The Baja Island and Mountain Travel Guide
Everything you need to know about traveling to Baja!
You’re about to partake in an incredible adventure to explore both islands and mountains in Baja- the best of both worlds! While you explore the great outdoors both on land and in the sea, you’ll also be exploring the great indoors, aka “the self”, with mindfulness practices and opportunities for reflection.
To get the most out of your journey it’s best to be prepared! We’ve laid out everything you need to know about traveling to Baja Sur with us. We can’t wait!
The Weather
How should I dress?
While there isn’t really a bad time to hit the beach in Baja, December is quite an ideal time of year to travel down south.
Expect to miss the super high heat of the summer as the high’s settle into a comfortable 80’s F during the day and 60’s F at night with an average water temperature of 65 F. Baja in December is warm and comfortable with low humidity and some early migratory whales beginning to appear!
While you’ll be enjoying warm days and cool nights on the beach, you’ll be encountering some cooler weather during the mountain part of your adventure. Additionally while traveling via boat it can be pretty chilly! You’ll want to pack mostly warm clothes with some layers for the cooler weather.
You can find more details on gear below.
packing list
What do I need to bring?
Your adventure is packed with incredible exploration in two very different areas - mountains and islands! That means you’ll need a bit of everything, from swimsuits to hiking shoes and warm weather clothes to cooler weather layers.
The key to packing for this trip is all about layering and finding the right quick-dry gear, which we talk about in our packing list below.
All gear that is needed for water activities will be provided for you, however if you have your own snorkeling mask or fins that you just can’t snorkel without, feel free to bring them along!
You can find a detailed packing list here. We will also go over this packing list in much more detail on our two pre-trip calls.
Sustainability is one of our core-pillars, so we love to suggest sourcing gear from friends/family or second hand stores that sell lightly used gear! If you’re buying gear new, we recommend shopping locally or from small companies in whose mission you believe.
Preparing For Your adventure
what difficulty level should i expect?
This adventure is a beautiful blend of activity and leisure. Expect to move your body, but also have plenty of time to rest, relax and soak up the sun or drink in the crisp mountain air.
Throughout the trip you will have the opportunity to snorkel, paddleboard, kayak, and swim. There are multiple boat rides as well. In the mountain portion of your adventure expect to do some day hikes (not more than 5 miles). Most activities are optional and are very well supported should anyone require rest! On our trips we encourage you to do what feels right. This might mean participating in all the activities offered or sitting out, resting, relaxing and reflecting. Make this trip truly yours.
We classify this adventure as a level 2 out of 5. This means that this trip is accessible for all levels and requires little to no preparation for physical activities planned. There are of course some day hikes on the itinerary as well as water activities mentioned above. For these reasons you must be physically mobile (i.e. able to get in and out of a boat, etc).
Most activities are likely to be flexible and optional and you will have a support team of local guides as well as Root Tour Leaders to help you along the way!
Do as the locals do
A Crash course in the local culture of the Baja Sur
It’s important at Root that when we travel we travel with an open mind and are respectful to the local ways, traditions, and customs. Keeping in mind that we are ambassadors of the US when we travel to foreign countries, it can be helpful to be prepared with some basic knowledge!
Language: Spanish, although due to the rise in tourism most locals speak English as well. Even still, learning a few key phrases in Spanish can go a long way!
Currency: Pesos. Keep in mind that Root includes everything you need for your travels outside of alcohol, souvenirs and the occasional meal. Almost everyone will happily accept US Dollars, but if you would like to purchase gifts in the local currency we recommend using an ATM when you arrive (as opposed to getting cash before you arrive). Most credit cards will often be accepted, but there is a possibility for foreign fees or more remote locations that do not accept credit cards.
Drinking Water: It is not recommended that you drink the tap water. Not because it is dirty (this is a common misconception), it simply has different bacteria then the water we are used to drinking…hence the upset tummy. Throughout your trip you will have plenty of clean drinking water sources, so no need to worry about this!
The Culture: Todos Santos is said to be the “culture capital” of Baja Sur, largely in part to its incredible artistry that can be seen by simply going for a walk around the town. While we will go out on the town in Todos Santos, you might want to pop out and take a walk around to see all that this sweet little sleepy town has to offer.
