What Makes This Adventure Special:

This trip is the best of both worlds!

Settle into luxury tent camps in two of Baja California’s most beautiful nature reserves – Isla Espiritu Santo in the Sea of Cortez and the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve in the mountains that form the spine of the peninsula.

Through these camps you will experience the luxury of Baja Sur’s pristine wilderness while also enjoying the luxury of “camping” with real beds, soft linens, lovely furnishings, chef-prepared meals, and daily happy hour.

On this adventure you can expect:

Kayaking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling
Swimming with sea lions and whale sharks
Daily mindfulness sessions
Hiking in the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve
Meals prepared by local chefs with local fresh food
Surfing lessons at one of best surf breaks in Baja

It is truly the best of all worlds!

Plus:
+ Knowledgeable guides with decades of experience and personal connections with locals
+ Daily mindfulness activities and intentional conversation
+ 2 experienced Root tour leaders
+ 3 month pre-trip physical and mental preparation guide
+ 2 pre-trip Zoom calls
+ Post-trip integration guide
+ 2 post-trip Zoom calls
+ Talk to a real human when booking and planning your trip!

Contact us to learn more

Detailed Itinerary

(Click “+” To learn more)

Upon arrival in San Jose del Cabo (SJD), you'll make your way through immigration control, baggage claim, and customs and walk outside. Cross the street to the carports and look for your driver/guide holding a "Root Adventures" sign. Once all travelers arrive, we transfer (3 hours) straight to our first glamping experience at Sierra De La Laguna. Here we will begin our time together by setting intentions for the trip, getting to know each other and having dinner.
More About Camp Cecil de La Sierra
Camp Cecil de la Sierra is a luxury tent camp in a mango and grapefruit grove in the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve of Baja California Sur. 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.
Accommodations: Glamping
Meals: D
Perhaps we'll start the day with some birding around camp early in the morning, enjoy an amazing ranch breakfast, then head out for a great hike through the mountains, taking in some spectacular views.
Upon our return we'll enjoy happy hour in the huerta, then a great ranch dinner prepared by our chef. And if you're awake late enough, we'll enjoy the stars in the clear mountain air. A magnificent day.
Accommodations: Glamping
Meals: B | L | D
We'll enjoy some early morning bird watching and/or hiking, savor a final ranch breakfast, then we'll head back to Todos Santos (90 min transfer) for a day of surfing, boogie boarding and picnicking at one of the best surf breaks in Baja. No experience? No problem! Our surf instructors guarantee that they'll have you catching a wave by the end of your first hour of instruction - even if just for a moment!
This evening local lawyer turned chef Iker Algorri, author of Cooking Adventures in Baja California Sur and chef-in-residence at Los Colibris Casitas, will lead this wonderful Mexican Survival Cooking Class. The emphasis is on having as much fun as humanly possible, learning to make the perfect margarita, and gaining the skill to make some truly memorable Mexican dishes following Chef Iker’s cooking philosophy, the Magnificence of Simplicity. You’ll also learn about some great Latin music you’ve never heard before. But be warned – dancing often known to follow!
We will stay overnight in Todos Santos. This is a great time to check out the city.
Todos Santos ~ About 50 miles north of Cabo on the Pacific side of the Baja peninsula is a pueblo magico called Todos Santos – All Saints. And truly, the handiwork of all the saints seems to be reflected everywhere. It’s easy to imagine that St. Anthony (San Antonio), the Patron Saint of the Desert, had his hand in the underground springs that make the town a true desert oasis, thick with palms, lush with lagoons and filled with the birds they attract. St. Francis (San Francisco), Patron Saint of the Environment, seems like a sure bet for the town’s seemingly endless miles of pristine beach – home to 5 of the world’s 7 turtle species, host to surf breaks that make the town one of the best surfing destinations on the Cape, and favored spot for gray whales on their annual trip to Baja to come close to shore and check out the humans. St. Isidore (San Isidro), Patron Saint of Agriculture, almost certainly got in on the act with the vast orchards of mango trees and fields filled with strawberries, chilies and herbs, while St. Peter (San Pedro), Patron Saint of Fishermen, could easily be the wily soul who ensured no natural harbor in the town to keep the waters from being overfished and therefore full of bounty for the intrepid local fishermen, masters of the surf launch and landing.
Accommodations: Los Colibris Casitas
Meals: B | L | D
We're off to Isla Espiritu Santo and Camp Cecil today! After breakfast we'll go to our bodega to get snorkeling gear and wet suits, then it's on to the boats and out into the Sea of Cortez!
Camp Cecil is on Isla Espiritu Santo which is in a National Marine Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the best marine life viewing destinations in the world.
Whales, dolphins, whale sharks, sea turtles, manta rays and plenty of beautiful tropical fish call the surrounding waters home, while a terrific range of bird species including Blue-footed Boobies, Reddish Egrets, Great Blue Herons and Yellow-footed Gulls frequent the island’s skies and shores. The island itself is stunning, with magnificent towering cliffs, spectacular sandy bays, amazing lava rock formations, and rock art left by the now-extinct Guaycura and Pericu Indians. There’s even an endemic ring-tailed cat, the babisuri.
Award-winning Camp Cecil de la Isla 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.
Accommodations: Glamping
Meals: B | L | D
Who know what adventures the day may bring?! Perhaps paddle board with sea turtles, or snorkel with sea lions, maybe spot some whales, or dance with some Blue-footed Boobies. Whatever surprises the day may hold, you can be sure that it will also include magnificent food and drink!
Accommodations: Glamping
Meals: B | L | D
Whale Sharks!
Today we'll depart from Camp Cecil and head for one of the most amazing experiences yet - swimming with the largest fish in the world - the whale shark! Of course, you may be asking yourself: is it a whale or is it a shark? Hint: whales are mammals and sharks are fish. These gentle giants feed on plankton in the Bay of La Paz (so all human flesh is safe), and it is here that we have the remarkable experience of observing and swimming with them.
In the afternoon we'll return to Todos Santos, check back in to our hotel, then head out on the town for a wonderful farewell dinner.
Accommodations: Los Colibris Casitas
Meals: B| L | D
It's time to go! Say adios but not good-bye.
You'll be transferred back to the airport for your journey home.
Meals: B

