Money & Gratuity

For traveling to Baja and while in town

Current passport
Credit cards (Visa, Master Card and occasionally American Express are accepted by most larger restaurants and shops but not by the smaller ones.)
Cash

The amount of cash you bring is subject to how much you plan to spend shopping, on meals, and services in town and for tipping. Travelers checks are NOT recommended as they are difficult to cash. We recommend bringing a minimum of at least $300 cash. Please keep in mind you might want to bring twice that much if you are on a kayak trip and plan to generously tip your guides as well as spend money on equipment rentals at our office, meals, drinks and souvenirs in town. ATM’s are available but can be unreliable. Many shops and restaurants accept US dollars but this can vary depending on where you are. Once in La Paz or Loreto you may want some pesos for purchases around town. You can change your dollars into pesos at the airport and banks (closed on weekends and holidays). Please note, no more than $300/US can be changed into pesos per month at the banks.

You may also want to bring some nice clothes you can leave behind in a bag in our storage room while on your trip that you can wear upon returning to town. For cooler months (Dec-Feb) we suggest long pants and long-sleeved shirts. During the warmer months (Oct, Nov, March-May) we recommend shorts and short-sleeved shirts or casual skirts or dresses.

Gratuity

Many people ask, “should I tip the guides and how much?” Tipping is voluntary and any amount you leave is greatly appreciated! If you would like to leave your guides a generous tip showing appreciation for an excellent job, 10% of the trip cost is standard in the adventure travel industry. Gratuities are pooled and distributed among your trip guides and staff evenly. If you do choose to leave a tip, please leave cash in pesos or US dollars. No travelers checks, personal checks or credit cards can be accepted.

Suggested Packing List

Pack light! Especially for our mobile camp trips and in particular those between Loreto and La Paz. We prefer NOT to overload our boats with lots of excess baggage. For example bring a small to mid-sized duffle (approximately 14x14x24inches or 35x35x60cm) for clothing and personal items. If bringing your own sleeping gear bring another duffle of similar size for your sleeping bag, pad and pillow OR you can combine them into one larger duffle approximately 18x18x35inches or 45x45x90cm. Plus you will want to bring a day-pack for extra clothing, water bottle, sunscreen and camera to have with you daily. Snorkel gear and a wetsuit is yet another bag you may have while on the trip.

Suggested Packing List

Personal Gear for Rent in La Paz

Personal Gear for Rent

Sleeping bags, Paco Pads and Snorkeling Gear may be rented in Baja. Costs per trip are:

Sleeping bag with Paco Pad $20
Sleeping bag or Paco Pad separately $15
Snorkel gear (mask, snorkel and fins) $15
Mask, snorkel or fins separately $10
Wetsuit $15

Note: Wetsuits are highly recommended for trips in late November through May. The wetsuits we rent are 3mm thick, long-sleeved, with short pants and a zipper up the front. If you tend to get cold easily, we recommend you bring a thicker and/or long sleeved wetsuit during December, January and February. There is no snorkeling on our Magdalena Bay whale watching trips and sleeping cots with Paco Pads are provided at this camp. Therefore the only item necessary for you to bring or rent on these trips is a sleeping bag.

Cots, Paco Pads and pillows are provided at our luxury base camps at Magdalena Bay and on Espiritu Santo Island on our Quick Getaway whale watching and sea kayaking trips in the months of late Dec, Jan, Feb through the first week of March.

Payment for rentals will be collected in Baja prior to your trip departure in cash.

Important Note for Baja Coast Trips: Since the Baja Coast trip originates in Loreto, the PFDs and rental gear must be brought up from our La Paz office. Therefore, you must provide your accurate size on the trip application form so we can assure a good fit for your PFD and wetsuit and snorkel gear if you requested them.

For all trips originating in La Paz, we will fit you with your rental gear the morning of your trip departure here at our office.

Fishing Information

We offer fishing as a side activity on both our Sea of Cortez kayaking trips and Magdalena Bay whale watching trips. If you want to fish, please come prepared with your own lures for trolling or spoons for spin casting. Medium to small, minnow-type, sinking lures are suggested such as a Rebel jointed Fastrac or mid size Rapala Magnums (4.5 to 5 inches or 9-12cm in length). Suggested colors include: blue/silver, black/silver, black/gold, green mackerel/gold or blue mackerel/silver. We carry a few of these in our small store at the La Paz office should you need some at the last minute.

Sea of Cortez Kayaking Trips: We supply 2 rods and reels for trolling. The most successful fishing on our kayak trips is done by trolling behind a motorized skiff (two rods at a time) for up to an hour before breakfast on certain mornings. On trips to Espiritu Santo Island only we sometimes go fishing in the evenings as well. Another option for fishing on any trip is spin casting or fly fishing from shore or your kayak. You must provide your own spinning rod, reel and spoons (silver are best). When fishing from a kayak you must always be within view of camp.

Magdalena Bay Whale Watching Trips: Fishing from our whale watching camp can be done using a fly or spinning rod (you must bring your own) from shore. If interested you may be be able to hire a local fisherman and boat (at your own expense) from Lopez Mateos to take you fishing in the mangroves. You can arrange this with our guides once at camp.

The best fishing season in the Sea of Cortez is summer through fall. Therefore the best months for fishing on our sea kayak trips are October and November. Typical catches during these months include tuna, dorado and sea bass. During winter months sierra mackerel are commonly caught. Spring provides varied options for catching a variety of fish depending on where you are and what lures you use.

Any fish you catch can either be released OR brought to camp for our talented staff to prepare and serve as a tasty Mexican style appetizer or meal.

IMPORTANT! FISHING PERMIT INFORMATION

Fishing permits are required for anyone 13 years or older who plans to fish during our trips. This includes fishing from either our motorized skiff, kayak or shore.

You can purchase your fishing license/permit on line at your home in advance by going to the website below OR at our La Paz office with the assistance of our staff upon your arrival in Baja. Licenses are sold by the day only and cost about $12-13/person/day (depending on the exchange rate of dollars to pesos). Keep in mind you will not fish the first and last day of a trip. For example if you booked a trip to Espiritu Santo Island and the dates are Dec 15-21, the first and last days (Dec 15 and 21) are arrival and departure days to and from La Paz.

https://www.sportfishingbcs.gob.mx/es/