Treasures of Baja: From Sea to Sierra

Our hikes are over easy to moderate desert terrain, with well-marked paths throughout. Most of the trip's hiking is done in Sierra de la Laguna on trails of packed dirt or stone. Other walking excursions are done along beaches and soft sand dunes or in small towns and cities. This trip features plenty of boating—on covered pangas, small skiffs, and sea kayaks—along with snorkeling. Comfort in and near the ocean is a requirement.

Expect clear blue skies, warm daytime temperatures in the high 70s to mid 80s, and cool nights on our journey in this arid ecosystem. While Baja California Sur sees warm weather year-round, it has distinct seasons—with soaring temperatures in July and August and cooler nights in January and February—and a rainier period in August and September. We travel to Baja in the winter and spring, when we’ll avoid the hottest days and the rainiest months.

Our exclusive camp accommodations are a highlight of this trip—waking on a quiet, sunny, beach is an experience second to none. The private tents are furnished with real beds and linens, and the on-site chefs serve meals made from fresh, local ingredients. Our camps in Sierra de la Laguna and Magdalena Bay have walk-in tents with private toilet cabañas and furniture like chairs, bedside tables, lamps, and rugs—shower cabanas are shared. The Isla Espírito Santo camp features large dome tents with folding chairs for sitting outside, and shared shower and toilet cabañas. We spend two nights in charming boutique hotels with the character of Baja—one in La Paz and one in Todos Santos.

Cuisine is another standout of this trip, featuring freshly caught seafood, authentic Mexican/Latin flavors, and artful presentation. We take most of our meals at our camps under shared dining cabañas and meals are cooked fresh by the on-site chef using regional, seasonal ingredients. In Sierra de la Laguna, the local ranching family provides the camp’s meat, cheese, and tortillas, while produce is grown on site. On Isla Espírito Santo, our seafood is bought from the island’s fishermen.

Drives are taken in large vans and are broken up by scheduled stops. Our longest drive is around four hours on Day 8, from Magdalena Bay to Todos Santos—we take two other long drives of between two and three hours. We take a covered panga boat ride to and from Isla Espírito Santo that takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour, and we spend a few hours at a time on small boats while whale watching.