Travel

Participants of the Baja Class will meet in San Diego, California. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from San Diego. Hotel accommodations (first and last nights of the class are spent in San Diego) are covered by the course. Vehicles will be provided for travel between Bahia de los Angeles and San Diego.

The second night of the class will be spent camping at Cataviña, in the Vizcaino desert. The drive from San Diego to Cataviña takes approximately 10 hours. The following morning, we will complete our drive to Bahia de los Angeles, which will take about 2 additional hours. We will also camp in Cataviña on the return trip.

Bahía de los Angeles

Bahía de los Angeles has a population of approximately 600. It is located at the base of "Mike's Mountain", which rises almost 4000 feet above sea level. The 40 mile long Isla Angel de la Guarda (Guardian Angel Island) protects the bay and the smaller islands within it. The very productive waters of the Midriff Island Area support a diversity of marine life, including invertebrates, fish, sea birds, and marine mammals.

The Vermilion Sea Field Station

The VSFS was originally established in the 1960's by the San Diego Museum of Natural History. It is a 3000 square foot adobe structure with nine rooms, including a lecture room and a well equipped kitchen. Visitors sleep on comfortable cots outdoors, at the water's edge.

Excursions

Every morning we will use pangas - small fishing boats that are well suited for the waters in upper Gulf of California - to explore the Midriff Island Area. The boats offer access to the islands and snorkeling destinations, as well as opportunities for whale watching along the way.