Whale Camp: An Intimate Encounter with Wonder
Baja, Mexico — Loreto & Laguna San Ignacio
A Magical Week of Ocean Play, Deep Earth Connection, Whale Wisdom, Community, and Resting in Beauty.
February 25 - March 2, 2024
An opening to the extraordinary,
an invitation into mystery,
a portal to deep connection and joy.
Spending time in the Sea of Cortez and Laguna San Ignacio offers us the treat of literally experiencing both sides of Baja, Mexico and coming into contact with the wild and awe inspiring land- and seascapes that make up this unique, diverse, and abundant ecosystem. This retreat offers time and space to slow down, be present, and absorb the beauty, magic, and joy that this realm offers so generously. The unique opportunity to delve deeply into our innate curiosity and wonder, that is our human nature, will guide us as we explore and wholeheartedly get to know this place, our most recent selves, and all the beings we encounter. There is no doubt you will leave with this place wedged deeply into your heart and who you are forever becoming.
This offering is a unique opportunity to spend time with and get to know the gray whales that arrive into Laguna San Ignacio to give birth and then prepare their newly born calves for the long journey back to Alaska. Each winter from December through April, the longest known mammal migration takes place along the Eastern Pacific shoreline. The gray whales begin in the cold Arctic waters of the Bering and Chukchi Sea and make their way South to the remote warm water lagoons of Mexico’s Baja peninsula. We will go out in small motor boats (pangas) and spend time closely with the whales. This is a friendly interaction and very respectful. The whales (mothers & babies) often come over and rub against the boats and invite gentle touches from humans. It is a wonder to behold and be in relationship with this beautiful process.
This lagoon is remote and largely unimpacted by human development. We will be at the lagoon for 3 nights and have the opportunity to go out on six different boat trips to meet and interact with the whales. The gift of spending this amount of time with the whales offers a very special glimpse into who they are, what they can teach and share with us, and how to we can live in sacred reciprocity to support the wellbeing of all life.
Time with the whales and on the land & sea will open us to explore the questions: How are we in a relationship with the world around us? How can we open to and trust this precious life? How do we show up for this world in times of dysfunction and despair? What is my role on behalf of life? How can we cultivate personal and collective resilience?
We will set intentions for our time together and peel away the layers as we open to community in nature. We will take time for council (intentional conversations that open our hearts, minds, and spirits) and work with the shield of life to help us orient ourselves as humans in these times. There will be solo time on the land to ask your heart’s questions, invite in more clarity and understanding, and bring stories back to the group. The flow of our activities will support the deeper work that this retreat offers to give space for living more joyfully, intentionally, and committed. We will blend delight and wonder with the experience of grief as it arises. We will practice remembering and trusting that we are intimately connected to life.
Allow yourself to be nourished in Baja by deep ocean time, the wisdom of the whales, connection with the land, ceremony, our collective wisdom, community, sunsets, and delicious food. You will have free time to explore, rest, and bask in the stillness and abundance of this sacred space. This offering provides space to reconnect to the beauty, joy, and abundance that is always available. It is a space to (re)root, (re)ember and spend time in our bodies and hearts.
There will be time to explore and get to know the sweet and charming town of Loreto both before and after our time at the Lagoon. It is a wonderful place to wander, eat, and shop for beautiful Mexican art and handicrafts. You may choose to arrive a day or 2 early or stay on after we finish.
We believe in the need for restorative time (amidst the incomprehensible suffering of our world, racial injustice, climate crisis) to show up with strength and stability for individual and collective well being.
No experience necessary; just an open heart and willingness to connect with the sacred relationships of our deepest selves, Mother Earth, and beloved community.
***All those that identify with their feminine are welcome. Open to 8 participants.
Day to Day Flow:
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Arrive into Loreto and get picked up by our hotel shuttle. We will have dinner as a group.
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For our first full day, we will go out via kayak or panga boat (depending on weather) to explore the extraordinary Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of California). Called “the world’s aquarium” by oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, the Sea of Cortez is one of the most biologically diverse bodies of water on Earth. It is a major feeding and breeding zone for large marine mammals, including blue, humpback, grey, sperm, pilot, Baird’s beaked, and Bryde’s whales. Depending on weather, we may snorkel, kayak, and explore an island. We will have lunch together and take time to land in this new experience. There will be time to wander and explore Loreto and we will have a group dinner in Loreto.
