Join us for an unforgettable Sea of Cortez Marine Biology adventure in La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico! Snorkeling day trips, combined with student centered research projects and evening presentations, will teach young adventurers about the ecology of the Sea of Cortez and ways to protect the world’s oceans no matter where on Earth they live.

Students will explore a variety of habitats from shallow bays, rocky reefs, coral reefs and open water - including amazing encounters with wild sea lions and whale sharks. Topside adventures include kayaking and hiking. Hands on conservation projects such as coral reef restoration and REEF fish surveys will make students active participants in conservation of the Sea of Cortez.

Why the Sea of Cortez for Marine Biology?

Just 7 million years ago, the Baja Peninsula began to separate from mainland Mexico. Sea water from the Pacific filled the low-lying basins to form the Gulf of California, or the Sea of Cortez. It is one of the youngest marine systems, but due to the constant sunlight, deep nutrient up welling, and mixing of tides and currents, it is an oasis for marine life, and one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth! There are over 900 species of fish, 30+ species of marine mammals, 170 species of shore and marine birds, and 1700 species of invertebrates.

This is an educational adventure for science students that most people only dream about. Your family and friends won’t believe your pictures! Students will visit two marine protected areas, including Espiritu Santo Island and Cabo Pulmo Marine Park.

Our base for the week is Espiritu Santo Island. It is World Heritage Site & Marine Preserve that is 26 miles by boat from La Paz, Mexico. Camping is by permit only, and its visitors are nature-seekers, kayakers, sailors, divers and adventures like you! 

Trip Highlights:

• Learn to snorkel and explore coral reefs, rocky reefs and sandy bays to investigate these  habitats.

• Dive in with 500 wild and playful wild sea lions and learn about sea lion natural history and conservation issues affecting marine mammals.

• Experience nature 24/7 while 'glamping' in a World Heritage Site & marine preserve.

• Kayak along the rugged desert coastline to get up-close to intertidal habitats and birds.

• Hike through pristine desert and learn about seemingly otherworldly creatures that have adapted to this extreme environment.

• Go on daily whale watching and dolphin spotting boat trips.

• Snorkel with whale sharks!*

• Go on a day trip to see Gray Whales at Magdalena Bay**

* Whale sharks are in the Bay of La Paz from September until May. Although we anticipate there to be whale sharks to snorkel with, they are wild animals and they may leave the bay earlier than expected for seasonal migration. A snorkeling activity will be substituted for whale shark snorkeling if this should occur.

** Gray Whales are in Magdalena Bay from December until April. If Gray Whales migrate out of the bay and no tours are available, a land activity will be substituted.

Here are map points for activities and lodging for reference.

Trip Development

Below is a sample itinerary and estimated budget based on 10-12 participants. The itinerary advertised here, order of activities and specific details are subject to change based on availability and practical considerations. Once payment is received, Green Edventures will confirm availability with our partner's and block group airfare (if applicable) to lock down activities and lodging. 

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Alignment:

By participating in this trip, students will engage in hands-on experiences that align with these NGSS standards, allowing them to deepen their understanding of marine biology, ecology, conservation and the interconnectedness of Earth's systems.

1. **Disciplinary Core Ideas:**

   - LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

   - LS2.B: Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems

   - LS4.C: Adaptation

   - LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans

   - ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems

   - ESS3.D: Global Climate Change

2. **Science and Engineering Practices:**

   - Asking Questions and Defining Problems

   - Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

   - Analyzing and Interpreting Data

   - Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

   - Engaging in Argument from Evidence

3. **Crosscutting Concepts:**

   - Patterns

   - Cause and Effect

   - Systems and System Models

   - Energy and Matter

   - Stability and Change

4. **Performance Expectations:**

   - MS-LS2-1: Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.

   - MS-LS2-2: Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.

   - MS-LS4-6: Use mathematical representations to support explanations of how natural selection may lead to increases and decreases of specific traits in populations over time.

   - MS-ESS3-3: Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.

   - MS-ESS3-4: Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems.

5. **Connections to Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science:**

   - Use of technology in marine biology research and conservation efforts.

   - Engineering solutions for coral reef restoration and marine habitat protection.

   - Application of scientific knowledge in sustainable tourism practices.

Where do we stay?

3 nights Glamping on Espiritu Island with a private crew, cook, dive leader, boat captain, fresh food, and all equipment provided. Participants sleep on cots inside tents. 