FAQs

We provide a full service experience. Included in your trip cost is:
+Transportation: All transportation is included once you arrive at the San Jose Del Cabo Airport until you are dropped off at San Jose Del Cabo Airport for your return flight home.
+Food: All meals from the welcome dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on the final day.
+Daily happy hour and two drinks with dinner at Camp Cecil de la Sierra and Camp Cecil de la Isla; drinks at welcome dinner and cooking class
+All accommodations in hotels and camps as indicated in itinerary
+All adventures and related equipment as indicated in the itinerary. Trip participants will be responsible for providing their own clothing and personal items. A packing list will be provided.
+Bilingual naturalist guides/professionally licensed drivers who are certified Wilderness First Responders, NOM-9 graduates and Leave No Trace certified
+2 Root Expert Tour Leaders who will facilitate mindfulness/wellness practices
+Daily mindfulness activities/sessions
+Individual pre-trip support as needed
+2 pre-trip calls
+2 post trip calls
+Access to our Director of Traveler Experience who can help answer all your questions!
+All tips/gratuities
+ 3 month pre-trip preparation series
+6 Week Post-Trip Meditation Series to help integrate your experience
+Lifetime access to the Root Community
Airfare, travel insurance, souvenirs, alcoholic beverages, and anything not detailed in the itinerary.
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!
You’ll need to arrive in San Jose del Cabo by 12PM on Tue Dec 3, 2024.
Depart no earlier than 3PM on Sun Dec 9, 2024
We classify this trip at a difficulty level of 2 out of 5.
There will be some optional kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding as well as hiking and other physical activities offered throughout this trip. However, nothing is mandatory. Take this opportunity to make this trip truly yours and participate in the activities you want to and rest when you feel like resting!
Your sleeping 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. It is located on the property of a local ranching family, and the camp highlights both the cultural and natural heritage of the Sierras.
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 Camp Cecil on Isla Espiritu Santo, which is in a National Marine Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the best marine life viewing destinations in the world. Award-winning Camp Cecil de la Isla has large dome tents with real beds, lovely linens, towels for beach and bath and chairs for sitting outside.
At the mountain and island camps there will be minimal to no access to electricity and wifi.
Yes! Most dietary requests can be arranged in advance.
At your mountain and island camps there are compost toilets (these are non-flushing) and a shower cabaña with water heated from the solar water heater.
Please find a packing list here. Feel free to pack all of your gear in a normal suitcase as you will have assistance getting your luggage from one location to the next.
We will also go through gear questions in more detail in our two pre-trip calls.
Please email info@rootadventures.com or schedule a call. We would love to hear from you!