Eskape Sea Kayaking Custom Classes and Tours

BAJA WHALE WATCHING & KAYAK SURF CAMPS

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Baja

Galapagos

San Juan Islands

California Coast

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Whale Watching Camp in Laguna San Ignacio
&/or Kayak Surf-Skills Camps on the Pacific Coast with *Pancho Mayoral

* See the profile on Pancho from the Feb. 2006 issue of Sea Kayaker magazine along with the article about paddling Baja's wild Pacific Coast.

Spend a week camping and kayaking in Laguna San Ignacio, birthplace of the "friendly whale phenomenon, or refining surf skills in the warm waters off central Baja's Vizcaino Peninsula. Pancho's father, Pachico, in fact, was the first human to make contact with the whales back in 1972, so Pancho grew up as a whale watching guide and learned from the best. This year Pancho scored big time with permits to actually camp inside Laguna San Ignacio. Pancho's father and fisher friends will pick us up in their pangas (skiffs) during the week to take us into the restricted, whale-viewing area for close encounters with the local grays. When not whale watching, we'll have access to paddling adjacent to the whale viewing area and exploring the rich, local mangrove wetlands where birds and other wildlife abound, including possible glimpses of sea turtles. Reservation/Payment Info

Location, Location, Location! El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve
Both the whale and surf base camps are located on unpopulated beaches at southern end of the Vizcaíno Peninsula. Among the more remote regions in all of Baja, we'll be camped smack in the middle of El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, Mexico's largest protected area. In addition to some 6 million acres of unique and biologically important desert landscape and nearly 300 miles of rugged coastline, this reserve includes the gray whale sanctuaries of Ojo de Liebre (near Guerreo
Negro) in the north and San Ignacio Bay in the south, both lagoons listed by UNESCO as Wetlands of International Importance.  Reservation/Payment Info

Kayak Surf Camp/San Ignacio Whale Watch Combo
Whether you are just getting comfortable in the surf or are a more experienced kayak surfer, we'll have both long sea kayaks and short surf kayaks available (as well as boogie boards and surf
	boards) for you to play in the surf. Pancho's fisher friends will also pick us up at the end of the week to take us into San Ignacio Lagoon, birth place of the "friendly" gray whale phenomenon. Pancho's father, Pachico, in fact, was the first human to make contact with the whales back in 1972, so Pancho grew up as a whale watching guide and learned from the best. And longboat surfing in a bit bigger surf.  v
Practicing basic surf entry skills in warm water! ^

Abreojos Surf Info

Like Monterey Bay, Bahia Ballenas' southern exposure begins with a series of bluffs and points with numerous reef breaks in the north, giving way to endless sandy beach breaks where the bay curves around to the south. Some 15 miles to the south, about where Elkhorn Slough would be, lies San Ignacio Lagoon, the birthplace of the "friendly whale" phenomenon and of Pancho Mayoral, whose father Pachico first touched a gray whale in 1972.

While quite remote and wild with wilderness all around, our base camp is not "wilderness." During the day it is common to see the pangas of the local fishers passing by in the distance. That time of year we might also see the occasional carload of board surfers on safari from Southern California as well as local surfers from Abreojos. Or we might not. If we do, the vibe is generally quite friendly both on the water and off. There is plenty of room for everyone.

Reservation/Payment Info

Day by Day Itinerary for Surf Camp
8 Days--

1: fly in Loreto
2: drive to Abreojos, paddle in afternoon
3-5 : paddling, surf instruction
6: drive to whalewatch and spend night in San Ignacio Lagoon at Campo Pachico (Pancho's dad!)
7: early a.m. whalewatch and return to Loreto
8: fly home

Reservation/Payment Info

Skill Levels and Boats
Having run the surf portion of this class the past five years for NOLS sea kayaking instructors, I've found that we can accommodate a wide range of skills from never been in the surf (although we suggest for this class that you've at least taken an Intro Surf Zone class), to hot-shot kayak surfer. Near most of the best point breaks are sandy beaches where less gung-ho surfers can practice in the soup. We'll have a mix of long and short boats and do our best to get as many of your surf kayaks down there as we can, especially if you will share them with others.

