Sea-kayaking through the Sea of Cortez in Baja, Mexico

Annie Ross puts her Devon-honed kayaking skills to the test in crystal clear Mexican waters
Annie Ross on her sea kayaking adventure
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Annie Ross13 June 2017

If it wasn’t a school of manta rays jumping, it was a sea lion popping up to say hello, or perhaps the impressive rock formations, that provided a reason to slow our stroke and breathe in our surroundings.

Sea kayaking in Mexico under the clear blue skies and in the crystal clear waters of the Sea of Cortez is an incredible escape. Looking to try my Devon-honed kayaking skills in a new landscape, I went on the Isla Espiritu Santo kayak and yoga trip with Sea Kayak Adventures (seakayakadventures.com) in April.

Here's everything you need to know about a Mexican sea kayaking adventure:

Where is it?

The coastal town of La Paz in Baja California Sur is the start and finish point of the tour. With its own airport connecting you to the US and several Mexican destinations, it’s best to fly directly there but you also have the option of the larger Los Cabos hub 2.5 hours drive away. Isla Espiritu Santo is accessed by motorised boat from La Paz. A two hour journey across open sea brings you to the now uninhabited island made of volcanic ash and lava. The kayaking starts from the southern tip and takes you up along the western coast, and along Isla Partida.

What is it:

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Our trip gave us the best of both worlds in terms of adventure and comfort; sea kayaking, sleeping in tents on remote beaches in a national park, no phone signal, a cool box full of cold beer, great meals, experienced guides and all kayaking and camping equipment provided.

The first and last nights of the week-long trip were spent in a hotel in La Paz, and the middle four nights wild camping. With group sizes averaging twelve, accompanied by four to five guides and a support boat, the social side of activities and meals is great, while that precious alone time is possible should you wish.

We kayaked at a leisurely pace for an average of three hours a day, enjoying the beauty of the coastline of Isla Espiritu Santo off the coast of Baja California Sur. Our days were topped-and-tailed by yoga sessions on the beach, snorkelling and eating fresh Mexican delicacies, before stargazing from our tents.

While there are a selection of trips that Sea Kayak Adventures host in Mexico, and for that matter, all over the world, of varying lengths and difficulty, the Isla Espiritu Santo trip is suitable for all levels of experience in sea kayaking. A safety briefing and kayaking tutorial is given on the first day so that everyone feels comfortable before heading out in their fibreglass hulls.

Facilities

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With Sea Kayak Adventures operating in Baja since 1993, they know how to run the show. We were welcomed into the group and given high quality gear to see us through the week, their smooth operations allowing us to relax into the holiday straight away.

While we carried our personal possessions, bedding and snorkelling gear in our kayaks, the support motorboat - called a panga locally – transported the tents, food, tables and chairs, motoring ahead to set up camp and leave us to the rhythmic peace of our paddles dipping in and out of the water.

The loo is a rudimentary set up – the only option in such pristine nature – but allows for privacy and hygiene and is completely tolerable for the five-days on the island. The sea will be your shower for the journey – and when you see the beauty of the water, you won’t complain.

Our guides, Sergio, Rubén, Lino y Tico were great company and shared their expertise with us. As a spearfishing guide, Rubén treated us to fresh fish sashimi and ceviche on our remote beach.

Extra-curricular

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Having opted for a tour that included yoga, we had the fortune of being joined by yoga instructor, Mike Beckwith, who guided our morning and evening beach yoga sessions. The yoga undoubtedly added to our experience, particularly thanks to the inclusive perspective that Mike inspired through the journey he shared with us. We all benefited from practising yoga after days paddling and nights camping.

With kayaking finished by lunchtime, we had time for other excursions including hiking up into the rock formations, a night kayak in the bioluminescence and several snorkelling trips, most notably to the sea lion hub of La Lobera.

The whale shark add-on is an un-missable treat. The Sea of Cortez, aptly named by Jack Cousteau as the marina of the world, is home to juvenile whale sharks. The chance to snorkel alongside these gentle giants, the biggest fish in the world, is not one to pass up. The marine biologist who joined us on board to share her insights and to collect data on the sharks we saw, made our trip stand out from a typical day tour. Just when we thought it was all over, we had the added bonus of (harmless) blue cannon ball jellyfish and a breathtakingly close encounter with dolphins on our way back to the marina.

Food & drink

Travelling with all supplies for the week, our Sea Kayak Adventures guides produced excellent meals with just a temporary kitchen they travelled with. Dietary requirements are graciously catered for and the quality of food meant we were never short of energy for kayaking or yoga.

Mornings were kickstarted with eggs, cereal and fresh fruit, and various treats including the typical Mexican breakfast of chilaquiles – tortilla chips soaked in salsa and cheese. Lunches and dinners are traditional Mexican dishes including quesadillas, tacos, tamales, guacamole and ceviche, complete with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. To top it off, Dutch-oven-cooked cakes and the odd sundowner cocktail brought that touch of luxury to the trip.

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Best for

A relaxing active holiday exploring unblemished Mexican coastline.

When to go

The kayaking season in Baja, Mexico is from October until end of April.

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Any downsides?

This is not for those who don’t like sand, salt and sun as there’s no escaping it.

Details

From $1,255 for youths and $1,349 for adults; seakayakadventures.com. Fly from London to La Paz (Mexico), via Mexico City. If you have the time, spend a few days in Mexico City to explore the buzz and colours.

Annie Ross is the founder of Exerk

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