If you have any questions about the "Irish Mist", "Tesoro del Mar", our trips, or any of the activities that we offer, go to our on-line request form, and send us your questions or comments.We receive many questions asking about how we started our eco-chartering business, what is it really like living in Paradise, what is our deposit policy, do we accept credit cards, are any of our boats available for bareboat charters, who else will be on the boat, how many guests can we accommodate, if we offer pre-scheduled trips for solo travelers, do we make hotel and airline reservations, and who are the crew members on our various boats.
All of the overnight trips on "Tesoro Del Mar" and "Irish Mist" are private charters. You will not have to share the boat with any other passengers. "Irish Mist" can accommodate 2-4 guests, "Tesoro Del Mar" can accommodate 2-8 guests. "Tesoro Del Mar" and "Irish Mist" are NEVER available for bareboat charters. The captains on our boats have over 41 years experience between them just in cruising the Sea of Cortez. The crew members are Jimmy and Estrella, and Jim and Connie. No matter who your crew is, I guarantee you that they are the best and will work the best of their ability to ensure that you have a fantastic trip.
We do not group solo travelers (we require only a minimum of two passengers). We would never want one unruly passenger to ruin a trip for anyone else. We prefer that you make your own hotel reservations, and we don't make airline or car reservations.
For vacations 180 days or more before the departure date, a 10% deposit will confirm your dates. You will then be sent our trip information, which contains the contract, invoice, and other useful information. Confirmation deposits can be made by personal check or bank wire. A 15% deposit is due 180 days before the departure date.
A 25% deposit is due 120 days before departure date, and the final deposit of 50% is due 45 days or more at our US address before the departure date.
Deposits can be paid by personal check, postal money orders, or bank wire. We no longer accept credit cards or PAYPAL in an effort to try and keep our costs down. We realize that this can be an inconvenience for some folks. If you need to change the amount of, or the due dates of the deposits let me know in advance, and we can usually work something out.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. Can you tell me about appropriate trips for children? I have a seven year old and a 10 year old boy. Both are fabulous swimmers and enjoy water sports. They've been kayaking and love it, but haven't snorkeled. My husband is worried about the water and safety of bringing children to Baja, if you could address those issues, it'd be great!
Mary F. (California)A. Mary, We heartily encourage family trips and some of our most memorable charters have been with kids. Usually we suggest they are 5 and older, but we have had a 3 and a 4 year old that were great. With ordinary precaution there is no problem with safety on the boat or in Baja. Irish Mist is very secure, has a deep cockpit, and is very safe when under way. The kids are not allowed out of the cockpit unless an adult is with them, and if the captain determines that it is safe enough. Kids and non swimmers always wear life jackets. Once out of the cockpit there are lifelines surrounding the outside of the boat. For kayaking we have double kayaks so they can go with an adult. When swimming and snorkeling they wear life jackets unless they are with an adult and the adult is in the water with them. Where we snorkel there is nothing in the water that is dangerous, such as sharks etc. I haven't seen a shark while snorkeling in these waters since I have been here (over 18 years). We do have sting rays at times, and if one shuffles their feet when walking in the shallow areas, they just swim off. They don't like to be stepped on very much. I would never hesitate to recommend that kids go out on any of our boats. It is a terrific experience. Even though we are very vigilant when the kids are outside, we do make it clear that the parents are responsible for their kids. If you have any other questions let me know.
Q. Good Morning, Jim. Ray and I have been a little (a lot) concerned about the news/horror stories happening in Mexico lately. We are very troubled about having to make the drive to La Paz early Monday morning (5/11/98) for our sail on Irish Mist, and driving back. The news has been warning tourists to take extreme precautions when traveling, as a result of many robberies and other misfortunes going on.
Certainly as a resident of Mexico, you are aware of any problems. Have you heard or encountered any said unjust activities? Are there any situations on the highway we should be aware of?
Thank you for your response, and hope you understand our concern in this matter.
Ray & Wanda (California)A. Wanda & Ray, I'm sending this from Isla Espiritu Santo, as we are on a charter. The folks that are with us came down by car. Two from San Diego, and a young lady and her Mom from Cabo San Lucas. The Mom dropped her daughter off and returned by herself to Cabo (right around 6pm). We have had many people do the trip from Cabo to La Paz with no problems.