•  Your Guides/Instructors
Roger Schumann, owner-operator of Eskape Sea Kayaking, is among a small cadre of ACA Instructor Trainer Educators nationwide (the ACA's highest level trainer). Roger is known for his regular articles in Sea Kayaker magazine, and he co-authored Guide to Sea Kayaking Central and Northern California and Sea Kayak Rescue. He is trained as a Wilderness First Responder (10-day intensive course) and has extensive experience teaching kayaking and guiding trips in Baja over the past 15 years.

Pancho Mayoral, grew up in San Ignacio Lagoon, and was literally born into being a whale watching guide under the legacy of his father's "first contact." He has also worked as a kayak instructor for 8 years, including working as the sea kayaking program coordinator for NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) Baja. He, too, is a Wilderness First Responder. Please read the profile on Pancho in the Feb. '06 issue of Sea Kayaker magazine.

General Baja Gear List, Weather and Travel Info

Gear List: You bring--camping gear, clothes, snorkeling gear, wetsuit. Complete list available w/ registration. All campsites are beach front and scenic but primitive (i.e. with no "facilities”) so some previous backpacking-type experience is suggested.

•  Weather Although warm, sun-filled days are the rule, winter weather in Baja can vary. Expect cool evenings in the mid 50s and pleasant daytime temps from the mid 60s to low 80s. On rare occasion, storm systems passing to the north sometimes sprinkle us with scattered showers, so we recommend bringing light rain gear (which can double as windbreaker). Water temperature in winter averages in the mid 60s, refreshing for a short swim, but we recommend wetsuits.
By Springtime, the air temps should warm up by another 10 degrees or so, and the water could rise into the high 60s to low 70s.

•  Baja Travel Info/Logistics Overview
Getting to Loreto: There is usually only one flight each day into Loreto Airport (LTO); it leaves from Los Angeles (LAX). You'll need to get to Loreto at least one day prior to the start of the kayak trip. We'll meet you at the Loreto Airport and taxi you to our hotel. We'll have a brief pre-trip orientation and hand out dry bags, so you can pack up your gear and have it ready to go in the morning. The hotel that you stay at has a security room and they will let you leave luggage and extra clothes for you to return to at the end of the trip. We usually take our passports and money along and no one has ever had any problem with their things.

TWO IMPORTANT TRAVEL REMINDERS
1. BOOK EARLY. Flights to Baja, especially over Christmas time fill quickly and the cheap seats go months in advance. The longer you wait to book, the more expensive the ticket.
2. HAND CARRY YOUR LUGGAGE FROM YOUR L.A. FLIGHT TO THE AEROCAL CHECK-IN COUNTER. DO NOT trust AeroCal to check it through, or it may not arrive for several days. (Yes this has happened to us more than once). This means you'll need to arrive in LAX in plenty of time to get you and your luggage over to the international terminal.

Getting on the Water: We'll meet for breakfast the next morning, then head to the put in, pack boats (this always takes longer than you think it will), and launch. The first day is a short paddle to our camp, less than 5 miles, for a leisurely “now-you-are-really-in-Baja” start.

Getting Home and Whale Watching: On the last paddling day, we'll pack up camp and paddle to the pick up site by early afternoon to give us time to sort gear and check into a hotel for a shower before going out to dinner in Loreto together. The next morning, those on the Sea of Cortez/ Whale Watching Combo will be picked up by van for the 2 hr. trip to Magdelena Bay, for 2 hours of whale watching in a small skiff or panga.

The last morning you're on your own to breakfast and shop in town before catching your plane. The taxis are easy, plentiful, and inexpensive. Often people like to take a couple extra days to explore the area on their own, arrangements can be made for mule rides or a tour of a beautiful mission in the mountains or to see cave paintings. Re-entry to the work-a-day world is sometimes easier after being in town for a day or two. Moving too quickly from the magic of the desert beach to the demands of 21st century USA can strain the recharging process. Que será.

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