YOGA & STAND UP PADDLE BOARD TOUR

A Unique View of Isla Espiritu Santo & the Sea of Cortez - Evening Restorative Yoga

Overview

TRIP LENGTH

7 days

SEASON

October - April

ADVENTURE TYPE

Snorkeling

Multisport

Camping

Special Interest

DESTINATION

Baja California

MIN. AGE

16 years

TRIP BEGINS/ENDS

La Paz, Baja California Sur

NEAREST AIRPORTS

San Jose del Cabo (SJD)

Our new Yoga & Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) tour offers a unique perspective of Baja and all it has to offer. Based on the beautiful beaches and in the sheltered coves of Isla Espiritu Santo, you will start your days with relaxing yoga sessions on sandy beaches. Each afternoon or early evening, you'll be led in an on-the-water yoga experience, using your SUP as your yoga mat and developing your practice in a dynamic way above the crystal blue waters of the Sea of Cortez. In between, enjoy relaxing on the beach, hiking desert arroyos, snorkeling and paddling your SUP in the "world's largest aquarium", and enjoying authentic Mexican cuisine prepared by expert local guides. After happy hour and dinner, enjoy the stars and the serenity of the Baja wilderness.

Isla Espiritu Santo, off the coast of La Paz, contains striking natural beauty in a dramatic setting formed by rugged islands with high cliffs and sandy beaches, which contrast with the brilliant reflection from the desert and the surrounding turquoise waters. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected National Park and offers the perfect blend of scenery, hiking, and snorkeling, all of which beautifully complement the yoga and SUP activities on this dream vacation.

Our Sea of Cortez tours feature encounters with a wide range of marine wildlife, sunny weather, warm waters, and comfortable camping on the beaches of the Baja peninsula's offshore islands. We know you'll find yoga and stand up paddle-boarding to be perfect activities for a blissful Baja vacation. This tour is best taken by guests who are comfortable with both yoga and SUP, although advanced skills in either are not necessary.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive on your own in La Paz and make your way to our tour hotel for your included accommodations. We recommend that you explore the malecon - the waterfront pedestrian walkway, just a short walk from your hotel - and do some sightseeing, shopping, or culinary exploring. Dinner is on your own and there are many restaurants with sunset views and excellent local cuisine to choose from. In the evening, you will have a pre-trip orientation meeting with your yoga & SUP instructor, local guides, and fellow guests in the lobby of the tour hotel where you will have your questions answered, receive dry bags for packing your personal items while camping, and get more information about the plan for the week.

Accommodations:

Seven Crown Centro, La Paz

Meals Included:

None (travel day)

Day 2

Your guides will meet you in the morning at your tour hotel and transfer you to the La Paz marina, where you will board our panga (motor boat) for a scenic trip to Isla Espiritu Santo. Once we land on the island, your guides will get you set up with your SUP board and snorkeling gear, and review safety procedures. While your local guides set up camp and prepare lunch, you will begin your exploration of Espiritu Santo's waters and beaches. Later that evening, enjoy happy hour on the sand, a well-deserved dinner, and your evening yoga session under the stars.

Meals Included:

Lunch, Dinner

Day 3-5

Rise with the sunshine to find hot coffee prepared and waiting for you. Depending on group preferences, either before or after your full and delicious Mexican breakfast we'll warm up with an energizing land-based yoga session on the beach. The rest of each day will consist of a variety of activities: stand up paddle boarding on the blue-green waters of the Sea of Cortez, snorkeling among reef fish (either directly from camp, from our panga, or from your SUP board), hiking the desert island's arroyo trails, or just relaxing on the beach. In the late afternoon or early evening, you'll enjoy your 2nd yoga session of the day, this time from your SUP board. Take advantage of your instructor's expertise in this mode of practice and feel the combination of balance, power, and movement, all combined with the thrill of being on the water and surrounded by the stunning red landscape. When your SUP yoga session concludes, take another refreshing dip or snorkel from your board, or retreat to camp for happy hour and a dinner carefully prepared by your guides. As the sun sets and brilliant stars emerge, you may see bioluminescence in the water as well. To conclude your evenings, an optional restorative yoga session will be offered at camp before you climb into your tent for a well-deserved rest.

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6

Your last morning on the island starts with your now welcome routine: coffee and breakfast on the beach and a wake-up yoga session on the sand. The big plan for today is to venture just north of the tip of Isla Espiritu Santo to Los Islotes, where we visit a friendly colony of sea lions. The pups and juveniles who call Los Islotes home are curious, used to visiting snorkelers, and eager to say hello. In addition to the sea lions, there are plenty of underwater features and vibrant fish to see in this location, and the view back to Isla Espiritu Santo is exceptional. Once we've made acquaintances with our underwater friends, we'll take the panga back to La Paz and deliver you to your tour hotel for the night. After a shower and some rest, we hope you'll join your guides and the rest of the group for a farewell dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants (not included in trip cost). Recap the week's adventure with your travel companions before settling into a comfortable bed for the night.