I don't know what horror stories you are hearing, but Baja California Sur is very safe to travel. In fact, the whole Baja is (from San Quintin, south). If I were in your position, I'd be more concerned about the traveling up in the States than here. If I thought that there was anything to be worried about, I wouldn't have encouraged you to come to La Paz. The drive from San Jose Del Cabo to La Paz is very safe. You should be more concerned about animals on the road than robbers.
I do understand your concerns, but the news up in the States always blows things out of proportion when it comes to Mexico. I hope this helps.
For more information on safety go to the article, "Are you safe in Mexico".
Q. I would like to know about the crew that would be going with us on our charter. I have considerable boating experience, and some sailing experience. I'm sure that I'll need a crew to go on a trip in your region. I would also like to know what activities we can have on board Irish Mist. In addition I would like to have one day of deep sea fishing. Is it possible to send a sportsfishing boat on the third or fourth day to take us, and at the end of the day return us to Irish Mist?
Rodrigo (Brazil)A. Rodrigo, As far as the crew goes for Irish Mist it is usually Jim and Connie. You can do as much or as little of the work as you desire in sailing the boat. For onboard activities we have kayaks, the kneeboard, baja death tube, all the snorkeling equipment, and we will take you to swim, snorkel or kayak with baby sea lions. There is plenty of hiking and exploring to do. We also have a 12' launch with a 25HP motor for exploring or fishing.
We use a private sports fishing boat for a day fishing trip just like you are requesting. The owner (he has a lot of experience) will come to our anchorage, your trip will start from there, and he will return you at the end of the day.
Q. We're interested in taking "Irish Mist" for a 3 to 5 day trip to the islands. We like to snorkel, beachcomb, fish and kayak. Is the point of departure only La Paz, or could we meet the boat in the Puerto Escondido-Loreto area?
Robin & Kathie F. (California)A. Robin & Kathie, Meeting "Irish Mist" in Loreto can be arranged. Since we base out of La Paz (there are many reasons why we chose La Paz), we do prefer to sail locally. For a longer charter it wouldn't be unusual for us to go up into the Loreto area. Wherever our guests want to go, time and weather permitting, we go. To meet a charter other than in La Paz, we have to do what's called dead heading. That's delivering the boat to Loreto without a charter (empty) to meet you. The trip is two days each way, and the basic expenses of the boat have to be charged for, in addition to the charter fee. Depending on our schedule and the season, our standard rates would apply if you wanted to depart Loreto and do a one way to La Paz, or depart La Paz and do a one way up to Loreto. If we had a one way charter to Loreto a week or so before your trip, we could then meet you in Loreto at no extra charge.
Q. My husband and I are going to be traveling to the Baja Peninsula. We are flying into Cabo, and will be traveling by bus to other locations, mainly La Paz. Do you have excursions in May, and do you offer off-season rates? We are interested in snorkeling, sea kayaking, and sailing.
Austin & Joanna B. (Colorado)Q. Could you please mail more information on your vacations, and their availability from May-Oct. Are the costs the same no matter what season we visit? Since it may only be 2 persons, what is the cost per day for a total of a 3 or 4 day charter on "Irish Mist"?
Jerry T. (Nevada)A. Austin, Joanna & Jerry, Various companies down here have different off-seasons depending on what they do, such as sailing, kayaking, fishing or diving. This can get pretty confusing. We operate year-round except for Sept. We provide air-conditioning during the summer months, however, we do consider July - August as our off-season.
Q. We have been vacationing in Baja for years, and this year we are going to Todos Santos. We will come up to La Paz for a one or two day trip on "Irish Mist". Are you easy to find in La Paz?
Brende H. (Wisconsin)A. Brende, Both of our boats are berthed in Marina de La Paz. We are very easy to find when we are not out sailing or on a trip! Everyone knows "Baja Seafaris". You are always welcome for a visit, but remember that we take advanced reservations only. It's best to make your reservation before you leave on your vacation, and not wait until you get here. We don't want you to be disappointed if we are already booked. Normally our minimum trip is 3 days, and we do not offer day trips.
Q. My husband, adult son, and I are novice sailors, and are looking for a learn to sail vacation. We sail a Catalina 22, and want to learn all we can about sailing so that we may someday captain and crew our own boat for an extended period of time. We intend to get our bareboat certification this year. We are planning this vacation in the fall. Could you send us information on your learn to sail program? We look forward to hearing from you soon! Happy sailing!
Dicksie W. (Texas)A. Dicksie, We have been receiving quite a few requests for information on our learn to sail vacations. You tell us what you want to do on your charter and we'll customize your trip to accommodate your desires. By the way, bareboating isn't the best way to improve your skills for future cruising, and the best certificate you can get is experience! Check out the new page on our web site: Baja Cruising Notes, "Bareboating vs. A Carefree Sailing Vacation".
