Tag Archives: Kayaking

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Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Play, Trip Ideas

Baja Kayak Adventures

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Few water sports put you closer to nature than ocean kayaking. It’s just you, a small boat and the sea. And few places offer a better kayaking experience than the La Paz region of the Baja Peninsula. The waters are warm, the wind and seas often calm, and the coastline punctuated by an intriguing collection of small islands and coastal bays, all providing ideal destinations for paddlers. You can get a taste in a day or less, but if you have a week or more to devote to a kayak tour, you can have your fill of adventures both on the water and ashore along some of the wildest and most scenic coastlines in North America.

Day Trips

You don’t have to go far from town to get away from it all. A half-day or single-day trip can have you paddling in the turquoise waters of Balandra Bay, with a lunch stop at a secluded beach, or touring Sea Lion and Deception Islands, where you’ll have time to stop and explore, and perhaps don snorkel gear to swim with tropical fish. Another popular option is a trip to the mangrove wetlands of the Mogote Peninsula, which is home to more than 100 different species of coastal birds. Day trips are ideal for novice or casual paddlers, as guides often devote the first part of each excursion to the basics of paddling, and follow less demanding routes that remain in calm water.

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A lone paddler glides across crystal clear waters in a bay north of La Paz. Spring and fall are prime season for paddlers, as winds are light and air temperatures are moderate. Photo: Ian B. Johnson/iStock

Island Time

There are a number of wild coastal islands in the La Paz region that can be explored by sea kayak. The closest to town, and the most popular, is Isla Espíritu Santo, which offers a combination of dramatic rocky cliffs and calm hidden bays. It is possible to take a day trip to the island, but if time permits, Espíritu is certainly worth more than a single day. Several outfitters organize three- to seven-day tours of the island, usually supported by a motor launch that carries provisions and camping gear, freeing paddlers to enjoy their routes along dramatic rock formations and the islands 20 sand beaches. When weather permits, trips may circumnavigate the island, with stops to snorkel, hike inland, swim with playful seals and sea lions and, during winter months, use the support skiffs for whale watching excursions farther from shore.

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The slopes of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains tower over a trio of kayaks beached on a remote bay between La Paz and Loreto. Much of this coastline is not accessible by road. Photo: iStock

Coastal Explorations

Those wanting a true wilderness experience, and who are willing and able to put in more time paddling, can sign up for a coastal tour from La Paz to the town of Loreto. The 140-mile voyage is typically undertaken in 9 to 12 days, with stops in small fishing villages and passages along sections of coastline that are not accessible by road. These trips are recommended for intermediate to advanced paddlers, but they are supported by motor launches to carry the heavy stuff and provide emergency support. Routes often zigzag between the mainland and the more than two dozen small islands found along the route. Itineraries are planned to allow ample daily time for side trips, snorkeling and fishing, and nights are often spent around a beachfront campfire, sharing stories of the day’s adventures.

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The sun rises over the calm waters of the Sea of Cortez along a pristine section of beach. Kayak tours provide a unique way to discover one of Mexico’s last undeveloped coastlines. Photo: iStock

Florida Keys Sunset Kayaking
Florida, Florida Keys, Play, Trip Ideas

Sunset Kayaking in the Florida Keys

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An evening paddle in the Lower Florida Keys promises sensational sunset viewing and an opportunity to get up close with nature. You won’t find a more prime spot than on the tranquil water flowing under the No Name Key bridge, a few strokes from Big Pine Key Adventures’ launch at the Old Wooden Bridge Fish Camp on Big Pine Key. Choose a red, yellow or blue kayak, strap on a vest and push off into the shallow waters on the edge of Boggie Channel. From here, you can go east toward the Atlantic Ocean or west into the Gulf of Mexico. You can also paddle across the channel to No Name Key’s shore for a close up look at the red mangrove’s prop roots and water fowl foraging at dusk.

More experienced kayakers can explore on their own with a self-guided kayak chart that’s provided. Those looking for a tour can join Capt. Bill Keogh, his dog Scupper and fellow kayakers for the sunset paddle. A naturalist guide and professional photographer, Keogh has been paddling these waters for more than two decades. He can answer all your questions about the long-legged egrets and great white herons that frequent the Florida Keys and the majestic ospreys soaring above, as well as the sea grass waving below and the fish flitting through it. And if the sunset tour leaves you eager to travel more of the waterways, Big Pine Kayak Adventures also offers kayak fishing and backcountry tours.