ll have lunch together in a shaded picnic shelter at the beach before circumnavigating the island by boat. There will be an opportunity to snorkel and swim with a small, curious colony of sea lions. Sometimes they decide to interact and sometimes they don’t–they have their own agenda too!

Over dinner in Loreto, our Wild Women guide will instruct us on how to prepare and pack for the sea kayaking expedition tomorrow! Sleep well, your dream is unfolding!

Note: The Volcan Coronado hike is rated moderately difficult. Walking sticks or poles are recommended. You may turn around at any point on this hike if you are uncomfortable. Please wear proper footwear for this hike, it ain’t no walk in the park!

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tonight’s Sweet Sleep: Hotel Oasis

DAY 3 – 6: ISLAND TIME

Ultimately, Mother Nature determines the route and itinerary with her voting power. Winds and park permits can influence the order of daily activities so, the paddling portion of this expedition must be read with a grain of sea salt. We will be supported by a motorized panga boat that will carry our camping gear, food and water which means the sea kayaks will be lighter and faster. 

On expedition, have your biceps ready to paddle around 2 to 4 hours a day. Distances will vary but expect crossings that are 3 to 4km (2 to 2.5 miles) long with potentially windy conditions. We’ll have long lunch breaks, floating rest stops and time to snorkel, stretch your legs on a hike, swim or simply take five on the beach at lunch. Snorkelers will love the rainbow array of bi-colour parrotfish, yellowtail snapper, porcupinefish, balloonfish and moray eels that are found in the shallow waters and reefs. Look for scribbled filefish, Moorish idols and convict tangs too!

The Sea of Cortez is full of surprises below the surface–thriving populations of whales, dolphins (bottlenose, common and spinner) and flying manta rays are always a thrill to witness. Maybe a sailfish or marlin will give us an acrobatic flip.

At day’s end, as the sun simmers like butter, we’ll linger over hors-d’oeuvre hour, hyperlocal fresh food and margaritas at our campsite. Before retreating to our tents, we’ll have to check for the captivating glow of bioluminescence in the sea. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tonight’s Sweet Sleep: Beach camping on Isla Carmen (2 nights) and Isla Danzante (2 nights), depending on sea conditions and weather.

Head’s up: On expedition, there are no showers! Fresh water is reserved for drinking and cooking only. You can use saltwater and soap off above the high tide line, or use disposable shower wipes if you wish. A porta potty will be transported to each campsite for solid waste. You can urinate above the high tide line or in a separate porta-potty bucket–your guide will cover all of this in a campsite orientation.

DAY 7: BACK TO THE MAGIC TOWN

Absorb every inch of today’s sunrise over a hot coffee or strong tea before our final day of kayaking. After breakfast, we’ll spend the morning paddling the shorelines in search of more marine life above and below.

We’ll break camp after lunch and paddle to our take-out site around 2PM. Here, we’ll unload our kayaks and jump in a van shuttle back to Loreto to check into our hotel and shower off the sand and salt of our awesome expedition.

Later, we’ll gather for dinner at a local restaurant and reflect on our adventure so far.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (in town)
Tonight’s Sweet Sleep: Hotel Oasis

DAY 8: A MISSION AND ROCK ART

We’ll leave Loreto mid-morning and drive one hour across the canyons and parched arroyos (seasonal waterways that only fill and flow after sufficient rainfall) to San Javier. We’ll walk around the tiny town with a population of just 130 and visit the Mission of San Javier, established in 1744.

Traveling another 30-40 minutes by van, we’ll stop at a nearby ranch to pick up our local guide for an interpretive tour of the rock art site that is one of Mexico’s registered archeological sites. The cave paintings hidden in the Sierra Madre mountains are a ghostly reminder of the Indigenous population that left their indelible mark over 7,000 years ago (according to carbon dating on the paintings).  

We’ll follow a rocky trail upwards for 30 minutes, bouldering as we go. This trail requires using our hands to climb thru boulders while navigating loose rocks. The path to the cave where the UNESCO World Heritage Site prehistoric paintings is located is found just 300m (984 ft) from the road. While the historical drawings are a bonus, the views across the cacti-peppered valley and distant mountains steal the art show. It’s a careful 20-30 minute descent.

Lunch will be back at the ranch where over a simple, homemade fare, we’ll have the opportunity to learn about the life of our hosts before returning to Loreto late in the afternoon. 

Tonight we’ll gather for our farewell dinner, share photos, laughs and the great debate. Where to paddle next? The Galápagos? Italy?

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tonight’s Sweet Sleep: Hotel Oasis

DAY 9: DEPARTUREYou can book your departure flight at any time today. Breakfast will be provided at the hotel but you will be required to travel to the airport independently. 

If you wish to spend more time in the Magic Town, abracadabra–alakazam! You should! Hug your Wild Women expedition crew goodbye…for now.

Meals Included: Breakfast