3 Nights  at the Waterfront Hotel in La Paz

About the camp....

It is not roughing it at all. Let's start there. 

Each tent is large enough for average size people to stand. There are two cots with sleeping bags, pillow, sheet and bath towels. 

There is a covered kitchen and dining area with tables and chairs. The dining area is converted to a classroom area at night.

A generator will re-charge electronics at night so that your camera batteries will be full for each day's adventure.

There are two toilets that have a manual "flush" which are modified marine toilets. Paper waste does go into a trash bin next to the toilet.

Solar showers are available but it can be chilly this time of year. A fresh water rinse versus a full soapy shower will suffice for the short time you are at camp. Bring wet wipes to supplement your shower. 

The camp has a crew that will prepare fresh meals and can meet general dietary restrictions. If you have severe allergies to foods please contact us BEFORE signing up.

The package does  include estimated airfare budget of $750 per person plus $50 per person booking fee. 

Price does not include baggage fees, special travel, or additional costs due to airline imposed surcharges, and taxes prior to ticketing, no does it include extra costs associated with cancellations or missed connections. Once booked, the ticket is the property of the named ticket holder and it is non-refundable and non-transferrable. 

Travel insurance is recommended.

Airlines release their schedules and prices 9 months before travel dates. The prices listed are estimates only and could be less or more. Holidays and high demand travel dates have higher prices. Green Edventures will provide you with a best guess estimate based on your actual travel dates, departure city, and our experience. We try to estimate high so that families are not surprised. Airline prices can not be locked in until your group is confirmed with the minimum number of students. At that time, the prices will be updated on your booking link, they could be less. If the price is significantly more, we will address this with the group and give participants options.

This Baja Spring Packing list will help you prepare for your upcoming trip. Please note this list is for an 8-day trip. Feel free to reduce the quantity suggested to match your activities:

3 days of water activities

1 land-based activity

All participants must be able to swim to join this trip. 

All participants must have a passport valid for travel 6 months beyond the date of departure. 

This trip is being organized by:

Name of Teacher

School Name

Teacher Email

Teacher Phone

Click on link to review:

Terms & Conditions

Cancellation Policy

Package Price is based on number of students with 10 students being the minimum and 16 students the maximum.  

Fee: $4075 plus + gratuity

Duration: 7 days

Comps: 1 teacher free with 10-paying students, 2 teachers free with 14 paying students.

Max Group Size: 8-25

Grades: 6-8th, 9-12th, and college

Dates: February-April (Spring Break)

Includes an estimated airfare*: $750 plus $50 booking fee. Peak spring break dates could be +$300 higher or more.

All participants must have proof of travel medical and evacuation insurance. A comprehensive travel insurance policy will protect you and your trip.

Travel insurance can be found at https://greenedventures.com/travel-insurance/

Green Edventures does not charge a service fee. We use a third party merchant service called WeTravel and they use the credit card processor Stripe. 

Credit Card

WeTravel will add a service fee to the total amount of your trip if you pay with a credit card. Credit Cards fees: 2.9% (Amex: 3.9%). This is a bank fee not Green Edventures. 

ACH / Checking Account 

If you set up your payment method to be withdrawn from your checking account there are no fees. 

You can change your payment method at any time in your WeTravel Account. 

All payments are non-refundable. Your deposit is a commitment to signing up for this trip. Subsequent payments are used to help Green Edventures reserve lodging, guides, activities, and other aspects of your trip long in advance of the tour date.  

If a registered participant misses an installment and does not respond to our inquires within 1 week, this will be considered an automatic withdrawal from the trip, his/her spot on the trip will be cancelled without refund. 

Student package prices are determined by the number of participants in the group. A participant who cancels 45 days or less from the trip departure date, or a participant who cancels and drops the group’s numbers below minimum with no substitute for their place on the group trip will be responsible for the entire trip cost and airline ticket fees.

Mailing Address:

Green Edventures, LLC   

5348 Vegas Dr. #1102   

Las Vegas, NV 89108

888-622-4911  

info@greenedventures.com

For General Questions & Reservations:

Tara Short 

Founder & Director

715-252-1238   
tara@greenedventures.com

For Billing & Payments:

Carrie Zygowicz 

Administrative Assistant

715-222-9874   
contact@greenedventures.com

Welcome to the gateway to the Sea of Cortez! Our group will arrive from the US at Los Cabo Airport (SJD) between 11am-2pm. Our team will be at the airport to greet you and then we’ll board the 15-passenger vans and drive 2.5 hours north towards La Paz with a stop for lunch on the way. 

