Baja California: North to South
Offered exclusively to Museum members! Membership information can be found in FEE section below.
ITINERARY
Day 1 TUCSON TO TECATE
After leaving Tucson, our first stop is at Yuma Crossing State Park for an al fresco picnic lunch. We cross the border at Mexicali and ascend through the eastern escarpment of the Sierra de Juarez, continuing west on Hwy 2 to the border community of Tecate and our Hotel Hacienda Santana. Our welcome dinner tonight is on-property at Bajo Tierro Cava Restaurant. (360 mi. L, D)
Day 2 TECATE TO SAN QUINTÍN
The day begins with a visit to the Kumiai Community of San Antonia de Necua, followed by a scenic drive through Valle de Guadalupe. There we enjoy a spectacular lunch at Finca Altozano, where award-winning chef Javier Plasencia creates masterful cuisine from his organic farm in a magnificent outdoor kitchen overlooking the valley. We continue to the coast through the port city of Ensenada on our way to San Quintín and our oceanfront hotel, Hotel Misión Santa Maria. (180 mi. B, L)
Day 3 SAN QUINTÍN TO CATAVIÑA
This morning affords free time to explore this pristine beach. After a late departure, we travel to the first Dominican Mission in Baja, Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario de Viñadaco, in El Rosario. After touring the ruins, we enjoy lunch at the world-famous Mama Espinoza’s, and then continue south and arrive at the Valle de Cirios, a protected bio-reserve with some of the most unique and diverse landscapes seen anywhere on the peninsula. Our stay at the Hotel Misión Cataviña is a surprising retreat in a fantasy landscape of granite boulders and forests of cardón and boojum. (140 mi. B, L, D)
Day 4 CATAVIÑA
Today we visit an abandoned rancheria that long ago thrived in the remote desert due to its being situated along an oasis arroyo. As we explore this canyon Jesús interprets the specific ethnobotanic features and pragmatic techniques that made homesteading life possible. We return to the hotel for a poolside picnic lunch and free time before departing for a hike to a pictograph-laden cave. Here we enjoy an unforgettable sunset soirée before returning to the hotel for dinner. (8 mi. B, L, D)
Day 5 - 7 CATAVIÑA TO GUERRERO NEGRO
Entering the State of Baja Sur we arrive in the community of Guerrero Negro for lunch. We then take a sandy road to Keith Jones' eco-camp at Ojo de Liebre Lagoon (www.Greywhale.com) and spend the next three nights at our secluded beach camp. The Grey Whale population is in sharp decline, and we have thus changed our stay from Lagoon San Ignacio to Ojo de Liebre and added a day. This will ensure the best opportunity to experience close encounters with females and their calves as they prepare for their long migration to Alaska. Time at the eco-camp follows a relaxed pace: morning Grey excursions to see these magnificent mammals up close, walks along the white sand beach, and wonderfully prepared seafood meals at the dining palapa. We also make an excursion to the Mitsubishi salt mine. Our stay at the eco-camp is one of the most memorable experiences of the tour. (120 mi. B, L, D)
Day 8 GUERRERO NEGRO - SAN FRANCISCO DE LA SIERRA - SAN IGNACIO
We depart Ojo de Liebre for the community of San Francisco de La Sierra where there are large iconic pictographs accessible only by helicopter or multiday mule rides. However, there are also fine pictographs that we know of that can be accessed without a mule! We visit this small ranching community and enjoy an authentic ranchero lunch before making our way to the palm oasis community of San Ignacio. Late in the afternoon, we walk to the beautiful plaza where Jesuit missionaries established lush Andalusian gardens that remain to this day. We spend time at the home of an old friend of Jesús’, Don Hector Arce, who has managed to maintain his simple agrarian lifestyle. Afterwards, we take dinner at Rancho Grande in the San Ignacío Plaza. (84 mi. B, L, D)
Day 9 SAN IGNACÍO TO LORETO BAY
This morning, we traverse the Peninsula to the Gulf of California side and stop at the charming town of Santa Rosalia, which is distinguished by its 19th-century French architecture. We offer free time to stroll the streets of this time capsule community. We then continue our journey along the spectacular coastal highway and break for lunch in Mulegé, another freshwater oasis town along the gulf. The church here dates back to 1754. A short drive takes us to the community of Nopolo and our beautiful home for the next three nights, Loreto Bay Resort. (120 mi. B, D)
Day 10 LORETO BAY / SAN XAVIER
In the Sierra de la Giganta is hidden the Mission of San Xavier. This “Jewel of the Baja Missions” dates to 1699. En route, we stop at the magnificent heritage gardens of Rancho Las Parras. San Xavier has a still-functioning acequia in the small mission orchard. In addition to the oldest trees on the Baja, there are the original mission olive trees, planted hundreds of years ago. We have time to explore the picturesque plaza and enjoy lunch before we descend the Sierra to Loreto to explore the central plaza, shops, cafes, Malecon and church. Founded in 1697 by the Jesuit Juan Maria Salvatierra, the Misión Nuestro Señora de Loreto was Spain’s first effort to colonize this rugged territory. This evening offers either free time or movie night. We hope to offer a private screening of La Recua - a documentary by Trudi Angel of the vaquero culture of Baja. (80 mi. B, L)
Day 11 LORETO BAY / FREE DAY
Today is a free day to spend at your leisure. An activities desk at our hotel offers rentals for a nominal fee. Options available at our beach include sea kayaks, paddleboards, snorkeling, hiking, and golf.