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We will depart from Loreto via shuttle bus in the morning and arrive at Laguna San Ignacio by lunchtime. The drive is about 5 hours and offers a sweet glimpse into the landscape of Baja as we traverse from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific Ocean. After lunch at the Eco Lodge, we will set out on our first whale connection experience via panga boat. We will have dinner as a group and meet for an evening circle.
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This will be the first of (2) full days at Antonio’s Cabanas, our basecamp for connecting with the whales. We will go out via panga in the morning and in the afternoon to engage with the whales. There will be times we meet up as a group as well as solo time. All meals provided.
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Full day at Antonio’s Cabanas connecting with the whales. We will go out via panga in the morning and in the afternoon to engage with the whales. There will be times we meet up as a group as well as solo time. All meals provided.
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Breakfast and our final time connecting with the whales on the panga. We will shuttle back to Loreto and have dinner there as a group.
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Depart for home. Hotel shuttle to airport.
Facilitator & Guide:
Irene Bailey
Start:
February 25: Arrive & settle
End:
March 2: Depart (or extend your stay)
Included:
•All meals (dinner on day 1 to dinner on day 6)
•All accommodations
•Shuttle to/ from airport
•Shuttle to/ from Laguna San Ignacio
•Kayaking in the Sea of Cortez
•6 Whale connecting boat tours in Laguna San Ignacio
•A variety of nature connection & mindfulness activities
•Sacred land to explore and wander
•Opportunities for deep connection to self, community, & the natural world
•Individual support as needed
Accommodation Details:
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We will be staying at the Hotel Posada de las Flores, a boutique hotel with iconic colonial-style architecture. It is located in the heart of Loreto right on the picturesque main square. It is easy and safe to walk around the town and explore from our hotel.
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We will be staying at Antonio’s Eco Tours Cabanas for (3) nights. The cabins are simple and clean. Each cabin has a sink with running water and solar powered light as well as an electrical outlet where you can charge during daylight hours if the weather permits it. Water and electricity are precious commodities in Laguna San Ignacio since all power is generated by the sun and the wind and the water is desalinated from the waters of the lagoon. Each cabin will have its own private dry restroom on the back porch. The showers are outside in a separate building.Meals are served in the main palapa. Wifi is available if needed but the invitation will be to be offline.
Food:
Delicious, nourishing, authentic meals with local ingredients and sea food freshly caught in the areas where we stay. We can accommodate a certain level of special dietary needs, including gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian.
You Provide:
• Valid Passport
• Flights to and from Loreto, Baja, Mexico (see below)
• Trip Insurance (see below)
• Money for souvenirs or other purchases
• Warm & comfortable layers for being outdoors & on the ocean
• Sturdy shoes for walking on uneven terrain
• Rain gear
• Water bottle
• Sunglasses & hat
• Journal & pen
• Headlight or flashlight
*A detailed clothing/ gear list will be shared closer to the retreat start date.
Cost:
$2,475 double occupancy
$3,175 single occupancy
Payment Plans Available
Sorry, No Scholarships Available
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You will book your flight to and from Loreto. You may want to arrive early or stay late to have more time to explore. We welcome your emails or are happy to set up a call to help you with your flight or hotel needs.
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You will need to purchase trip insurance. It is available online. It will protect your investment in non-refundable costs if you have to cancel or if the retreat is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control. Cancellations for Covid-19 related issues are generally only covered in the ‘cancellation for any reason’ clause, so if you desire that coverage be sure it is included. Given the retreat is in a remote location in Mexico, we also recommend that your policy covers medical evacuation costs in case of sickness or injury.
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We will follow strict hygiene protocols. In preparations for the retreat and during our time together, we will do everything we can to protect you, the guides, and the community. Prior to the retreat, we will be sharing our updated COVID Protocols that all participants must agree to follow. Reach out to learn more.
by Mary Oliver:
"We wait, not knowing
just where it will happen; suddenly
they smash through the surface, someone begins
shouting for joy and you realize
it is yourself as they surge
upward and you see for the first time
how huge they are, as they breach,
and dive, and breach again
through the shining blue flowers
of the split water and you see them
for some unbelievable
part of a moment against the sky–
like nothing you’ve ever imagined–
Inclusivity:
We ask that our participants be committed to the ongoing learning and awareness of how white supremacy negatively impacts all life, especially black and brown people. In an effort to support an inclusive space, we know this work, this dismantling of systemic oppression, is essential to sharing healing spaces and to supporting the collective liberation for all beings.