Mexico's Baja Peninsula: Hike, Bike & Kayak

Trip Code: QBXB

Why we love it

Kayak to Cabo's iconic arch and snorkel with tropical fish, playful sea lions and turtles at Pelican Beach., Take a boat to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Isla Espiritu Santo. Learn about the Sea of Cortez ecosystem from your local guide and snorkel in turquoise waters teeming with tropical fish., Ride through the Sierra de Las Cacachilas mountains, then strap on your boots and hike to La Zorra Canyon to a hidden oasis of waterfall pools – perfect for a refreshing swim after your hike!, Walk through local art galleries, unwind on the beach and maybe swim with gentle whale sharks, in your free time in La Paz., Savour fresh local cuisine and authentic Baja flavours throughout your trip. Sit down to dinner at The Ranch and try local dishes like fish tacos or plato paceno (fried meat and potatoes).

Is this trip right for me?

This trip requires a good level of fitness to fully enjoy the physical activities included.

While the activities are diverse, they are all run at a relaxed pace and do not require a high level of expertise or experience to participate.

All travellers need to be competent swimmers to take part in the water activities on this trip.

A variety of whale species migrate to Baja's warm waters during winter months, so guests hoping to witness these magnificent creatures should select departures between December and March for the best viewing opportunities.

The optional activity of swimming with whale sharks is only available on departures between April and October, when these gentle giants visit the Sea of Cortez.

Baja's climate is hot and dry. During your trip, please drink plenty of water and remember a good quality hat and reef-safe sunscreen.

Important information

1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 in Cabo San Lucas. There are no activities planned for the final day so you may depart at any time.

2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

3. Please be careful when booking flights to/from the San Jose del Cabo/Cabo San Lucas area; make sure you fly into/out of Los Cabos International Airport [SJD]. This is the closest major airport to both cities. Please do not book flights to/from Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO] as this is located in Costa Rica, or to/from Cabo San Lucas International Airport [CSL] as this is a smaller facility primarily used for private and charter flights.

What to bring/pack

Most travellers prefer to take a small to medium wheeled suitcase, which is a great size for the packing capacity in our private vehicles. You will need to be able to carry your own luggage, handle it at airports, take in/out of accommodation and perhaps even walk short distances. We recommend you pack as lightly as possible.

You'll need to bring a day pack/bag for activities and day trips.

In terms of weight, airlines generally allow a maximum of 15-20kg for check in luggage and a maximum of 5kg for carry on. Check with your airline for baggage allowances.

Other than the items and clothing you always need on a trip, below we have listed packing suggestions specific for this trip:

ESSENTIAL:
- Sun protection – sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen (reef-safe sunscreen for swimming). The UV index can be very high in this region, therefore it is essential you protect yourself adequately from the sun.
- Clothing for hot and humid weather: Lightweight, breathable quick-drying clothing.
- Clothing for cool nights/high altitudes, rainy days, and to protect against bugs: A lightweight waterproof jacket, pants, clothing you can easily layer.
- Closed-in walking/hiking shoes. Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from mud, cuts and scratches and bug bites. 
- Personal travel documents which may include a passport, visa, driver's license, travel insurance, flight tickets and your Essential Trip Information. Photocopies of these documents stored separately from the originals will be handy. While not valid, a photocopy of your identification makes it much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.

RECOMMENDED:
- Water bottle. We recommend at least a 1.5 litre capacity. Clean, filtered water is available for free in many hotel lobbies. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments
-Electrical adapter plug (Central American countries use plug types A & B which are standard throughout North America)
-Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolyte powders and Band-Aids.
-Watch/Alarm clock or phone that can be used for both
-Swimwear
-Travel beach towel
-Water-proof bag for your phone
-Tissues &/or toilet paper &/or wet wipes
-Insect repellent
-Camera with a spare memory card, charger &/or batteries

OPTIONAL:
-Earplugs to guard against a potential snoring room-mate
-Phrasebook

VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your safe if available. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden.

LAUNDRY:
Laundry is available at many hotels and towns during this trip, although you might need to wait for a two-night stop in order to make sure you get it back in time. While laundry at hotels is usually charged by the item, laundromats usually charge by the kilo, which is generally inexpensive (about USD 2 per kilo).

Physical rating

3

None of the activities featured in this trip require special training or skills, just a reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to participate. Cobblestones and uneven roads are common and you may be required to walk in hot and humid conditions. If you are in any doubt, please share these concerns or issues with your sales consultant so that your leader is aware prior and can pre-empt your needs.

Joining your group

Cabo San Lucas, , Cabo San Lucas, MEXICO

Alternate Joining Point


Joining instructions

Finishing your trip

San Jose Del Cabo, , San Jose Del Cabo, MEXICO

Alternate Finish Point


Meals & dietary information

Breakfasts included: 6

Lunches included: 1

Dinners included: 

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in this region. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat dinner together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
Please let us know your diet requirements before your trip starts.
Generally speaking, in bigger cities/towns vegetarians can expect a reasonable range of vegetarian venues and/or vegetarian options within tourist restaurant menus. However, vegetarianism is not the norm in this part of the world so options can be limited when eating at homestays, small local restaurants, street stalls, markets, etc.

More restrictive diet requirements (vegans, coeliac, gluten intolerance, fructose intolerance, lactose intolerance, etc.) can also be accommodated along this trip but you should expect a lesser variety than what you can expect at home. We recommend that, if possible, to bring your own supply of snacks with you.

For those on strict Kosher or Halal diets, we understand your dietary requirements are important, however, sometimes due to cultural and language differences these are not always easy to convey when you are travelling. Your guide will do their best to assist you in translating your needs when eating out, but please be aware that these diets are almost unheard of in much of the continent and the best they may be able to accommodate is no pork and shellfish. If this will be a concern for you you may need to consider opting for vegetarian or vegan meals for the included meals in your itinerary. We recommend researching kosher or halal options in your destination country prior to travel to see if you are able to buy snacks once there, otherwise consider bringing some from home. 

Climate & seasonal information

Please note that Hurricane season is June to November, when landslides, mudslides, flooding and disruptions to essential services can occur. Intrepid monitors these situations as they may arise, so that itineraries or activities can be amended as necessary.

In case of emergency

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

In the case of a genuine crisis or emergency, please contact our local office:

Intrepid local operator: Available for phone call on +52 55 9990 6006

Accommodations

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.

Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

Transportation