EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

OVERVIEW

Explore a once-thriving mining town whose dramatic rise, fall and rebirth is told through vivid exhibits in two museums. A wonderfully picturesque drive through the arid countryside will bring you to El Triunfo or The Triumph, a name given the boom town when huge volumes of silver and gold were mined there. While browsing the mining museum – parts of which were built to resemble a mine shaft – you will see tools and artifacts, black-and-white photographs and historical documents that bring that time period to life. Similarly, at the Cowboy Museum of the Californias, you will discover how the vaquero and ranchero culture shaped Baja California Sur. Those cowboy traditions still influence this part of Mexico. Both museums have spurred a renaissance in El Triunfo, which you can explore further on your own. Feel free to shop, dine or follow the guide to a former mine, whose smokestack Gustav Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame supposedly designed.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse museum exhibits that detail how El Trifuno boomed while silver was mined there.
• Mosey through a cowboy museum that showcases the vaquero and ranchero lifestyles.
• Independently explore El Trifuno, a town now experiencing a renaissance of sorts.
• Visit a former mine with the guide if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Stroll the atmospheric streets in the delightful colonial town Todos Santos and relax as you please at an exclusive beach club. So captivating and culturally rich that it is one of Mexico’s official Magic Towns, Todos Santos was founded in the 1700s when the Jesuits established a mission there. Parts of the original building have been incorporated into the mission that stands today. Other stops include the Hotel California – said to be the inspiration for the classic Eagles’ song of the same name – and the colorful oversized letters that spell out Todos Santos, a favorite spot for selfies. The El Faro Beach Club & Spa is also photogenic as it sits on an idyllic stretch of sand along the Pacific Ocean. You might take a refreshing swim in the sea or freshwater pool, bask in the sun on a lounge chair or do most anything else before dining on Baja-style offering from the buffet.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through charming Todos Santos and discover why it is called Magic Town.
• Drop by the Todos Santos Mission, a Jesuit church founded in 1733.
• Behold the Hotel California, the inspiration for the Eagles’ song of the same name.
• Spend free time relaxing and dining at the luxurious El Faro Beach Club & Spa.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, hat, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Cruise through gorgeous Balandra Bay to a secluded beach that is ideal for relaxing and enjoying the serenity of the sea. A welcoming breakfast will be served onboard the double-decker catamaran as you head off along the largely sheltered coast, which is backed by treeless mountains. You will pass a colony of vociferous sea lions along the rocky shore at San Rafaelito and soon come across the bay’s most outstanding geological feature, a bulbous rock that balances on what appears to be an impossibly thin stem. It looks just like a mushroom that weighs tons. Before long, the catamaran will ease into a beach-rimmed cove, allowing you to enjoy the tranquil setting as you please. Although you will be free to do nothing more energetic than bask in the sun, kayaks and snorkeling equipment are available. Back on board, a boxed lunch will be served and the bar will be open.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in on a spacious double-decker catamaran and cruise through Balandra Bay.
• Appreciate the raw beauty of the arid coastline and barren mountains as a backdrop.
• Pass a colony of sea lions and a massive mushroom-shaped rock that has become iconic.
• Spend free time relaxing on a beach that rims a secluded cove.
• Enjoy a boxed lunch and the open bar on the return cruise.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel, hat and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a spectacularly scenic drive through the rugged desert landscape for a unique camel ride and an enlightening tequila tasting with lunch. While traveling across the barren Baja interior, you will get a glimpse of the dune setting that lies ahead at the Tierra Sagrada Ranch. After a briefing to ensure that you maximize the experience, you will hop on a camel – an animal often called a “ship of the desert” – for an entertaining ride along the beach. Camels are ideally suited for this sort of environment as they have long eyelashes to protect their eyes from blowing sand and nostrils that can completely shut. You will have the chance to interact with your camel before a traditional Mexican lunch at the ranch’s restaurant. Dishes will likely include chicken mole, quesadillas and cactus salad. A demonstration of tortilla-making and a sampling of tequilas will round out the dining experience.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a camel along a secluded beach with a hauntingly beautiful desert backdrop.
• Appreciate the varied desert terrain as you drive to and from Tierra Sagrada Ranch.
• Dine on a buffet of delicious Mexican dishes at the ranch’s restaurant.
• Watch a tortilla-making demonstration and savor a tasting of signature tequilas.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Saddle up and ride horseback along a mountain trail, taking in the gorgeous views of the Baja California peninsula and enjoy a different sort of animal encounter back at the ranch. The venue for this adventure will be the Rancho San Lorenzo, a 1,000-acre property between the rugged Coyote Mountains and the Sea of Cortez. After being paired with a horse that suits your riding abilities and spending a few minutes becoming acquainted with the horse, you will ride off into the breathtaking desert-like landscape. You will follow a winding trail through the foothills of the majestic mountains, where you may spot foxes and deer darting among the cacti. Each moment will be memorable as it will be easy to feel a genuine connection to nature. Back at the stables, you will see how the horses are cared for to ensure their well-being. You can also engage with the ranch’s donkeys, goats and even ostriches.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride horseback through the desert and mountains that surround Rancho San Lorenzo.
• Connect with nature in a serene setting where life unfolds at a slower pace.
• Watch and even pet some of the other ranch animals such as donkeys and goats.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• WBe sure to wear long pants and close-toe shoes.