Afternoon: After checking in at the hotel, we will have a briefing to go over introductions.  Participants can relax and swim in the pool before heading out to dinner in La Paz. 

Evening: Overnight in 3-star hotel, 2-3 students per room.

Meals: L,D

Morning:
Participants will learn basic snorkeling skills and then free-diving techniques in the shallow bay of Ensenada Grande.

Afternoon:
Participants will use their snorkeling skills to explore the rocky shoreline at Las Cuevas and their free-diving skills to see garden eels in the sandy flats at 25ft.

Evening Presentation:
Survival of the Finnest: Fish are the most abundant vertebrate animals which dominate nearly every habitat in the hydrosphere. Why are they so successful?

Morning:
The Cross Island Hike is a 2.5 to 3 hour round trip hike which is relatively flat with a few boulders to scramble up or slide down. It terminates at the opposite side of Isla Partida and reveals stunning views of the eastern side of the island.

Afternoon:
Escape the heat and jump into the cool water at Isla El Candelero. This tiny island is a great spot to get up close to birds like cormorants, gulls, and pelicans; as this island serves as a small rookery.

Evening Presentation:
Gulf of California: Introduction to an ocean oasis: 40 minute slide show presentation that introduces students to oceanography and the physical processes which formed the Gulf of California and the biotic and abiotic factors that make it one of the most biological diverse marine systems on the planet.

 Wake up to the peaceful sounds of water lapping on the beach and the cool ocean air. Students will meet in the dining tent for hot breakfast and an assortment of fruit and cereals.

Morning: 

We board the boat for an 30 min ride to Los Isolates Sea Lion Colony. This sea lion colony has has divers and snorkelers swimming with the residents for over 30 years and there is a reason why people keep coming back. Participants will jump into the wild world of these "underwater dogs." Each experience is different, but it's highly likely to have playful juveniles come up to you performing entertaining acrobatics - their natural behaviors.  We learn about sea lion's adaptations and threats to the local sea lions and those world wide.

Afternoon: 

We return to camp for lunch. Afterwards, we will go on a topside activity such as sea kayaking or nature hike depending on the weather conditions and the schedule from the previous day.

Evening: Dinner at camp and an evening presentation on the Empty Ocean: Human caused environmental issues threatening biodiversity of the global ocean.

Meals: BLD

Morning: Depart camp after breakfast and on the way to La Paz we look for whale sharks who migrate to the Bay of La Paz each year.

We have a two hour slot allocated to us by the national marine park. Once we find a whale shark, the boat captain will position you in the whale shark’s path. When you dive master says go, jump in and follow the whale shark for as long as you can keep up. They move fast! It is a humbling experience to be by such a large creature. Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world. They can reach up to 60 ft in length. These gentle giants eat plankton, the smallest members of the marine food chain.

Afternoon: We enjoy a picnic lunch on the boat.  We return to La Paz about 3pm.  We move into our hotel for the next two nights.

Evening: Dinner in La Paz.

Meals: BLD

Morning: After an early breakfast at the hotel we depart to Magdalena Bay. It is approximately 2-3 hour drive depending on which part of the bay the whales are most active. We will embark on a 3-hour boat ride into the breeding lagoon to see the gray whales. What is so special about these whales is that some of them are curious about us too and will come right to the boat. You might get a chance to look into the eye of a whale or feel its breath on your skin. Or, you may be lucky enough to touch a whale! The feeling of being close to these creatures is amazing and life-changing. You will learn about their migration, adaptations and why the lagoons in Mexico are protected for them. 

Afternoon.  We return to shore to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After, we make our way back to La Paz around 5 or 6pm.

Evening: Dinner in La Paz and souvenir shopping.

Meals: BLD

Our team hates the last day just as much as you will. Saying goodbye to groups is hard because we had a chance to share a place we love with you, and know that we are lucky to have become friends with you because of the Sea of Cortez. Hopefully you have fallen in love with the wild ocean, and that you will go home inspired to protect it.

Morning: After breakfast the vans will depart the hotel and drive 2.5 hours to the Los Cabos Airport for your flight back home. 

Meals: B