Off-property options are plentiful. You may choose to explore the small community of shops and restaurants in Loreto Bay or take a taxi for the short drive to downtown Loreto. The marina offers adventurous hour-long panga rides to Isla Coronados, an island rich in marine and shorebird habitats. Along the way, we pass the rocky northern coastline of the Isla, past a small sea lion colony and roosting Blue Footed and Brown Boobies, and land at a pristine crushed white coral beach to spend a few hours snorkeling, hiking, and relaxing before returning. We are happy to assist with any options you choose. (20 mi. B)
Day 12 LORETO TO SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO
Crossing the peninsula multiple times, we arrive at the tip of Baja. We break in Las Pocitas for a wonderful home-cooked lunch. Our route takes us past the metropolis of La Paz to San Jose del Cabo. Our charming hotel is perfectly located near the central plaza. (330 mi. B, L)
Day 13 SOUTHERN CAPE LOOP / El TRIUMFO / TODOS SANTOS
Today we drive around the Sierra La Laguna at the southern tip of the Peninsula. North of San Jose, we pass through the small communities of Miraflores, Santiago, and San Antonio. We explore El Triunfo, a quaint 18th-20th-century mining town that has been revitalized. Our next stop is the Museo del Vaquero de las Californias - a new state-of-the-art interpretation center dedicated to the hearty cowboys that populated the Peninsula’s untamable wilderness. We then make our way to the artists' haven of Todos Santos and give you time to meander through the town and take an early dinner at your leisure. (150 mi. B)
Day 14 CABO SAN LUCAS / LANDS END
We have a leisurely morning to explore San Jose. Bird the nearby mangroves or explore the shops and cafes. In the afternoon, we make the short drive to Cabo San Lucas for a boat ride to the iconic Los Arcos in Land’s End. We return to San Jose Del Cabo for our farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (30 mi. B,D)
Day 15 SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO TO LOS CABOS AIRPORT / TUCSON
After breakfast, we make the short trip to the airport for our return flight. (B)
YOUR LEADERS
Jesús García, retired Cultural Conservation Research Associate at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, was born and raised in Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, México. As a young man, he moved to Tucson and earned a bachelor's degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a minor in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Arizona. He began his career with ASDM in 1991 and has taught natural history and cultural programs throughout southern Arizona and northern Sonora. His many interests include conservation biology, art, cultural ecology, regional languages, music, and gardening. Jesús is a master storyteller and an expert at identifying plant and animal species, describing their preferred growing or breeding habits, and explaining their environmental connections to one another and us.
Fred Nials was raised on a ranch and farm along the Canadian River in eastern New Mexico. Although a geologist by training, he has done geo-archaeological research on well over 5,000 archaeological sites ranging in age from Paleoindian to Historic in western North and South America and Cyprus, and has taught at universities in New Mexico, Washington, and Nevada for 28 years. He specializes in the stratigraphy of archaeological sites, prehistoric technology, and prehistoric agriculture, and has done pioneering work on aeolian and alluvial chronologies in the western U.S. and South America. He participated in the earliest and most comprehensive early study of prehistoric irrigation in coastal South America, the earliest comprehensive study of the Hohokam canal system in the Phoenix Basin and was part of a team that reconstructed the annual flow of the Salt and Gila Rivers since 577A.D.