Q. What type of food do you serve? I'm a vegetarian.
Jeannette C. (California)A. Jeannette, Whenever a charter is booked on "Irish Mist" or "Tesero Del Mar", we send out a Food Preferences form to be filled out. We can prepare all types of different meals to accommodate vegetarians, or any other type of dietary restriction, if notified ahead of time. The form is quite detailed and there is a box to fill in any additional information, such as; what type of vegetarian you are: lacto-vegetarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, or do you eat fish but not chicken or meat. We will tailor your menus to your personal tastes and restrictions and are also very adept at working around allergies and special health needs. Keep in mind that your children may not be on your diet or may have special preferences of their own and, if notified, we will make sure that some of their favorites are packed aboard also.
Q. Do you offer discounts for children, or have special family rates?
Art B. (California)A. Art, Baja Coast SeaFaris does offer discounts for families with children. We understand it can be expensive taking the whole family on a vacation, and we try to be flexible. A lot will depend on which trip you would like to take, the dates, and the age of the children.
Q. I'm looking forward to receiving more information on your trips. Since I don't really want to sail alone, I'm wondering if you have any sort of group bookings, or do I have to organize that from this end?
Jackie B. (B.C. Canada)A. Jackie, At this time we aren't doing group bookings. We would never want one person to ruin a vacation for another. We only require a couple to book one of our boats.
Q. We are interested in a 4 to 5 day sailing adventure. We would like to snorkel, sail and see wild life. We may also require a night's accommodation on each end of the cruise. Can you arrange this for us?
Robin W. (B.C. Canada)A. Robin, Yes we can make hotel arrangements for you, if desired.
Q. How much time is actually included in one of your charters? Are there any hidden charges once I get down there?
Carol H. (California)A. Carol, We usually leave at around 11am on your departure day and return around 11am on the return date. All charges are on our rate form. Our prices are all-inclusive (pertaining to the boat). There are no additional charges except for any gratuities, transportation and hotels etc for the land base part of your trip.
Q. We are a group of experienced sailors, and we want to sail in the Sea of Cortez. Do you offer bareboat charters?
Marc T.A. Marc, We do not offer bare boat chartering of any of our boats. The only company that legally does bare boat chartering in the Sea of Cortez is The Moorings. If you want to charter any of our yachts we have to furnish a captain.
Even though you are experienced sailors, we recommend that you seriously consider a charter on "Irish Mist", or "Tesero Del Mar". You or your first mate won't have to worry about provisioning, cooking, cleaning, fixing broken equipment, insurance, and accommodations the first and last day of your charter. With our variable local conditions, you won't worry about which anchorages are safe for a good night's sleep, running into uncharted reefs, or being fined for not returning the boat on time. You will always have plenty of privacy, and can always sail to your hearts' content. We have a lot of toys onboard that are not available on a bare boat charter. You'll also find that our prices, after all the usual bare boat extras, are very competitive.
Q. Your website looks great....interested in acquiring rate information. How far in advance does one need to book?
Richard & Maggie P.(California)A. Richard & Maggie, There are two very important factors in how far in advance you should book your trip. The first is the time of year. Certain times of the year are very popular for sailing vacations in the Sea of Cortez, and 6-8 months in advance would not be an unreasonable length of time. At other times of the year one or two months is more than enough time, if you are flexible with your dates. The other is the airlines. Aero California flies into La Paz, and quite a few other airlines fly into San Jose Del Cabo. At Christmas and Easter it is very difficult to get reservations. Six months or even more wouldn't be to soon to make your reservations.
Q. Would you recommend this kind of vacation for people unaccustomed to sailing or being on the water?
Frank S. (California)Frank, Yes, I would definitely recommend a boating vacation. Once you are onboard we go out to the local islands, and you can do quite a few various activities. There is snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, tubing, hiking, beach combing and exploring the various anchorages with our launches. You'll be able to relax and enjoy beautiful sunsets during cocktail hour. All your meals are prepared onboard and are customized to your tastes. For the sailors, in my opinion, there is no better feeling than being at the helm of a fine sailing yacht. You can sail as much as you desire or kick back, relax and we'll do all the work. The most important thing would be for you to choose the correct time of the year for your trip. Late spring, summer and early fall have the most moderate conditions.
