Day 1:
Arrival to San Jose del Cabo, journey to Espiritu Santo
Island.
Groups arrive from the US to San Jose del Cabo Airport
and are transported via air conditioned 15 passenger
vans 120 miles north to La Paz and then approximately
26 miles by boat to the island camp on Espiritu Santo
Island.
- Flights arrive in San Jose del Cabo Airport (SJD)
between 11am-2pm.
- Drive 1.5 hours and stop for Lunch in San Bartolo
- Continue another 1.5 hours to La Paz
- Stop at marina to issue snorkeling gear and wetsuits
- Travel to Espiritu Santo Island by boat
- Arrive at camp before dark in time for dinner.
About Sea Quest Base Camp:
Camp is located on a beautiful beach in a remote calm
bay protected by tall red rocks. We can accommodate
up to 20 total participants. There is a full service
kitchen staffed with a Mexican chef and his assistants,
as well as trained eco-adventure guides and a boat captain.
We have full use of a boat and VHS radio. In the evening
a generator brings power to camp to charge batteries
and we convert the dining area into a classroom for
slide shows or videos. Participants sleep 2 persons
per tent. Each tent has a cot, sleeping bag with sheets
and pillow, night stand and bath towel. There two flush
toilets, one for men and the other for women, each enclosed
for privacy. On the other end of the beach are the solar
shower enclosures. After bathing in the ocean (swim
suit on) using biodegradable soap, participants take
their towel and clothing to the showers for a fresh
water rinse. Bathing in the ocean significantly reduces
the amount of fresh water transported to the island
which cuts back on carbon emissions and excess water
usage. The proximity of Sea Quest Camp gives us access
to a wide variety of marine and terrestrial habitats
to explore.
Day 2: Ensenada Grande and Las Cuevas.
Before lunch, participants will learn basic snorkeling
skills and free diving techniques in the shallow bay
of Ensenada Grande. Here we see butterfly fish, chubs,
damselfish, puffer fish, stingrays, grunts, goatfish,
snappers,yellowtail surgeonfish and wrasse.
After lunch participants will use their snorkeling
skills to explore the rocky shoreline at Las Cuevas
and their free-diving skills to see hundreds of garden
eels in the sandy flats at 25ft.. After dinner we watch
the video Ocean Oasis, a 45 minute video about the unique
underwater world of the Gulf of California.
Days 3: Cross Island Hike and Los Candeleros
Island exploration and hikes, especially to elevations
for sunrise and sunset offer the opportunity to study
the rock and desert landscape as well as the plants
and animals that survive here. The two hikes scheduled
are not difficult but do require closed-toe shoes, sunblock,
1-liter water bottle, hat, and sunglasses. Light weight
long pants are recommended but not required. Cacti,
sharp rocks, desert animals, and heat are hazards. Most
injuries are scrapes from cacti or from abrasions due
to slipping on loose rocks.
Hikes are generally in the morning or late evening
to avoid the heat of the day. The Cross Island Hike
is a relatively flat hike to the opposite side of Isla
Partida. Along the way your guide will ID the flora
and fauna and describe some of their adaptations. Cacti
such as jumping cholla, cardon, and sweet pityhaya can
be found here. This 2.5 - 3 hour roundtrip hike will
provide stunning views of the eastern side of the island
and possibly dophin or whale sightings. The trail is
lush green with desert vegitation.
Los Candeleros is a great spot to get up close to cormorants,
gulls, and pelicans as this island serves as a small
rookery. Below the waterline are hard corals as well
as large schools of grunts, yellowtail surgeonfish,
king angelfish, triggerfish, scissortails, and rainbow
wrasse.
4: Hike Cactus Hill and Snorkel Los Arcos
Cactus Hill is more sparse than the Cross Island Hike
and requires a bit more exertion as we climb up to approximately
1200ft in elevation. The view at the top offers a panoramic
island scene. You will follow your guide along a rocky
trail which conforms to the contours of the mountain.
There will be plenty of water breaks and rest stops.
At these points your guide will point out plants and
animals found along the way.
At Los Arcos many of the same fish we have seen at
other dive sites can be spotted here but we also find
nudibranchs and many nooks, crannies, sea caves, and
arches to explore that we can't find at other locations.
Day 5: Isa Islotes Sea Lion Colony
We will snorkel with a colony of 300 wild sea lions
while thy streak past, checking us out, blowing bubbles
and performing all manner of acrobatics. This is so
much fun you will want to return a second time. Your
friends will not believe your pictures.
The island is prime reef habitat for large schools
of creole fish as well as humphead parrotfish, bumphead
hogfish, triggerfish, wrasse, hawkfish, and very large
snappers and groupers. This is one of the best snorkeling
sites of the week!
Other Exciting Activities
The following activities are scheduled for the week,
but do not have specific days. Here are some other exciting
experiences during your stay at Sea Quest Camp.
Beach Fiesta for Orphans
In an effort to inspire local kids to protect the Gulf
of California and to give them a life changing opportunity,
Green Edventures' participants and local eco-tourism
company Groupo Fun Baja will be hosting a group of 7-14
kids from an orphanage in La Paz at Sea Quest Camp during
each week of our program season. This is new for 2010
and details are still being developed. Our students
will help decorate camp and teach environmental crafts.
The children from the orphanage will get to learn how
to snorkel and visit some of the sites our students
explored during the week.
Kayaking:
Kayaks are available for participants to take out on
their own for sunset paddles and at times a guided trip
is led by one of the staff. Kayaks allow you to get
up close to birds and the rocky inter tidal zone as
well as sea caves.
Beach Volleyball:
Non-scheduled. In between activities participants usually
challenge staff and chaperones to a game of beach volleyball.
Keep in mind, your guide Chabelo was conference champ.
Day 6: La Paz and Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort
In the morning we will pack our bags, board the boat
and head back to La Paz for shopping and lunch. Dolphins
are easily spotted from our boat, allowing up close
encounters and great picture opportunities. Manta rays
and whale sharks inhabit the same area and are frequently
spotted.
After a full day of exploring the cultural side of
the city we will depart in our vans to Cabo Plumo Beach
Resort about 1 hour south of La Paz. Your home for the
next two days will be in eco-friendly beach bungalows.
Our host will give you a tour and talk with you about
water and electricity conservation. Access to the beach
is just steps away from the buildings. After dinner,
for those with extra energy we will do a short beach
walk to search for crabs, birds, turtles and other natural
beach goers.
Day 7: Plumo Reef and Fox Canyon
Plumo Reef is a natural marine preserve and the only
coral reef in the Sea of Cortez. Easily reached from
shore (we may access the reef by Kayaks as well depending
on our snorkel site and water conditions), this site
is a living laboratory of marine species including.
You will use your snorkeling skills to explore and observe
the varied beauty of these crystal clear waters.
After lunch and a short siesta, our group will travel
to Fox Canyon. During a short hike we will explore the
desert trails which lead through a variety of desert
habitats include a canyon oasis with a perfect pool
and waterfall for swimming.
Day 8: Departure Day
After a hearty breakfast, we go over last minute travel
instructions and then load up the vans for your trip
to the Cabo San Lucas Airport located about 1 hour south
of Cabo Plumo. This is always a sad day for us but we
are happy knowing that we were able to show you an amazing
adventure. Thank you for choosing Green Edventures.
We hope you enjoyed your trip!
All activities are subject to change
without notice. Green Edventures reserves the right
to modify this schedule and its activities at any time
without prior notice.
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