Stephen Bernier, travel director, manages logistics and is the owner of South of the Border Tours. Stephen has organized and produced tours throughout the American Southwest and Mexico since 1993 with clients that include: the University of Arizona Elderhostel/Road Scholar Program, Arizona Historical Society, Scottsdale Sister City, Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tohono Chul, Portland Art Museum, Heard Museum Guild, Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson City of Gastronomy, as well as various other museums and universities. Stephen is also a volunteer with Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists.
INCLUDED SERVICES
Transportation in a 49-passenger luxury motorcoach; all tour expenses; all meals listed in the itinerary; all guide services; all hotels, including overnights in Tecate, San Quintín, two nights in Cataviña, three nights of glamping in Guerrero Negro, overnight in San Ignacio, three nights at the oceanfront Loreto Bay Resort, and three nights in the charming town of San José del Cabo.
NOT INCLUDED
On day one, we will stop at the border to obtain a tourist visa. You are responsible for the FMM Visa (tourist visa) fee of approximately $45. Tourist visas are valid for 6 months, in the event you have a current visa at the time of the tour. Depending on the activity chosen, fees may apply for excursions on our free day in Loreto.
FEES
This special travel opportunity is offered exclusively to Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum members. If you are currently not a member but would like to join us, you may do so by following this link. The tour price is $5750 and the single supplement, if it becomes available, will be an additional $1700. Due to limited space at the whale camp, we are only accepting double occupancy registrations at this time. If you have no traveling companion but would like to register, you may do so as a single and will be put on a waitlist. If space opens up at approximately two months out, we will contact you. At that time, we will attempt to make a roommate match. However, if one cannot be found, then the single supplement will need to be paid.
The return is by air from Los Cabos and is NOT included in the fee. You are responsible for booking your return flight. Approximately 6 months before our departure date, South of the Border Tours will determine a suggested flight from San Jose Del Cabo to either Tucson or Phoenix. For those who travel on this flight, there will be transportation provided from our hotel to the airport in Los Cabos, as well as transportation from either Tucson International Airport or Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
ROOMING
The listed price is for double occupancy.
MEETING PLACE
We will meet and leave our cars at the Museum or at the South of the Border Tours parking facility. This will be shared in the pre-trip information.
BORDER CROSSING
You will need a valid passport book to take this trip. Your passport book must be valid for at least 6 months after our travel dates.
MEXICO TRAVEL
The U.S. State Department has Travel Advisories for some of the areas we will visit or travel through. You may review the most up-to-date status of different areas within Mexico at this link. Our tour operator, South of the Border Tours, has established a record of safety and quality during their 30+ years of running tours throughout Mexico and keeps in close communication with partners at each location to which we travel.
GROUP SIZE
Tour is limited to 24 guests.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Guests must be able to walk unassisted at a moderate pace, which can include a minimum of one-half mile over varied terrain. The tour is suitable for those who can spend a significant amount of time, if not the entire day, exploring the area. Please know your limitations. The staff will make every effort to properly prepare and make concessions should activities need to be individually altered. Not making prudent choices based on your physical abilities might affect your experience and the overall group experience, and strain our staff resources. Please contact us before our departure should you have concerns.
CANCELLATION POLICY
All cancellations must be in writing or email. Our policy is as follows: Cancellations made 60 days prior to departure will result in refunded payments less a $200 per person handling fee. Cancellations made 59-31 days prior to departure will result in a 50% forfeiture of payment. Cancellations made 30 days or less prior to departure are non-refundable.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We highly recommend travel insurance. You are welcome to choose any travel insurance company; however, Allianz Travel Insurance is our preferred company. Please visit their website to review all policies that are available: www.allianztravelinsurance.com. Insurance should be purchased within 14 days of paying your tour deposit. By doing so, you will have the best coverage options to choose from. Should you sign up with them, please use our ACCAM number, which is FO29755.
TOUR ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
We reserve the right to change components, substitute hotels or alter the itinerary, and to make any other changes deemed necessary to carry out and maintain the quality and safety of the tour in good faith to the participants. In the case of civil unrest, acts of God, situations known as force majeure, we may cancel or postpone a trip.
QUESTIONS
This trip is jointly run by South of the Border Tours and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Should you have any questions about the itinerary or logistics, please contact Debby Bernier, Office Manager at 520-760-4000 or at southofthebordertours@msn.com. For questions about payment, please contact the Reservations Coordinator at 520-883-3025 or at education@desertmuseum.org.
