How do I get to Loreto?
What do I need to bring?
Where is Magdalena Bay?
What is Mag Bay like?
What is the weather like in Mag Bay?
Are there any bugs?
How about venomous critters?
How close is our camp to the whales?
How does the whale watching work?
How many whales are there in Mag Bay?
How long does the season last?
What kind of kayaking can we expect? What will we see?
How is the food at your camp?
What is the water situation at your camp?
What are the evening activities at camp?
What is the camping like?
Okay, what about the toilet facilities?
Does BWK supply alcoholic drinks?


How do I get to Loreto?
Most people take scheduled airline flights, currently available from Alaska Airlines, Delta, and Aero Mexico. It is a pleasant 2-hour flight to Loreto from Los Angeles (LAX) or San Diego (SAN).  Please see our Travel to Baja page for more information, fares and schedules.

What do I need to bring?
You need to bring your passport, enough money for 2 dinners in town, a light-weight sleeping bag, and personal items for your comfort and enjoyment (see "What to Bring" list).  We supply all other camping equipment, food and transportation  Tips for your guides are not mandatory, but are encouraged.  They work really hard to give you a comfortable experience, and to make your trip a success. You will appreciate them.

Where is Magdalena Bay?
Magdalena Bay is really a series of lagoons on the Pacific side of the Baja Peninsula, about 600 miles south of San Diego.  We get there by van from Loreto, about an hour and a half drive. Bahia de Magdalena is the actual name of this Bay; it's called "Mag Bay" for short.

What is Mag Bay like?
The lagoons are protected from the ocean swells by a series of sand-bar barrier islands.  The inner shores of the lagoons are a beautiful mangrove estuary rich with bird and marine life.  Our camp is unique in that it is the only camp in the mangroves looking west at the lagoon entrance (La Boca de Soledad) and at the setting sun.  The mangroves provide an excellent backdrop, some shelter from the sea breezes, and excellent paddling and bird-watching opportunities.

What is the weather like in Mag Bay?
The weather is very mild in Mag Bay in February.  Daytime highs are between 75 - 80 degrees, lows at night are around 60.  Afternoon sea breezes are common. Evenings can be damp and cool. Every day is different, so come prepared both emotionally and physically for variety and change.

Are there any bugs?
None that will bother you. Happily, no mosquitos!

What about venemous critters?
Baja is home to several species of venemous critters: chiefly wasps, scorpions, and rattlesnakes. The most aggressive of these three are the wasps, or yellow jackets. If you know you are allergic to their sting, please bring your medicine and inform your guides. The guides are also equipped with the right medicine and equipment to deal with this situation.

At our camps on the Sea of Cortez and, theoretically, at our Mag Bay camp, one could encounter a desert scorpion. As yet, no one has been bitten on any of our trips. Your guides will instruct you on procedures for peaceful co-existence with these shy creatures. Scorpions are night-time foragers, so the most important We advise our guests to bring closed-toed shoes (tennis shoes will do). In the unlikely event of a bite, the guides are medically trained and will know what to do.

Some of the Sea of Cortez camps are in rattlesnake habitat. An encounter with them is extremely unlikely. Once again, your guides will instruct you on safety and prevention protocols and will be trained and equipped to handle any situation that may arise.

How close is our camp to the whales?
We are extremely fortunate to have an exquisite location for our whale camp that is right in the heart of the whale calving area. The whales can be seen spouting and surfacing from our camp.  On calm nights, you can hear them breathing.

How does the whale watching work?
Whale watching excursions are done by panga, a small motorized Mexican fishing boat.  They can hold up to 8 people, including your guide.  The Mexican pangeros are local fishermen who have been specially trained to maneuver their boats around the whales. The licensing and restrictions on whale watching help to minimize the impact of humans on the whales.

How many whales are there in Mag Bay?
Last year in February at the peak of whale season, there were 90 mother-calf pairs in our area of Magdalena Bay.

How long does the season last?
The whales start arriving in December. By mid-March, most of the mothers and calves have moved out of Mag Bay, beginning the 6,000-mile migration back to their feeding grounds in Alaska. (See "Gray Whale Info" for more details.)

What kind of kayaking can we expect? What will we see?
Kayaking is restricted in the part of the lagoon where the whales are calving and nursing.  Our kayaking activities take place in the mangrove estuary which is adjacent to our camp.  The mangroves are a biological jewel in themselves, affording phenomenal birding opportunities. There are hundreds of bird species wintering in the mangroves, many of which, like the Green Herons and the Yellow Crowned Night Herons, are quite rare in North America, but are common in this part of Baja.

How is the food at your camp?
We have a wonderful local chef who prepares Mexican home-cooked meals for our guests with care and a lot of love. Her name is Lala and our guests universally rave about her food.  We can and do accommodate vegetarians and people with dietary restrictions.

If you have specific dietary requests, please indicate that on your confidential questionnaire that you will receive once you register.

What is the water situation at your camp?
All the water is brought in.  We have purified water for drinking and plenty of fresh water for washing. In fact, you can take a solar shower every day! We do use salt water for dishwashing.

What are the evening activities at camp?
We have a well-stocked library in one of our 18-foot dome tents with books on gray whales, Baja travel, natural history, and more.  After dinner you can sit and read, visit with fellow travelers, or take your chair outside and watch the sky and bay change colors in another spectacular Baja sunset.

What is the camping like?
We are fortunate to have a private island for three months of the year in this Whale Preserve. Isla Elenita is a wilderness area. We practice "Leave No Trace" camping. Prior to our using the space, we thoroughly clean it. Then we bring in 2 dome tents, one for cooking and one for lounging/community activities. We will also have 7 tents for participants to sleep in. They are spacious, double-occupancy tents. If you choose to sleep by yourself, we recommend that you bring your own tent to assure single occupancy.

Okay, what about the toilet facilities?
We provide privacy-screened toilet facilities. The waste will be disposed of in town at the end of the trip.

Does BWK supply alcoholic drinks?
No. We can procure alcohol for you prior to the trip if you let us know. We will supply Margarita mix, if you buy the Tequila.