OVERVIEW

Become thoroughly immersed in the world of pearls by visiting a flourishing oyster farm and laboratory where these lustrous gems are produced to exacting standards. After a short drive along the Sea of Cortez, where native pearls have been harvested for centuries, you will arrive at Perlas de La Paz, a company that cultivates oysters using the latest technologies and science. Besides learning about the origins of local pearling, you watch artisans demonstrate the delicate process of grafting in the lab to produce pearls from oysters. The pearls are used in exquisite jewelry – which you will find in the on-site store – and even crushed into powder for cosmetics. The iridescent inner oyster shell or mother of pearl is used as ornamentation on everything from jewelry to guitars. For a deeper dive into pearls, you can join a marine biologist for a swim in the oyster beds and an up-close look at these bi-valves in the natural habitat.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit Perlas de la Paz, a company that cultivates oysters to produce lustrous pearls.
• Watch artisans graft oysters in a laboratory to initiate the process.
• Browse some of the company’s exquisite jewelry in the on-site store.
• Gain insight into the many uses of pearls beyond jewelry.
• Take an optional swim in the oyster beds to observe the bivalves in their natural habitat.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, hat, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Go sandboarding down the slopes of the Mogote Dunes, a hauntingly beautiful ecosystem along the Gulf of California. You can choose to race down the dunes on a sandboard or a sand sled. The advantages of each one will be explained when you select your equipment. During the briefing that follows at the dunes, the guide will walk you through the basics of sandboarding and offer tips tailored to the board that you chose. Sandboarding is a cross between surfing and snowboarding. But instead of riding a wave or racing down a mountain slope, you will descend the sand dunes with your feet secured in straps on the board. It will be an exhilarating one-of-a-kind experience that you will not soon forget. You can then wind down along the coast with a cool beverage, fresh fruit and a refreshing swim in the gulf, if you like.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Race down the Mogote Dunes on a sandboard or sand sled.
• Follow the guide’s tips and become surprisingly proficient at sandboarding.
• Enjoy one thrill after another on whatever size dune you choose to ride.
• Relax at the beach after sandboarding.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel, hat and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ride a bicycle along the seaside boardwalk of La Paz and pause along the way at some of the most iconic landmarks. The bike path that parallels the palm-dotted boardwalk or malecón is flat and wide, so pedaling will be easy as you follow the guide from beautiful Coromuel Beach. The boardwalk stretches for more than three miles and you will enjoy spectacular views of the turquoise sea the entire way. A brief stop at the two-story Kiosk Malecón pavilion will offer a more elevated look at the coastal beauty. You will also pause at the colorful oversized letters that spell out La Paz – a great place for photos with the beach as a backdrop. You can expect to pass pedal past urban parks, plenty of restaurants and shops, contemporary outdoor sculptures and the Queen’s Pier, named to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s visit to La Paz while cruising to California in 1983.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Bicycle along the lengthy boardwalk that runs along the coast of La Paz.
• Enjoy the carefree atmosphere while following the guide at a comfortable pace.
• Admire the spectacular views of the sea while pedaling from Coromuel Beach.
