The whale sharks are here in great abundance, and the feeding zone was finally opened after weeks of no communication. The government agencies involved with managing the whale shark area were six weeks late in opening! They blamed delays on their Mexico City offices being closed for Covid-19 lockdown. So, although Baja Sur, which has very low Covid-19 complications, was up and operating, the whale shark zone went through a frustrating period of confusion. As of this writing, most whale shark providers are still closed. We were fully engaged the first day the zone was re-opened on the 14th of November.
Contact Us: JESS@FriendsTravel.com 24|7|365
Swimming with Sea Lions
During the period of confusion about the whale sharks we provided both a search for whale sharks out side the feeding zone, and a visit to the friendly sea lion at San Rafaelito, along with a host of other extras. The sea lion video above was taken just two weeks ago.
Baja Charters and Island Cat Services, have successfully operated the premier whale shark encounter for eight years with a 100% track record for locating whale sharks, providing the port was open and government regulations did not prevent access to the whale shark feeding zone. This is our ninth Whale Shark season. Once approved into the whale shark feeding zone, it takes fifteen minutes to an hour to find these wonderful creatures. But, find them, we do!
What’s Included:
We provide a large and spacious Sailing Catamaran with one or more licensed and certified, snorkel boats, helmsperson, and guide, in order to get you up close and personal to the whale sharks. We provide ground transportation, wet suits, and all the snorkel gear needed along with a choice of full-face or standard snorkel masks, vests, towels, private bathrooms, private fresh-water showers, even reef-friendly sunscreen. We typically have a chef on board to prepare meals. We provide a host of drinks, snacks, an open bar, and a marine biologist as your snorkel leader and hostess. There are excellent lay-out areas on board, and we generally set sails on the return trip. We are NOT a cattle-car-style tour operator. NO ONE DOES IT LIKE WE DO.
Whale Shark Guarantee
If we are unable to locate a whale shark, we will take you out again for FREE.
Covid-19 Compliance
The Mexican state of Baja Sur, has the fewest infections of the 32 Mexican states and especially as compared to much of the world, the U.S., and the rest of Mexico. Baja Charters complies with all the sanitary and security standards and regulations to operate in safety. Currently we are restricted by regulation to 50% capacity. We strictly follow the cleaning protocol of the State Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks, and the CDC guidelines to keep guests and crew safe. CAPTAINS restaurant and bar, and each of our yachts and tour boats, along with snorkel gear, and other user equipment, is cleaned and sanitized using recommended products by the Ministry of Health. The same as required for hospital disinfection against COVID-19 and other viruses. The health of our crew members is constantly monitored. As time goes by, circumstances change. By the time you read this info, hopefully Covid19 will be totally under control.
Season & Regulation
The Whale Shark season runs from October 2020 through April 2021. Semarnat, the environmental agency of Mexico, and CONANP, the National Park Service, restrict the number of swimmers in the water with a single whale shark to five, plus guide. The whale shark feeding zone became an underwater national park in 2019, requiring access bracelets.
Weather
Winds and waves in the Cabo area are NOT an indication of winds and waves in La Paz. The sea around the whale shark feeding zone, is usually swimmable. We are careful to examine forecasts daily, but wave heights and wind forecasts are often wrong. We have to reschedule the Whale Shark encounter on average, twice a month for weather issues. We provide wetsuits and shorties in adult sizes for both women and men. We also have some children’s sizes. On board, we have private hot water showers and fresh clean towels.
Refund Policy
If maintenance issues, or anything within the normal control of Baja Charters, prevents you from enjoying your booked cruise date, we will provide you with an alternative date that works within your travel plans, or refund your money completely.
Baja Charters is not responsible for the Port Captain closing the Port, government edict, or in the case of whale shark excursions, changes in bureaucratic regulations without adequate notice. However, in these situations, we provide you with an alternative date that works within your travel plans, or issue you an assignable, three-year cash certificate that may be used the same as cash for any future activities aboard Baja Cat, Grey Light, or Pacifica. If you voluntarily cancel your prepaid trip more than ninety days in advance of departure, we will refund your money in full. If you voluntarily cancel your trip within ninety days of your departure date, we will provide you with a prepaid certificate good for three years. #JessKalinowsky JESS@FriendsTravel.com will give you full information on cancellation insurance. We strongly urge you to protect your travel investment dollars on any and all travel arrangements.
Private Charters
Discover a quiet peaceful cove on a stand-up paddle board, move amongst mangroves in a kayak, scuba the most remarkable reef imaginable, head out on our tender to see all kinds of sea life and visit a remarkable island bird sanctuary. Your hostess is a marine biologist. Your chef provides great food, all kinds of beverages, AND an open bar. There are wonderful areas to lay-out, relax, read a book, and enjoy a drink, surrounded by stunning views.
There are hundreds of beaches and bays scattered amongst the myriad islands of the Gulf of California, (the Sea of Cortez). Snorkel or scuba the incredible Cabo Pulmo Reef. This is the Number One restored reef in the Western Hemisphere! Visit the outer bay and seven beaches of the fabulous Balandra. Anchor at Ensenada Grande on Holy Spirit Island (Isla Espiritu Santo). Drop anchor at the incredible Isla San Francisquito, a truly remarkable place alive with sea life. These are the finest beaches in Mexico. Quiet and secluded, they are breathtakingly beautiful.
Fish for your dinner of tuna, dorado, yellowtail, bass, grouper, and wahoo. Your chef will prepare ceviche and fish anyway you like. If you are not a fish-eater, we have steak, and chicken, and a host of marvelous vegetable and fruit dishes, along with baked goods. We are also vegan and gluten-free experienced.
Cruise and explore the incredible inside Sea of Cortez. We have the perfect yacht and crew for you. Spend nights at anchor in deserted coves under star-studded skies. Shine lights in the water to bring up the swirling schools of Mobula rays. They are not dangerous; you can literally swim amongst them. Stroll a deserted white sand beach. Swim with a friendly sea lion colony, chase tropical fish around corals and enjoy the peace and beauty of it all.
A nautical tourism company with offices at the marina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and a wide variety of yachts for charter from both La Paz, and the greater Cabo surround. Located at the extreme end of the Baja Peninsula, operates its own boats, and acts as the marketing and sales agent for yachts, sports fishers, and dive boats, owned by responsible, licensed, and insured, third-parties.
Baja Charters has larger luxury yachts, and mid-sized motor and sailing yachts, along with sports fishing vessels of varying size and costs. We also have dive boats for scuba with licensed and insured dive instructors. Dive equipment is included. All of our boats come with competent, well-trained crew. Nautical activities are focused on cruising, sailing, and exploring the beaches, bays and coves, of the Sea of Cortez. We host snorkeling, sailing, diving, fishing, eco-tourism, and associated activities such as paddle boarding and kayaking. The latter, only from yachts that have these resources onboard.
Typically, mid-sized and larger yachts come as an all-inclusive package, with meals, open bar, snorkel equipment, fishing gear (if a sports fisher), towels, private bathrooms, etc. Smaller fishing platforms charge per person for the added costs of fishing licenses, bait, food, drinks, etc.
Your #TravelConcierge #JessKalinowsky
EMAIL: JESS@FriendsTravel.com 24|7|365
VISIT: www.FriendsTravel.com since 1985
#Parasailing #PaddleBoarding #Snorkeling #Golf #AllInclusiveResorts
Mexicowithfriendstravel's Weblog 