What does the term "eco-travel" mean?
Eco-travel refers to environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features - both past and present) that promotes conservation, has low negative visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations. All of our tours in Baja are aligned with these principles, as well as those of the organization called Leave No Trace.

Where is Loreto and how do I get there?
Loreto is a charming town of about 5000 residents located on the Sea of Cortez side of the Baja Peninsula, about 600 miles south of San Diego. All flights to Loreto connect through either San Diego (SAN) or Los Angeles (LAX). In Feb - April 2007, you'll find flights arriving and departing to and from Loreto daily. Car and bus travel are also options. See the "travel info" section of your itinerary for more information, and check www.kayak.com to find the best airfares available for your week in Baja.

What Do I Need to Bring?
Most importantly, bring your ability to work and play with others and a desire to make this trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everyone. We send each participant a packing and equipment list to assist you in your preparations. For your comfort and enjoyment, please be sure to bring everything on the list. You may want to bring a small dry bag for personal belongings (such as binoculars, camera or sunscreen) that you may want easy access to while kayaking or whale watching.

During your stay in Baja you must have a Mexican Tourist Visa with you at all times and relinquish it at the airport when you leave the country. The airline provides a tourist visa application for you while in flight to Baja. For issurance of a tourist visa, you must have current identification (both a current driver's license and birth certificate) or a current passport.

Beginning in 2007, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has stipulated that travelers must have a valid passport to re-enter the United States from Mexico.

Money
It is not necessary to exchange currency, as the locals prefer to receive U.S. dollars. We recommend that you bring about $300-$400 in small denominations to pay for tips, dining out and smaller purchases in town. If you are driving, also bring enough dollars or pesos for gas, meals, showers and shopping. MasterCard and Visa are accepted at some hotels, shops and restaurants. The local banks will not advance you American dollars from your credit card and the ATMs only dispense Mexican currency, so come prepared with the cash you'll need for your return trip home.

What is the Sea Of Cortez like?
The Sea of Cortez is a large inland sea about 150 miles wide which separates the Baja Peninsula from the Mainland of Mexico. It is characterized by rugged mountainous desert terrain and deep blue waters that are known for supporting abundant marine life. The vegetation along the shores is lush desert foliage similar to the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona. The Cardon — the Baja version of the American Seguaro cactus — can grow to be 60 feet tall!

What is the weather like in Mag Bay?
From February through April, daytime highs in the Loreto area are between 75 and 80 degrees; lows at night are around 60. Afternoon sea breezes are common.

Can we fish?
Yes, as long as you have a fishing license, which you can procure in Loreto.

Can we snorkel?
Yes. There is excellent snorkeling opportunities on the Sea of Cortez. Serious snorkelers may want to bring their own gear, or rent gear from us.

How much kayaking do we do per day? Is it ok for beginners?
Beginning to advanced kayakers are all welcome, even those who prefer not to kayak at all! (Our island on Magdalena Bay can also be reached by motorboat.) At Mag Bay, those who want to can paddle through the mangroves in the afternoons, and at the Sea of Cortez, both closed-deck AND open-deck kayaks are available, so that you can either go out with the group (and guide) or on your own. We have single kayaks available for those who want to practice their kayak skills with our expert instructors.

How is the food and water at your Mag Bay camp?
We provide delicious Mexican home-cooked meals, prepared by a local chef (our guests rave about Lala's food!). We can and do accommodate vegetarians and people with dietary restrictions. We bring all our water with us, so there's plenty of purified water for both drinking and showering.

What about the food and water at the Eco-Resort?
At the resort, food is prepared for you in an open-air kitchen by local Mexican chefs. All the food is mainly organic and always fresh. A variety of local fresh seafood is always plentiful and locally grown fruits and vegetables will satisfy the most discerning vegetarian diet. The kitchen is "hands-on", so you may choose to participate as much or as little as you wish. You can even learn from the best how to make tortillas and tamales! Don't worry about drinking the water here. It's pure and fresh, running right out of a mountain spring well in the Sierra de La Giganta mountains behind the resort.

What about the shower and toilet facilities?
At our Mag Bay camp, fresh-water solar showers and privacy-screened toilet facilities are provided for your comfort. At the Eco Resort, special composting toilets were designed just for this delicate desert location, which are very user-friendly and aesthetically quite pleasant. The fresh-water showers are propane-heated, and the run-off is used to water the plants.

Does BWK supply alcoholic drinks?
No, but we will be happy procure alcoholic beverages for you prior to the trip at your request.