EXPLORE MEXICO'S COPPER CANYON April 22-30, 2006 • Nov. 27-Dec. 4, 2006 This eight-day trip will highlight Batopilas, a 19th century silver-mining village nestled deep in the Sierra Madres. You'll travel by train, bus, van, horseback (optional) and on foot to explore waterfalls, vistas and rivers often left unexplored on other Copper Canyon trips. Hike the canyon rim, shop for unique crafts handmade by the area's Tarahumara Indians, stroll among the canyon's towering pine and oak forests and make a thrilling descent more than 7,000 ft. to Batopilas. Enjoy hotel comfort each night. Please join us in exploring this beautiful wilderness. FEATURES INCLUDED: Transfers along the route • Seven nights hotel accommodations • Most meals & gratuities o Tours • Knowledgeable guides. NOT INCLUDED: Tips to guides • Trip Insurance • Roundtrip air transportation from San Diego COST: $1,795 CALL (800) 829-2252 OR EMAIL: bajadis@aol.com FOR TRIP ITINERARIES AND PRICE INFORMATION TRANSPENINSULAR TREK Nov. 26-Dec. 3, 2005 • May 27-June 3, 2006 This exciting trip offers an introduction to Baja California, Mexico, with a closer look at its plants, animals and geography. Our small group will travel more than 700 miles between San Diego and Loreto in comfortable air conditioned vans. We'll explore off the beaten path from the unique cactus forests to the shores of both coasts - the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. Meet the people in the small towns and villages along the way and learn of Baja's rich cultural history. Included are visits to an old Onyx mine, four of the old Jesuit missions still in use, two cave painting sites, and the old French copper mining town of Santa Rosalia. We'll picnic each day... under a shady mesquite tree next to a towering Cardon cactus or by the waters edge with time to tidepool. Enjoy hotel comfort each night and great food at local restaurants. We know the best! Nights will be spent in San Quintin and Guerrero Negro on the Pacific; Catavina, surrounded by sculptured boulders and giant cactus in the central desert; the old Mission town of San Ignacio amid a thousand palms; and Loreto on the Sea of Cortez. From the breathtaking panoramas of Baja's mountains, deserts & seashores, to wonders of the tiniest of wildflowers on the desert floor, Baja will provide those of you interested in our natural world a wonderful peaceful venue for exploration. FEATURES INCLUDED: One-way air transportation between San Diego and Loreto • Seven nights hotel accommodations • All ground transportation and transfers • Eight meals and snacks • Experienced Baja hosts and guides • Small groups to ensure personalized service. FEATURES NOT INCLUDED: One way air transportation from Loreto to San Diego • Meals at hotels and restaurants (10) • Tips to guides and waiters • Personal items • Trip insurance. COST: $1,695 (dbl. occ.) $225 Single Supplement CUSTOM TRIPS The Birds of Baja has been a popular interest trip. Itineraries range from 8-10 days. Groups travel more than 1000 miles from San Diego to Cabo San lucas exploring Baja's deserts, mountains & coastal areas in the search of the Gray Thrasher, Mangrove Warbler, Xanthus Hummingbird, Vermilion Flycatcher, Frigatebird & others. On our last 9 day trip in October, our group from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, led by museum Ornithologist Kimball Garrett, identified nearly 200 different species and saw an estimated 43,000 individual birds! Small air conditioned van transportation allows for off road exploration. To maximize our time with the birds, all lunches and some breakfasts are prepared and served at our birding sites in the field. (good food!) Participants enjoy comfortable hotels each night, dinners at colorful local restaurants, and early buffet breakfasts. At trips end groups return via commercial air to Los Angeles or San Diego. Similar custom itineraries can be arranged with a focus on plants. Shorter trips to specific areas are also available. Our Boojums and Boulders 4 day trip visits the wide sandy beaches of the Pacific in northern Baja and the central desert wonderland of Cataviña. This area is rich in bird life and spectacular plant life. This is home to the endemic Cirio (Boojum), which can grow to 50ft, and the majestic Cardon. Visits are also possible to old onyx & turquoise mines and a cave painting site. Comfortable hotels overlooking the ocean or nestled in wind sculptured granite boulders and cactus offer unique and special sites for walks and exploration. Baja Discovery is happy to work with organizations who want to bring their own expert guide, or we can provide our own naturalist guides knowledgeable in your area of interest. Call Baja Discovery for more information! If you want a special interest trip, a relaxing week on the Sea of Cortez, or a general introduction to the peninsula on a road trip from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, "Land's End", we promise a quality vacation with expert guides, long - experienced in Baja. BIRDS OF BAJA CALIFORNIA Nov. 1-8, 2006 Join San Diego Natural History Museum’s curator of birds and mammals, Phil Unitt and Baja Discovery staff on this overland expedition down the Baja California peninsula in search of over 150 species of familiar and exotic birds, including three endemic species—the Gray Thrasher, Belding’s Yellowthroat, and Xantus’ Hummingbird, as well as the Magnificent Frigatebird, Crested Caracara, Least Grebe, Pyrrhuloxia, and more. On this museum trip you’ll pass through mangrove swamps, tropical deciduous woodland, rare freshwater, lagoons, and hidden oases, visiting the towns of Cataviña, La Paz, San José del Cabo, and Cabo San Lucas. This very special trip will provide an introduction to Baja California, Mexico, with a focus on its birds. Our group will travel more than 1000 miles along the Baja California peninsula in comfortable air-conditioned vans from San José del Cabo, at the southern tip of the peninsula, to San Diego. You will enjoy hotel comfort each night and spend fascinating days in the field exploring the deserts, foothills and coastal regions. All lunches will be prepared in the field to allow maximum time to explorePassport required. For itineraries and cost contact Dee Parks at the San Diego Natural History Museum: 619-232-3821 ext. 204 OR call Baja Discovery at 800-829-2252 or 619-262-0700. BOTANY OF BAJA CALIIFORNIA October 24-31, 2006 Join the San Diego Natural History Museum’s curator of botany, Dr. Jon Rebman, and Baja Discovery staff in exploring Baja California’s biogeographic history and physiognomy. The area features a wide range of vegetation types, including coastal chaparral, low desert scrub, and tropical deciduous forest. Many of the plants from the peninsula and its islands are also quite unique, including the bizarre boojum tree/cirio (Fouquieria columnaris), the giant cardón cactus (Pachycereus pringlei), and elephant trees (Pachycormus discolor and Bursera spp.).This very special trip will provide an introduction to Baja California, Mexico, with a focus on its plants. Our group will travel more than 1000 miles along the Baja California peninsula in comfortable air conditioned vans from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas, Lands End, at the southern tip of the peninsula. You will enjoy hotel comfort each night and spend fascinating days afield exploring the deserts, mountain foothills and coastal regions. All lunches will be prepared in the field to allow maximum time to explore. Passport required. For itineraries and cost contact Dee Parks at the San Diego Natural History Museum: 619-232-3821 ext. 204 OR call Baja Discovery at 800-829-2252 or 619-262-0700. CALL (800) 829-2252 OR EMAIL: bajadis@aol.com FOR TRIP ITINERARIES AND PRICE INFORMATION HOME | WELCOME | WHALE WATCHING | SEA TURTLES | CAVE PAINTINGS SEA OF CORTEZ | TOURS & TREKS | NEWS & NOTES | GUESTBOOK