Trip Overview
Beginning with a night in Loreto, our trip takes you from this quaint coastal town crossing the most picturesque part of the Baja peninsula to the shores of San Ignacio Lagoon, the sanctuary for the Pacific Gray Whales. On the first day, meet our guides and fellow travelers at our welcome Happy Hour and spend the night in Loreto at our seaside hotel with unobstructed views of the Sea of Cortez and desert islands. The next morning have an early buffet breakfast and then begin your road trip to San Ignacio Lagoon, stopping in the town of San Ignacio for lunch. Late in the afternoon you arrive at Campo Cortez Ecolodge at Laguna San Ignacio where you’ll spend four days and nights in clean, comfortable, wooden cabins with views of the lagoon, comfortable beds, and electricity to charge your camera or other small devices. Enjoy whale watching twice daily with our local guides and boat captains who are residents of the lagoon that share with you their local knowledge of this peaceful Gray Whale Sanctuary.
Days are spent whale watching, birdwatching, beach-strolling or joining a guide led tide-pool excursion, while evenings are spent discussing the day’s events with informal lectures, videos and discussions. Enjoy delicious authentic lagoon meals made with fresh locally sourced ingredients and you’ll love the sunsets, sunrises, and dark sky constellation gazing at night. On Day 6, say goodbye to Campo Cortez Ecolodge and head into San Ignacio Town. Once there, you will have an opportunity to hang out in the town plaza, visit the historic 17th century Jesuit mission, grab a cup of coffee and some local treats. Then you continue to Loreto for your final night in the seaside hotel. The final day after breakfast we say goodbye and shuttle to the airport. Many guests choose to extend their adventure in Loreto either at the beginning or at the end of the trip which is why we love this itinerary.
Trip Itinerary
| INTINERARY AT A GLANCE |
|---|
| Day 1 — Meet for happy hour today at the hotel for Orientation and Happy Hour at 5:00 pm (check-in available by 3:00 pm, sometimes earlier). This evening is free for you to tour the plaza and have dinner on your own or join our guide at the hotel for a group dinner (dinner not included). |
| Day 2 — Early morning buffet breakfast overlooking the Sea of Cortez. The buffet includes regional cuisine, eggs, fresh fruit, juices, coffee and a wide variety of options. After breakfast, we depart for San Ignacio Lagoon on a scenic road trip stopping at the town of San Ignacio (oasis in the desert) for lunch. You arrive San Ignacio Lagoon for orientation in the afternoon, Happy Hour and then dinner. |
| Days 3, 4, 5 — Three full days and nights including 6 whale watching trips. Group lead tide-pool exploration, guide presentations after happy hour and home-made tortillas and local meals. Beer, soda and wine are all included. |
| Day 6 — Depart Campo Cortez after breakfast and drive to San Ignacio Town where you will have a chance to walk around the town plaza, see the historic Jesuit 17th century mission, and have lunch before departing for the return road trip to Loreto. Dinner on your own in the evening or join our guide for farewell group dinner (dinner not included). |
| Day 7 — Buffet Breakfast included at Hotel La Misión. Some guests will stay on and continue their adventure in Loreto on their own or we have a morning shuttle to the airport for individual flights home. |
We are consistently rated the #1 Travelers’ Choice on Trip Advisor year after year for one reason, our Staff and Owners - who are residents and locals to San Ignacio Lagoon. We are four generations of family living and working in the lagoon since the settlement of San Ignacio Lagoon. We take pride in our efforts at our Ecolodge to have a low-impact environmentally and the responsibility that we carry as Ambassadors to the lagoon and its many wildlife residents.