Reply To: Recommendations for Baja tour operators

#23883
Randy Chatterjee

We had a perfect trip with Mar Y Aventuras (Sea & Adventures): https://www.kayakbaja.com/ . They have a permanent camp on Espiritu Santo island (correct spelling) and so many varieties of supported, less supported, or unsupported trips (boat rentals) that you’ll likely find what you want.  They also run a nice, clean, simple hotel in La Paz as a base for your trip, where you can arrive, clean up and stay the night before you leave, and store things while out paddling.  That makes the whole trip easy and no stress.

The owner, Mary Harter, is from Montana and lives down there part year.  She hires almost entirely locally, and her team of paddling leaders, marine biologists, cooks, fishing experts, launch operators, etc are professional and inspirational.

La Paz is one of the best paddling areas with many local attractions, including snorkeling among a colony of friendly and playful sea lions.  (They are not aggressive and territorial as our sea lions in BC.)  There is a chain of accessible islands to paddle around or along, or to pick from as a destination.  This touring company has launches (called panga) that are their kayak taxi service to get you closer to where you want to go without any large crossings.  They will also pick you up if the weather turns bad.

We also made a side trip with their help to Magdalena Bay on the west coast to observe the “whale nursery” there.  Most of the grey whales that ply our coast are born in this bay and live their first few months there before heading north in the summer.  Baby whales are docile and friendly, and you can ride a launch, paddle, or swim right with them.  They are still 6-10 meters long, so caution is advised.  One sneezed on me.