Adventure Travel Cruising the Sea of Cortez
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I need to know how to kayak
and snorkel?
No. The kayaks are simply plastic "sit-on"
kayaks that are used in the bays, coves, and the area in which the boat is
anchored. They are not sea-going kayaks where you have to learn various
special techniques like rolling. We also DO NOT kayak from island to island. If you do not know
how to kayak we will teach you the basic moves.
As for the snorkeling, the gear is provided; however, if
you have your own, you may want to bring it. If you do not know how to
snorkel we will teach you. We start off in 3 feet of water, where you can
see the marine life attached to the sandstone formations. Once you are
comfortable and confident with your ability you can venture off into 10' +
depths. During the times that the group is snorkeling the pangas will accompany
us.
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What
level of hiking are we to expect?
The hiking you can anticipate is of a novice level. There may be
a hill or two but that's as difficult as it gets. Because the rock formations are
dry and brittle, the areas that may look challenging are off
limits due to safety reasons. The second factor to keep in mind is the
intensity of the sun during most of the day - we keep the hiking short
and effective. The areas we will be hiking are fossil beds, cactus
forests, geological sites, and beaches.
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Do I
need to be in great shape for the trip?
Our trips are designed for everyone; it accommodates all levels of
experience and abilities. Most of our participants are first time kayakers, snorkelers,
or simply have limited experience. Our expeditions are not
considered strenuous or physically demanding, and a high level
of fitness is not required. You can, however, anticipate a few hours of exercise each
day. All we ask is that you embrace the adventure
with an open mind and are able to have fun with it during the trip.
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How do
we address seasickness?
The MV Narval is a 117' vessel with a considerable amount of stability.
In the event of bad weather, we
simply avoid and do not venture into it. We have backup plans for alternative
destinations and activities. However, in the event you suffer with motion
sickness we recommend "sea bands" which are an elastic material
band that sits on the pressure points of the wrist. Your second
alternative is to use Gravol. Please check with your doctor if you have
any further concerns. We have never had a guest whose trip was ruined by
seasickness.
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What
are the accommodations, washroom and shower facilities like?
Accommodations are single berths based on double or quad occupancy
with both upper and lower bunks. Each stateroom features washrooms
equipped with toilet, sink, mirror, and a shower. There are drawers that
you may use for your clothes and personal items.
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What if I come alone?
No worries, many of our guests travel solo. The vessel has
accommodations for 24 guests, but we cap our group sizes to 18 guests plus
2 naturalists. Consequently, there is the odd cabin that only one
person will occupy. We will try to arrange single accommodation or put you
together with a suitable partner. The wonderful part about these trips is
the opportunity to meet new friends.
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How remote is the area we will be
exploring?
For the first
couple of days there are other boats around our evening mooring spots.
However, later on in the trip, we are usually the
only ones in sight because there is no human
habitation on the islands and because the boat is self contained with
freshwater, food, etc. ... Imagine having the whales, dolphins, and beaches to
ourselves - you couldn't ask for a better playground. Once we have
departed, the only other human interaction outside of our onboard guests
are the folks at the fishing village we will be visiting.
In the event of an emergency the vessel is equipped with a satellite
phone, cell phone, VHF, and single side band radio.
Participants wishing to contact their families or friends
while on the trip will have to bring their own cellular phones.
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What type of clothing will we need to
bring?
During the months of February to May the average
temperature in the Sea of Cortez ranges from 23 - 33º Celsius, getting
progressively warmer into the year. The days can
become quite warm and in the evenings, the temperature is much cooler and
may require a sweatshirt or light jacket.
The list of suggested clothing is as follows:
- sun hat/ball
cap
- sweat
pants/shirt
- sunblock/lip balm
-
T-shirts
- water
socks
- camera/film
-
shorts
- light hiking
shoes
- water bottle
-
swimsuits
- beach
towel
- daypack for shore excursions
- warm
jacket
- sunglasses (UV)
Please follow the suggested clothing list closely and if you have any
questions about your gear feel free to call us.
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Will we see whales and other cool marine
animals?
Absolutely!!! The Sea of Cortez is one of the richest seas in the world
for marine life. Understandably, we cannot predict what we will encounter
and when, but we have a pretty good idea of where the animals are. The
senior naturalist has 20 years of experience in the waters that we will be
exploring. Anticipate encounters with large whales, dolphins, sea lions
and manta rays, not to mention the other marine animals that will be
encountered during our snorkeling and tidepooling explorations. You will
observe some of the most beautiful and bizarre sea creatures
imaginable.
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What are the travel arrangements?
For those guests who have purchased the All Inclusive
package, the Airline we have chosen to fly our guests on is Alaska Air.
Airport transfers from Cabo to the vessel in La Paz are handled by
commercial transportation companies (vans).
If you would like to add on a trip extension please let us
know at time of booking. There is no charge for this; however, there may
be a charge from Alaska Airlines if there is a difference in the cost of
the fare (higher fare) at the time of the change.
If you have booked the water/land package, it is your
responsibility to show up at the boat at the designated time. If you do
not arrive on time and need to meet the group in the islands, there will
be a minimum charge of $100.00 US based on the distance the chase boat
will have to go to meet the MV Narval.
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How do we contact you in Mexico?
30 days prior to your departure you will be sent an
orientation package that will contain pertinent information on the trip.
Part of the information contains several phone numbers of how to reach the
Panterra staff both in Canada and in Mexico. We also have a phone and
email onboard the vessel.
What type of identification is required for
travel from Canada to Mexico?
- All passengers need proof of citizenship - a valid passport
is required
- Names on ID must
match name on ticket.
- If name is different, will need proof of legal name
change.
- If passengers are not Canadian or US citizens, please contact the
airline or consulate of their country of citizenship.
What about Safety?
The safety of our guests is our first priority. It is
important to remember that these trips take place in a wilderness
environment, far from hospital services. Involvement in activities like
viewing animals from skiffs, kayaking, hiking, exploring, and swimming in
natural environments contains inherent risks. If at any time you have
concerns about your own safety, please advise the naturalists.
Participation in all activities is voluntary.
In Closing...
No warranties, representations, terms or
conditions apply to any program unless expressly stated in the Expedition
Brochure, Participant Information Form, and the www.panterra.com website.
Panterra reserves the right to increase the program fee equal
to and in the event of a US/Canadian/Pesos currency change of more than 10%. Panterra does
not take responsibility for any events beyond its' control. If you have
any questions concerning the program or do not understand any of the
written information please contact our office at 1-800-665-6639.
PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that all participants and their
parents/legal guardians carefully read through ALL OF the written
information pertaining to the program located on the www.panterra.com
website to INCLUDE the following: Expedition Brochure, MV Narval, Daily
Journals and the Frequently Asked Questions.
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If you have a question we have not answered, kindly
contact us at 1-800-665-6639, in the Victoria area - 656-0633. In
the Calgary area 225-8327.
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