• Pause at highlights such as the Queen’s Pier and the oversized letters that spell La Paz.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend free time relaxing on a beach that fronts an exclusive boutique hotel north of town and come away completely refreshed and revitalized. It won’t take long to reach Caimancito Beach, giving you all the more time to enjoy its laid-back ambiance. One of the advantages of this seaside setting is that a breakwater juts out from the white-sand beach into the Gulf of California, sheltering the typically calm shallow waters. It will be an ideal place to unwind in whatever way you find most comforting. You might stretch out on a lounge chair and bask in the sun, stroll along the shore without a care in the world and take a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters. Shaded areas are also available if you prefer to relax out of the sun. Wherever your slice of paradise, just signal and the waiter will deliver a complimentary bucket of domestic Mexican beers.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Relax for hours on Caimancito Beach with private access to a boutique waterfront hotel.
• Bask in the sun, swim in the sheltered sea and stroll along the beach, if you like.
• Enjoy a bucket of ice-cold Mexican beers right on the beach.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel, hat and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy the sites of the desert and extremely beautiful eco-system full of endless surprises. Then, take in the thriving downtown area of La Paz with shops and restaurants in colonial-style houses. Learn about Sea of Cortez pearls, visit the cathedral, the local Museum of Anthropology. Then, relax for a scenic drive to the beautiful beach. As you depart from Pichilingue and travel to La Paz you’ll see the surrounding desert as an intriguing, unique and extremely beautiful eco-system full of endless surprises. Over centuries, its flora and fauna have evolved endemic characteristics due to their relative isolation. Strange-looking valleys contain cardon and cirios cacti, elephant trees and thorny chollas forming a spiny green carpet on the sandy earth. Hawks, wrens, woodpeckers, roadrunners and Xantus hummingbirds live here, as well as desert bighorn, foxes, coyotes, pumas, desert mice and squirrels. Take in the thriving downtown area of La Paz with shops, restaurants and colonial-style houses. Learn about Sea of Cortez pearls whose colors and characteristics are unique. Visit the cathedral, the local Museum of Anthropology and finally relax for a scenic drive to the beautiful beach at the end of the bay. Under a palapa, a complimentary soft drink or bottle of water will be served.

Come and discover one of the Sea of Cortez's hidden treasures. From the pier you’ll be transferred via air-conditioned by van to Balandra Beach, where you’ll be assigned a kayak and given a short instructional briefing on the proper use and technique of your kayak. Once on the water, you’ll kayak along some of the most pristine waters in the area. The depth at times will be less than a foot. Your guide will lead you into Paradise Cove with an abundance of local bird and marine life from herons to pelicans and frigate birds. Your kayak paddle will also take you deep into the natural mangrove forests into a world you might not encounter anywhere else. Upon returning to the beach, you’ll have a short amount of time to relax on the beach or explore the shoreline. Bottled water and sodas will be available.

Visit the seaside town of La Paz and some of the cultural highlights it has to offer. Travel through the thriving downtown area with its boulevards, shops, restaurants and mile-long waterfront promenade. Three stops will be made during your tour. You’ll visit a pottery factory, a weaver's display of local crafts and stop at the public market. At the end of your tour, you’ll have the option to be dropped off downtown at the Artisans' Market and return to the ship via the shuttle bus, or you may choose to return directly to the ship with the tour.