Big Banana Kayaking
Sea of
Cortez
Loreto ,
Baja California
SEASON: October -
April
EQUIPMENT/CAMPING:
We paddle an assortment of single composite kayaks (Necky, Baltic,
No kayaking experience is
necessary for recreational tours, though we insist that you know
how to swim and have a good level of fitness and upper-body strength. We supply
dry bags and all cooking equipment. A solo tent, air mattress (double occupancy
tents are available upon request), basic first aid kits are provided with each kayak. Guests are responsible for providing personal items
including; sleeping bag, toiletries, medications ect. Safety equipment for
guest kayaks includes; a paddle float, pump and emergency kit with flares compass and
charts. Our
guides are equipped with a full emergency kit containing flares, an expedition
first aid kit, VHF marine radios, hand-held GPS, compass and charts.
WE PROVIDE: with each kayak
Spray Jacket
U.S. Coast Guard Approved PFD (with whistle and Strobe)
Paddle float, Pump and Sponge.
Basic first aid kit
Day and Night Emergency flares
Charts for the area of the trip
Two 20-liter dry bags
Ultra-Lite Carbon Fiber paddle (primary)
Werner paddle (spare)
Two 10-liter NRS Dromedary Bags for (Drinking Water)
Thermos and 2 One-liter Nalgene containers
Eureka Solo Tent and air mattress (Double occupancy tents are available upon request)
Our company safety policy requires
a ratio of 1 guide to 4 guests.
FOOD and MEALS
All food and meals are provided to our guests for the duration of the tour, guests with special needs or requests should contact us beforehand.
Breakfast.
On a normal morning, juice, coffee, tea and hot chocolate, an assortment of local pastries, toast, cold cereal or granola with fruit, allows us to get an early start as the most spectacular sunrise you may ever witness greets us.
Morning Break.
A thermos is provided with each kayak and guests are encouraged to carry their beverage of choice for the morning break along with fruit and snacks.
(We use this break to check the weather and ensure that our guests are comfortable with the current conditions)
Lunch.
After arriving at our daily beach camp, lunch is prepared as our guest’s setup camp, soups, sandwiches, and fruit.
From this point on until dinner you make the choice for you afternoon adventures, maybe its exploring, snorkeling, beachcombing, skill development, fishing or just a good old siesta.
Dinner.
Salsa chips, crackers and cheese, will keep you at bay until the main course is ready, depending on the day or requests it maybe fresh fish, pasta, curry, beef or chicken fajitas with local vegetables.
PRICE DOES NOT
INCLUDE:
Flights to and from Loreto, Baja
Meals and accommodations in Loreto before and after trip
WEATHER:
Sunshine, with pleasant daytime temperatures ranging from 18 to 25 Celsius, are the norm. In March it starts getting warmer. The evenings can be cool,
water is warm, not hot. Wetsuits are nice for
snorkeling, but not necessary. Rain is rare. THE WIND CAN BLOW STRONG,
sometimes for several days in a row. It is not uncommon, particularly in late
December through mid February, for kayak groups to be shore-bound for 2 or 3
days in a row. We cannot be responsible for days lost kayaking because of
strong winds. On these days, we partake in land activities. Weather ultimately
determines our specific route.
WHAT TO BRING: Almost
everyone brings too much gear on vacation try to keep it simple.
Arrangements can be made for the storage of extra gear and luggage that you will not need in your kayak if you let us know in advance.
Sunscreen,
Sun Glasses, Swimsuit and Sun hat.
1 Pair of water- moc’s, Tevas or similar
1 Pair of tennis shoes with spare socks (great for exploring the Islands or hiking the canyons)
4 tee shirts, (2 long-sleeved and 2 short sleeved)
4 pair of Shorts (nylon or micro- fiber is best.)
1 pair of cargo type pants (great for the evening or when the wind is blowing)
1 Sweatshirt or Polar-tech (Polar-Tech is best)
1 Lightweight Jacket (Nylon or Gortex is best) or use our spray jacket.
A 3-season sleeping bag is advisable in a compression sack, (it has to fit in 20 liter dry bag) (2-season bag in October,November, March and April).
Personal Items: Medications, Soap, Shampoo, Towel and Toothpaste ECT:
Daypack and or Hydro pack
Don’t forget your camera with spare batteries, a small flashlight and a good book.
(If you bring your Walkman or mp3 player remember salt water and electronics don’t mix well.)
Zip Lock Bags.
Alcohol: We
don’t have a problem with anyone who wants to bring his or her own cocktail mix
beer or wine, just remember ice is nonexistent and you have a space issue in
your kayak.
RESERVATIONS,
CANCELLATIONS & TERMS: We accept VISA,MasterCard Discover and American
Express, through Paypal
or check.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel and receive a full refund minus a $100 office fee if you cancel
30 days prior to the class date. You will receive a 50% refund, minus the $100
fee up to two weeks prior to the trip date, unless we fill your spot, in which
case you get a full refund minus the $100 office fee. You will not receive a
refund within two weeks of the class date, unless we fill your spot, in which
case you get a full refund minus the $100 office fee. A $250 US deposit assures your place on a
7 day kayak tour. If you cancel with more than 30 days notice, there is a
$100 US
cancellation fee. The balance is due 30 days before the starting date. All
participants will be required to fill out and sign a medical and liability
release form..
Cancellation must be
done via email. It is our only way of confirming when the cancellation was
sent. The balance of the funds will be returned within thirty days of notification.
E-Mail.
info@bigbananaadventures.com
MEDICAL RELEASE FORM
LIABILITY RELEASE FORM
CONFIRMATION:
Confirmation of payment and kayak trips schedules will be sent by email along with notification of any special arrangements.
GETTING
THERE:
Most trips start and finish in Loreto, a small coastal community 950 kilometers
south of the
DOCUMENTS:
A visa is not necessary for
Canadians and Americans, though a Mexican Tourist Card is (the airline will
give you one on the flight, and you should hold on to it for when you leave). Don't
forget your passport if you fly, or driver's license & birth certificate if
you drive.
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