• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Paddling through this intimate paradise is a must for intrepid travelers. There’s plenty of heart-pumping activity on your kayak during the day, followed by peace and quiet as you settle into your sleeping bag on a remote beach beneath the starry sky at night. For nature lovers, it just doesn’t get any better than the Sea of Cortez, home to one-third of the earth’s marine mammals and hundreds of birds. Jacques Cousteau once called it the “world’s aquarium.” Plus, the relatively calm water makes it a great place for first-time sea kayakers to master the sport, or for experienced paddlers to embark on a long excursion.

Most kayak trips begin in Loreto and travel through the Loreto Bay National Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With more than 800 species of marine life and more than 600 kinds of plant species—many of them endangered—this delicate ecosystem is now protected. For more information about local conservation efforts, check out the Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org).

On a 5- to 10-day excursion, you’ll probably stay in this part of the sea. You can circumvent Isla Carmen and Isla Danzante, tropical islands with stunning white-sand beaches, towering bluffs, and secluded caves. It’s not hard to spot whales and sea lions. Each day, you’ll explore different parts of the shoreline, kayaking through sheltered coves and past deserted beaches. There are plenty of chances to swim, snorkel, and take hikes through the island’s spectacular canyons. If whale-watching gets your pulse going, spend a day in the federally protected Magdalena Bay.

The serene shores of the Sea of Cortez.

If you’re looking for more of a challenge and have at least 10 days, you can paddle the 105km (65-mile) stretch from Loreto to La Paz, past volcanic mountains rising out of the sea, red-hued desserts, sandy beaches, and plenty of wildlife. If you want to start in La Paz, you can explore the remote uninhabited islands of Espiritu Santo, San Jose, and Catalana. Few people have visited any of the desert islands speckling the southern part of the sea, and even fewer have seen them from the unique elbow-level perspective of a kayak. Whichever specific trip you choose, paddling yourself through any part of this open water with such mesmerizing views is an exhilarating and unforgettable adventure. —JS

Mexico Tourism Board, Calle Juan Ruiz de Alarcon No. 1572 ( 664/682-3367;www.visitmexico.com and www.discoverbajacalifornia.com).

Tours: Sea Kayak Adventures, P.O. Box 3862, Coeur d’Alene, ID ( 800/616-1943;www.seakayakadventures.com). Baja Expeditions, La Paz ( 800/843-6967;www.bajaex.com).

When to Go: Nov–Apr.

Loreto airport.

$$ Posada de las Flores, Av. Salvatierra y Fco y Madero s/n ( 52/613-135-1162; www.posadadelasflores.com).

88

Kayaking to Cape Point

A Swell Time at Sea

Cape Town, South Africa

Kayaking off of Cape Point in South Africa.

Cape Town is South Africa’s adventure capital. With a wide range of adventures—from abseiling off iconic Table Mountain (see ) to diving with sharks in the ocean (see )—there’s certainly no shortage of options to get your adrenaline pumping here. But if you’re looking for one of the more physically challenging activities, there’s nothing better than kayaking from Cape Town to Cape Point at the southern tip of Cape Peninsula.

During his intrepid voyage around the world in the 16th century, the English sea captain, Sir Francis Drake, wasn’t exaggerating when he called this area “the fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth.” His words still ring true today. As the Indian and the Atlantic oceans meet, it creates prime conditions for sea kayaking and the views are breathtaking. Table Mountain rises up toward the sky and the bay sweeps into a seemingly endless coastline. Along the way, you’ll also see Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, and the 12 Apostles. The trip from Buffels Bay to Cape Point takes approximately 4 to 6 hours, with the option to transit around Cape