Q. Thank you for the information you have sent, I have read every word. I am most interested in a trip, however, my wife needs a little convincing. She is very laid back and loves nature; but she has a history of getting sea-sick. After analysis she is interested because it's a private trip and the captain could find protected coves for anchoring... and she could take medicine and get off to go to the beach each day if she was really not feeling well. We love the sound of the trip; please let me know if I am off base on the above issue... or, if you have anything to add.
Michael C.A. We have received numerous questions about seasickness, so let me see if I can put your wife's mind at ease. The Sea of Cortez is usually pretty calm and doesn't have the swell motion of the open ocean, but for those with a history of becoming easily seasick, we recommend the Transderm Scopolamine patch. If your wife easily gets seasick I would recommend a sailboat over a power boat for her vacation. Sailboats are stable and do not roll a lot. Irish Mist or Tesero Del Mar would be perfect for your trip. Jim and Connie, or Jimmy and Estrella would be your crew, and they are very careful about finding calm anchorages. We have had very few problems with sea sickness on any of our boats.
Q. We have received many questions on travel in Mexico.
TRAVEL INFO FOR MEXICO
PHONE NUMBERS:
Our office phone number in La Paz (from the US) is 011 52 612 111-7335. If we are out on a charter you may not be able to reach us.OUR BOATS:
Irish Mist and Tesero Del Mar have a CD player. We encourage you to bring your favorite CD's. We furnish bar soap, all the linens, bath and beach towels. We serve a limited amount of national brand liquors (rum, tequila, vodka, gin) and have beer on board. We do not furnish wine, bourbon, Scotch, or liqueurs, so if you enjoy these types of liquors it's best to bring them from the states. All of our boats are famous for the Baja Seafaris Margaritas and Daiquiris, designed by Jim, and well tested by our past guests!We carry a good variety of snorkeling gear and wet suits, but if you have your own equipment or require special sizes please bring it along. Both boats carry double kayaks, a kneeboard, the exciting baja death tubes and snorkeling gear.
We use a very comprehensive on-line food form which you will fill out as a guide for the meals that will be prepared for your group, and the types of water sport activities you desire. This will determine what equipment we will bring on the boat for your use.
YOUR CREW:
The captains on our boats are laid back and have over 41 years experience between them just in cruising the Sea of Cortez. At times our crew members have to work our various boats due to schedules, vacations or illnesses. The Baja Seafaris crew includes: Jim, Connie, Jimmy and Estrella. Our bilingual crew is always gracious and hospitable, and no you can not take the cooks home with you! The cooks are well trained in the culinary arts and your meals are tailored to your groups personal taste. No matter who your crew is, I guarantee you that they will work to the best of their ability to ensure that you have a fantastic trip.ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
You must have a valid passport to enter Mexico. A tourist card will be issued during your flight. You will fill it out and present it to immigration when you enter Mexico. This will be at the first airport you land at in Mexico. Don't lose it because it must be turned in when you leave Mexico. Make sure that you always request a few more days on your tourist card than your planned vacation. Minors traveling with only one parent or guardian MUST always have a notarized letter of consent from the other or both parents to take the minor out of the country. The airlines will not allow you to leave the US without it.AIRPORTS:
You will have to present a filled out tourist card with immigration at the first airport your plane lands at in Mexico. They will stamp it. Always ask for more days than your stay. You will have to return the tourist card to the airline representative when you pick up your boarding pass and depart Mexico. When you go through customs (at your final entry destination) you will have to press a button on a small traffic signal type light. If you get the green light you pass through. If it is red a red light an official will look through your luggage for any major undeclared or illegal items. Tourists have very few problems and the officials are usually very courteous. When bringing extra wine or liquor, distribute it in various bags. Don't put it all in one bag. They are very easy going about bringing booze and wine into the country. Just don't bring it all in one box.HEALTH AND MEDICAL:
No immunizations or vaccinations are presently required for Mexico.TRAVEL INSURANCE:
You can purchase travel insurance to cover baggage loss, accident and trip cancellation. . We do not recommend any insurance company, but for comparison you can check out http://insuremytrip.com/, http://www.accessamerica.com/ and http://www.worldtravelcenter.com/. It is not very expensive and recommended.We seriously recommend that you purchase this insurance if your trip is during Sept. This is the major reason why we offer summer discounts, so that purchasing this insurance does not add any more expense to your trip. Many companies also cover emergency evacuation expenses should you become seriously ill during the trip. Air Evac insurance is also very inexpensive, and all scuba divers must have DAN (or similar) insurance for their trip.