Accommodations:

Seven Crown Centro, La Paz

Meals Included:

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7

OPTIONAL: ADD A DAY TO SNORKEL WITH WHALE SHARKS for $199 (including an additional night's hotel in La Paz - double occupancy)

Note: If you are not extending your stay to snorkel with whale sharks, Day 7 will be your departure day.

Make your 7-day package an 8-day package and partake in a phenomenal snorkeling experience. The Bay of La Paz is the seasonal home of several of the world's largest fish: the Whale Shark. We partner with a local Whale Shark reserach organization, whose vision is to promote regional conservation of the species. We take you out into the Bay of La Paz (again, on a panga) with the organization's director and/or staff, all of whom are educated and equipped to share their love for these gentle plankton-eating creatures. Although gentle, they are big: up to 42' (13m) in length! The shallow waters near La Paz provide plenty of food for the relatively slow-moving Whale Shark, and you will have the chance to see them up close, contribute to the research being conducted, and take home a lifelong memory. This tour is typically 4-5 hours in duration, with a light lunch on the panga, and time in the afternoon to explore La Paz and enjoy last evening in Mexico.

Accommodations:

Seven Crown Centro, La Paz

Meals Included:

Lunch

Day 8

Sleep in or rise early: either way, enjoy breakfast at the hotel cafe or at a local restaurant, take another look around La Paz, stroll the malecon in the quiet of morning if you have time, and depart on your own schedule. If flying home via San Jose del Cabo airport, ensure that you have booked shuttle or bus transportation from La Paz (both options will be described in your reservation materials), and allow adequate time in the day's schedule for the trip. Say "hasta luego" to Baja and start planning your next adventure!

Meals Included:

None (travel day)

Dates and Rates

Dates	Non-Members(USD)	Perfect Paddle Members(USD)
Apr 07, 2018 to Apr 13, 2018 Only 4 Spots Left	Coming Soon	Coming Soon	Call To Book

Note: On our Yoga & Stand Up Paddleboard Tour, panga (motor boat) support will be provided throughout and guests will be moved from location to location on the panga.

If you have a group of 6 or more and are intereseted in an alternative depature date or tour, please contact us. We are happy to see if we can arrange a custom Yoga & SUP depature for your group!

ALL PRICES IN US DOLLARS. We will do our best to adhere to the itineraries and trip descriptions listed on our website. However, tour itineraries or sub contractors (such as taxi, cruise boats or hotels) may change slightly due to reasons beyond our control including but not limited to Acts of God, wind, waves, inclement weather or other. We always welcome you to call us to clarify any item - often this is the best way to fully clarify expectations - call us collect or on our toll-free number. You will be sent pre-trip email with latest details within a month of your tour - it is your responsibility to check in with us prior to your trip to see if you have all the information you need. We will always do our best to provide you with the best possible tour and to fully meet your expectations to the best of our ability.

Supplementary Information

Single Supplement: If you are a solo traveler and wish to have your own hotel room in La Paz (or we are unable to pair you up with another solo traveler), an additional single supplement of $105 USD is required. Solo travelers will always have their own tent during kayaking or SUP portions of our tours, at no additional cost.

Tour Includes:
• Full services of our Adventure Consultants
• Professional naturalist and bi-lingual guides
• All meals and beverages as indicated on the itinerary
• Hotel before and after the camping portion of your tour (and between activities when dictated by the itinerary)
• All transportation while on tour
• All SUP, camping, and snorkeling equipment. Yoga gear is not provided (see below)
• Panga support througout camping portion of tour
• All National Parks & Biosphere Reserve access fees required by itinerary (included in tour package price beginning in October of 2018)
• Taxes

Tour Does Not Include:
• Airfare
• Transportation to and from the airport
• $25 National Parks & Biosphere Reserves access fees required by itinerary (for tours departing through spring of 2018)
• Gratuities
• Items of a personal nature, including personal yoga gear (mat, towel, strap, blocks, etc.)

Images and Videos

FAQ & More

What is the yoga schedule?

Although flexible, a typical day will include a morning land-based yoga session on the beach, an afternoon SUP yoga session on the water, and another (optional) restorative yoga session at camp in the evening.

Do I have to be an advanced yogi or have SUP experience to join you?

Do you supply the yoga equipment?

How do I get to La Paz?

Are your tour prices in USD?

What’s included in this tour package? What’s not included?

Included: Skilled professional guide services, ground transportation, motorboat-support to carry gear, hotel nights as indicated on itinerary, all National Parks & Biosphere Reserve access fees required by itinerary (included in tour package price beginning in October of 2018), SUP equipment, snorkeling equipment, camping equipment including tents, sleeping bags, liners, and sleeping pads. Our camping trips include all meals from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day.

Not Included: Airfare, transportation to and from airport, gratuities, $25 National Parks & Biosphere Reserves access fees required by itinerary (for tours departing through spring of 2018), yoga equipment, and items of a personal nature (including yoga gear per above).

What kind of Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boards do you use?

We use only solid/rigid SUP boards (i.e. NOT inflatable boards) on our Yoga & SUP tour. These boards allow for a more stable surface on which to practice SUP yoga as well as better stability during regular paddling excursions in the waters of Baja. Our boards are of sufficient length and width to comfortably perform yoga on, although you should expect a core strength, mental focus, and balance challenge when praciting yoga on ANY SUP board. We provide standard SUP paddles that are adjustable for length.