The History: “The indigenous Pericue people had first contact with Hernan Cortez, the Spanish explorer, who heralded the arrival of Spanish culture and Catholicism on the Baja Peninsula. Pirates landed here, thanks to Baja Sur’s convenient location as a gateway to other parts of Mexico and the Americas. This influx of people from around the world gave Baja Sur a multi-cultural flair even hundreds of years ago. But the peninsula remained part of the republic of Mexico, with a distinctive history. Today, Mexican traditions are alive and well in Baja Sur.” iTravel Cabo You can read more about the history of Baja Sur by clicking here.
Accommodations
Where am I sleeping?
Your accommodations are truly one of the highlights of this adventure! You’ll start with an upscale luxury tent camp in the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve of Baja California Sur in a mango and grapefruit grove. It is located on the property of a local ranching family, and the camp highlights both the cultural and natural heritage of the Sierras. The family is an integral part of the experience, providing all the meat, cheese and tortillas for the camp, teaching guests how to make tortillas and cheese in the traditional manner, and acting as guides in the reserve.
The Camp features beautifully decorated walk-in tents with real beds, lovely linens, bedside tables, lanterns, towels, yoga mats, fans, storage space, rugs, chairs, and more. Each tent has it's own compost toilet room.There is a library/reading area, a yoga space and a comfortable stargazing area where you can comfortably recline under the big mountain skies. Sierra Xantus Café is where our on-site chef makes three wonderful meals every day – and daily happy hour of course - and there is a shower cabaña with deliciously hot water from the solar water heater.
The Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve is one of Baja´s most beautiful but least explored areas. Part of an island off the coast of Baja 10 million years ago, the Reserve is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. Reflecting it's long history of island isolation, almost 25% of plants and 10% of animals found in the Reserve are endemic to the area, i.e, they are not found anywhere else on the planet.
Activities at the camp include beautiful hikes in the reserve, with opportunities to get terrific views of the Pacific ocean, swim in watering holes and picnic by waterfalls. There is fantastic birding in the early mornings, amazing star gazing at night, and plenty of opportunities to interact with the ranch family and work with them making cheese, tortillas and other products in the traditional manner. You can also just hang out in the shade of the mango trees and enjoy the books in the library, perhaps while sipping a margarita.
Next you’ll head to Todos Santos to stay at Los Colibris Casitas. Los Colibris Casitas was made for nature lovers seeking beauty and tranquility with incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.
Your third stop is award-winning Camp Cecil de la Isla, which has large dome tents with real beds, lovely linens, towels for beach and bath and chairs for sitting outside. Each tent can have either one king bed or two twin beds. (Added joy: the housekeeping staff cleans the tents and makes the beds each day!)
It’s a remarkable place to explore. We’ll spend the days doing exactly what pleases us - kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, swimming with sea lions, stand up paddle boarding, bird watching, and exploring hidden lagoons and desert beaches. Hanging around doing nothing, reading trashy novels and sipping margaritas also highly encouraged.
Mindfulness
What if I’ve never meditated?
Have no fear! No prior meditation or mindfulness experience needed.
Nature is the ultimate teacher. Just getting out into the great outdoors has been proven to be incredibly beneficial for your mental and physical health.
Your Root Tour Leaders will provide you with simple and practical ways to keep your connection with nature, yourself, and your fellow travelers at the forefront of your experience.
But don’t worry, this won’t be a serious or quiet trip. At Root we see mindfulness as a way to participate in the ALIVENESS of life.
There will be moments you’ll be encouraged to observe silence, listen to nature, reflect on your internal experience or even possibly journal and share. And there will be many moments of raucous laughter, joyous storytelling, and playing in the dirt. Our trips have a little bit of everything!
To help you get the most out of your experience you will receive a pre-trip guide that has mindfulness and meditation practices, potential journaling prompts, and thoughtful ways to connect with nature throughout your adventure.
Final Tips
Anything else I need to know?
We’d love to impart some final words of wisdom for you here. These are tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years exploring, trekking, and guiding groups.
Pack light! The lighter the better. We cannot stress this enough! When packing ask yourself this question: “Do I absolutely need this?” If the answer is no, leave it behind.
A word about luggage. If possible, pack so that you can bring everything in a carry-on. That way if your luggage gets lost (knock on wood) you won’t be trying to piece gear together or purchase lots of expensive items last minute. If you do decide to check luggage then we recommend wearing or packingsome essentials in your carry-on just in case!