Sea Kayak Around Mexico's Isla Espiritu Santo

You do not need any previous kayaking experience, full guidance will be provided at the beginning of the trip and while on the water. You’ll just need reasonable levels of fitness to handle up to 4 hours and 14km of kayaking on each of the paddling days. Building a little arm strength before your trip can help with sea kayaking.

You'll be paddling with your fellow adventurers in a single or double sit-in sea kayak. Your guide will lead the activities and your support crew will choose camp spots and cook meals. Any excess luggage or valuables can be safely stored at the hotel, which you can retrieve on the afternoon of Day 8. Your main soft duffel bag or rucksack, containing only what you will need for expedition, will be transported on the support boat when you set off from La Paz, with access to it each day before and after paddling. You'll only need the essential items of suncream, water bottle, sun hat and sunglasses with you when paddling each day. Daily snacks will be provided to complement the three meals included. There will be plenty of opportunities to snorkel from the beach on most days. In addition to the sleeping and cooking tents, each beach campsite will have large shades to cover the dining area serving tables and chairs, a solar shower to rinse off the salt and a marine toilet within a screened enclosure set up a distance away. You'll be well looked after by your crew on the trip, but please also expect to get stuck in with pitching and striking tents as well as loading and unloading the support boat.

The weather from November to May is generally ideal, with highs during the day between 19°C / 66°F and 32°C / 90°F and lows at night between 8°C / 46°F and 20°C / 68°F. There may be windy days that can have an impact on certain expeditions, along with the chance of an occasional rainy day in the months the trip operates.

The trip dates are scheduled across Baja California Sur's pleasant winter months, avoiding the hottest summer months and the hurricane season. However, due to weather and local wind conditions at the time of travel some changes to the route, order or timing of the activities may be necessary once you’re on the trip. Your host will ensure that if any changes are necessary, they are kept to a minimum, and your guide will keep you in the loop as the trip progresses to ensure that you have an awesome time.

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion, but there is an expectation to tip for good service. All tips will be divided between the expedition guides, boat captain, chef and support crew. Your host can further advise, however we suggest the below as a guideline per person:

$10 USD / £8.50 per day

Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Your host will supply drinking water dispensed from a large 20 litre thermos flask, which will be refilled regularly by the crew. Please pack your own reusable bottle, it will be well used.

Yes, you can safely store excess luggage at the hotel at the start of the trip, with valuables going into the safe. You'll be reunited with your luggage on Day 8.

We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.

No. You will need to keep your sun cream, sun hat, sunglasses and water bottle with you whilst paddling each day (your camera is optional, but if you do take one, it must either be waterproof, or stored in a zip-lock dry pouch/dry box). You'll need to have a larger soft bag suitable for all your belongings which will be transported for you on the support boat, and then a small daypack to carry personal items during the island hike, whale shark snorkelling day or whilst in La Paz.

The host has an extensive fleet of sea kayaks made of fibreglass or plastic. These include both single and double kayaks, available throughout the trip to give you a chance to try out different models. You will be asked for your general kayaking experience and preference of either single or double sea kayak in advance.

Double sea kayaks available are: Seaward (Passat, Southwind and Naia models), and Necky (Looksha and Amaruks models).

Single sea kayaks available are: Seaward (Aura and Tyee models), Wilderness Systems (Tempest 165 and 170 models), Seda (Swift and Ikkumma models) and Current Designs (Squall, Titan and Solstice GTS models).

Generally longer and faster than recreational kayaks, sea kayaks have better performance and manoeuvrability with rudders for testing conditions. Sea kayaks are outfitted well with multiple hatches and deck layouts to maximise storage space and access.

The sea kayaks in the fleet are North American made, with the varying sizes and models designed for both larger and smaller paddlers. The sea kayaks are made for expeditions and provide ample carrying capacity for paddlers and stowed items.

The larger single sea kayak weight limit is up to 206kg/455lbs (inclusive of paddler and gear stowed), with double sea kayaks affording twice the weight limit of the singles.

Swimming with whale sharks is a real privilege and a regulated activity, so it’s important that you follow guidance from your guide for the benefit of the whale sharks and yourself. The breeding grounds within the bay of La Paz are carefully protected by the CONANP (National Commission of Protected Natural Areas). More information can be found on the CONANP website.

Tourism plays an enormously important part in raising funds in this specific area of conservation, with each visitor paying a fee which contributes towards the protection of these fish. Your trip price includes a local tax, which helps fund the government agency that provides the monitoring and management program for sustainable tourism.

Every boat company providing whale shark tours must hold a full permit to do so, with boat skippers and guides both needing to pass exams in order to meet the strict guidelines. All tour operators work hand in hand with the authorities to produce data which monitors whale shark activity in the area and feeds into necessary adjustments to the management plan.

If your trip has fewer than 6 people, you will be joined by members of the public for the whale shark snorkelling day only.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.