Is this trip motorboat supported? Will I be SUP boarding on open water?

The entirety of this tour is supported by a panga (motor boat). The panga will carry all gear, including SUP boards, camping gear, etc. as well as guests to Espiritu Santo and will also transport gear and guests between camp sites, to snorkeling locations, and back to La Paz at the end of the tour. You will not be paddling out into the open ocea on your SUP boards, but will be exploring the large, deep bays and coves of Isla Espiritu Santo.

What’s camp like? Are there toilets and showers at camp?

We will most likely use two different campsites on this tour, with 2 nights spent at each. Campsites are assigned by the National Park Service immediately prior to the tour, but we will do our best to secure the campsites on Isla Espiritu Santo that we believe are best for yoga on the beach and Stand Up Paddle Boarding in the waters off shore. We always work to secure the very best campsites for the natural beauty and amenities of the area as well. Your guides will typically set up your tents, but will often ask guests to help with taking them down. Regardless, your guides will give a demonstration of how to set up and take down your provided dome tent. We also will provide you with a sleeping bag, liner sheet, pillow and an inflatable thermarest sleeping pad. There will be a kitchen/dining area and shade tarps where you can sit back and relax.

While camping on Isla Espiritu Santo, we can only carry enough fresh water for drinking and cooking. There are no fresh water sources on most of the coastline and islands we visit, and no shower facilities either. You can clean up with saltwater and soap off above the high tide line, or bring disposable shower wipes. As for toilet facilities, we bring out own: a porta potty will fit into the panga support boat, and will be transported to each campsite and set into a sheltered area for solid waste. Liquid waste can be expelled below the high tide line, or in a separate porta-potty bucket.

When is the best time to go?

What happens if it’s too windy to Stand Up Paddleboard?

Another reason we choose fall and spring for our SUP tours is that the winds are typically calm during these times of year. Also, the bays and coves of Isal Espiritu Santo are quite sheltered from the wind, so the likelihood of being significantly effected by wind is low. That being said, if it’s too windy to be on the water, we have plenty of alternative activities for guests to enjoy. There are opportunities for additional land-based yoga, chances to snorkel, hike or just relax on the beach with a margarita. In general, we plan our itineraries to minimize risks posed by weather, but there is always an element of unpredictability in nature. All of our guides are certified in water rescue techniques and we will always do our utmost to minimize risk on the water and in remote areas.

What kind of food will I eat? Do you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Our renowned wilderness meals are prepared daily by our guides using local, fresh, healthy ingredients. In Baja you can expect an authentic dining experience, with savory dishes like chiles rellenos, tostadas, ceviche, and chicken mole. We even serve delicious desserts like brownies and pineapple upside-down cake! Each morning, we serve up freshly brewed coffee or tea. Throughout the day we provide an abundance of local fruits, vegetables, and other snacks. Wine and mixed drinks are served with hors d’oeuvres each evening for happy hour.

We do our best to accommodate special dietary requests, working within the parameters of the destinations in which we operate. If you have a very strict diet, we recommend packing extra snacks that you know you can eat.

How many guests per tour?

What’s the weather like in Baja?

Are there any extensions I can add to the beginning or end of my trip?

If you will be extending your stay in lovely LaPaz before or after your tour, consider joining us for a day to snorkel with Whale Sharks. La Paz is home to a unique and prolific Whale Shark population. We partner with a local research and non-profit organization to facilitate these tours. Don't miss the adrenaline rush of snorkeling with these gentle giants, while simultaneously learning about this unique species. Please inquire with the office if you would like to add on a Whale Shark tour to your reservation.

Is there a single supplement fee for solo travelers?

Our tour costs are based on double occupancy on any included hotel nights. Solo travelers who would like their own single hotel room can pay a single supplement (see "Dates & Rates" above for the single supplement price for this tour), or can be matched up with another solo traveler of the same gender if one is available and willing to share. If we are unable to pair you with another solo traveler, we must apply the single supplement charge to cover our hotel costs. Solo travelers will always have their own tent during yoga & SUP tours, at no additional cost.

Where can I store my luggage while I’m on your tour?

Is there a deposit required? Is my deposit refundable?

A deposit of $200 per person is required within 10 days of your reservation to hold your spaces. If the tour you are signing up for is a confirmed departure your deposit is non-refundable. For this reason, we strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance to protect your vacation investment. US residents may purchase travel insurance directly through ROW Sea Kayak Adventures offered by Travel Insured International.

What is your cancellation policy?

If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, you should notify ROW Sea Kayak Adventures in writing, by e-mail or fax immediately. If written cancellation is received (call to verify) before the final balance is due, you will be given a refund less the amount of deposit. Deposits are not refundable. If cancellations are made on or after the final due date, no money will be refunded. If you are unable to go on the trip, you are welcome to find a replacement for yourself. Please understand that once you've signed up, we are unable to sell your reserved space to other individuals or groups. Therefore, we regret that we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. For this reason we strongly recommend you consider purchasing a Travel Protection Plan to protect your vacation investment.

When is payment in full due?