CURRENCY AND SPENDING MONEY:
The Mexican monetary unit is the peso. At this time the exchange rate is about 10 to 1 or 1000 pesos = $100US. There is no need to change money before you leave the USA, and dollars can be used in most places, but only if they are not torn, written on, or damaged in any way. Large hotels many times will change your dollars into pesos. Always ask what the rate of exchange is. Small shops seldom have change, so large denomination bills are rarely accepted. Traveler's checks are easy to change only in large towns. Credit cards are accepted in major hotels, some restaurants and shops. There are many ATM machines but they are not always reliable.ELECTRIC CURRENT:
In Baja the electric current is 60 cycles, 120 volts, similar to the U.S. All your appliances will work down here. Irish Mist and Tesero Del Mar can run battery chargers and small shavers etc with their inverters.CRIME:
There is very little crime in La Paz. You will be very safe walking along the lovely Malecon (waterfront). Most evenings you will find families relaxing and enjoying our wonderful bay. Use common sense when traveling in the more remote beach areas and in Cabo San Lucas.DRUGS AND WEAPONS:
In foreign countries you are subject to their laws. In Mexico the legal system is called the Napoleonic Code of Law. What this means is "you are guilty until proven innocent." You do not want to go to jail in Mexico. Don't ever bring any drugs unless you have a prescription for them, and do not ever bring any weapons of any type into Mexico.MEALS, LIQUOR AND WATER:
Many people are hesitant to visit Mexico because of the fear of "Montezuma's Revenge." You will seldom hear of stomach problems from tourists in Baja. The difference is in the water. Water in mainland Mexico comes from rivers, whereas water in Baja comes from wells. Because of the change from your home area, don't use tap water for drinking. Bottled water is easily available. We carry purified water on-board our boats. Don't drink anything but purified water in Cabo San Lucas. Ice cubes in Mexico are made from purified water by law.Food bought in restaurants or from some street vendors is usually safe. Fresh fruits and vegetables when washed properly are also quite safe. As a general rule, if you see a lot of locals eating from a street vendor it is safe to eat there. I would stay away from any street food that wasn't freshly cooked in front of you. Don't eat anything but cooked foods in Cabo San Lucas.
INSECTS:
In general, biting bugs are pretty scarce in the Baja. We carry insect repellent protection against "no-see-ums", a small biting gnat that is sometimes found near mangrove estuaries, and mosquitos. If you have a strong allergy to insect stings, you should bring your own personal anti venom kit.CLIMATE:
Baja has a wonderful winter climate! There are really only two seasons: the (warm to hot) summer season from June through mid October, and the mild winter season from November through May. Baja is a coastal desert where the possibility of rain is rare. Sometimes we'll get strong north winds that can blow for a few days during the winter months. During the months of Dec-May it is best to bring a light wet suit if you have one. I recommend a 2-3mm long sleeve and pants type suit. Irish Mist and Tesoro Del Mar carry a limited amount of wetsuits. Water temps are 68-75 Jan-June, warming up quickly to the Mid 80's by the end of July, then back down to the low 70's by the end of Dec. Air temperatures are usually in the mid low to mid 70's from January to March with many days in the high 70's to low 80's. If it is windy it will feel cooler (we occasionally get north winds when a storm front passes through CA). April/May are usually in the hi 70's to mid 80's. June it will start to warm up with Sept being the hottest month, expect daytime temperatures in the low to mid 90's in Sept. It is quite a bit hotter in town. We usually have dry weather, and the evenings are pleasant. Summer is the best time for water sports, with the water temps in the mid 80's. Peak diving season is July-Oct. Our snorkeling gear is in good condition, but if you want to stay in the water a long time during winter/spring it's best to have full length wet suits.LUGGAGE & CLOTHING:
If you have one, a soft duffel is always preferred over a soft suitcase to carry your personal gear. Do not bring a hard suitcase. There is not much storage room on boats, especially sail boats. Pack as light as possible. Always bring tennis shoes for the boat, old tennis shoes or reef walkers for the water, and regular shoes for dining out. During the winter a light jacket, sweats and a sweater may be needed in the evenings or if it is breezy. Bathing suits, shorts, light tops, T-shirts, and sweats or some sort of pants are fine, and one nice outfit for going out to dinner. During the summer, all light weight clothes, bathing suits, and a nice shirt and shorts for dining out is all that is needed. Most every one brings too much.
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