The Gulf of California, México: Wild Islands, Rich Desert

We are thrilled to return to the rich marine and desert biodiversity hotspot of the Gulf of California in Mexico! The Gulf of California, México: Wild Islands, Rich Desert program will feature boat trips to observe seabirds, dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and more. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore one of the world's most diverse deserts, the Central Gulf Coast Subdivision of the Sonoran Desert. Additionally, they will engage closely with local communities, including the fishing/conservation community of Bahia Kino, and the Indigenous Comcaac (Seri) people of the Canal del Infiernillo. This region is truly a global treasure. We’ve had the good fortune of leading field programs here for decades.

Where:

The Kino Bay Center, on the Gulf of California, Sonora, México

When:

October 28th, 2024 - November 3rd, 2024

Number of Days/Nights:

Seven days and six nights

Transportation:

Van pickup is available at no additional cost in Prescott, Phoenix, Tucson, or Hermosillo, Sonora. Drop-off is in the same location.

Group Size:

Maximum 12

Age Group:

Adults and youth 18+

Cost per Person:

$2,347.00 shared accommodations

$2,543.00 private accommodations

This trip is inclusive with lodging and travel to and from Arizona, except for lunch on the drive down and dinners (relatively inexpensive) at local restaurants.

Help us save on fees by paying by check! We pay hefty service fees and charges for each ticket purchased with a credit card. Consider paying by check to further support the NHI!

Call NHI at 928-863-3232 or email [email protected] to reserve your spot and arrange check payment.

Day One: Monday, Oct. 28th

Introduction

• Travel to Bahia Kino, Sonora, México – participant pickup in Prescott, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona or Hermosillo (HMO).
• Lunch en route
• Settle into the hotel; dinner along beachfront

Day Two: Tuesday, Oct. 29th

Sense of place

• Nearshore boat trip, Isla Alcatraz seabird colony
• Lunch at field station
• Orientation to the Kino Bay Center and the geography of the Gulf of California
• Giant Cacti and Ancient Shrubs: Desert Plant Ecology and Identification

Day Three: Wednesday, Oct. 30th

Offshore explorations

• Offshore boat trip to Midriff Islands: Marine mammals, seabirds, and snorkeling Lunch on Isla Tiburón

Day Four: Thursday, Oct. 31st

Traditional ecological knowledge

• Infiernillo Canal by boat

Day Five: Friday, Nov. 1st

Estuarine explorations

• Laguna La Cruz: Magic of mud and mangroves

Day Six: Saturday, Nov. 2nd

Program reflection

• A Day of Possibilities: Reflection, Revisiting, and Beach Time

Day Seven: Sunday, Nov. 3rd

Depart

• Departure for home; lunch en route
• Drop off participants in Hermosillo, Tucson, Phoenix, and Prescott

(This itinerary is subject to change according to weather’s effects on boating conditions.)

Cancellation Policy: Participants who cancel more than 30 days before the trip, September 28th, will receive a full refund, minus their nonrefundable $500 deposit. Cancellations made fewer than 30 days before the trip (after September 28th) will forfeit all prior payments. We strongly encourage participants to purchase trip insurance.

Passport and Visa: You need a valid passport, but do not need a visa – nice and simple! (But, to be safe, your passport must be valid for six months after your departure from México.)

Money During Trip: Most costs are included in your registration fees, so you needn’t have access to large amounts of cash. You will, however, be responsible for your own dinners – we’ll be eating at local restaurants (breakfast and lunch are included with your registration). American dollars are generally accepted, and we’ll also have an opportunity to exchange currencies on our way south. Bottom line: you needn’t worry about currency exchange in advance.

Arrival and Departure: Our group experience begins on Monday, October 28th. We will have a van traveling from Prescott, Arizona to Bahia Kino, Sonora, México (approximately 12 hours), with stops for airport pickups in Phoenix, Tucson, and Hermosillo, Sonora. Thus, you can select to join the group in one of four sites: Prescott, Phoenix, Tucson, or Hermosillo. We’ll deliver you directly to our hotel in Bahia Kino. It’s a very nice lodging, right across the street from a beautiful beach. On Sunday, November 3rd, we’ll return to the United States in reverse manner: with stops at Hermosillo, Tucson, and Phoenix, en route to Prescott. If you are flying in from another part of the country, we can connect you with the Kino Bay Center, who will be driving the van and can advise you on airports and timing.

Tom Fleischner is the Founding Director of the Natural History Institute, a fellow of The Linnean Society, Faculty Emeritus at Prescott College, and Past Chair of the Natural History Section of the Ecological Society of America. Tom has led field studies in the Gulf of California for more than 30 years, and has conducted research on coastal birds. He is the editor of Nature, Love, Medicine and The Way of Natural History, and is the author of many other articles, books, and book chapters.

Lisa Floyd-Hanna has taught in the Kino area for more than twenty years, focusing on desert perennial shrubs and Zostera. She earned her M.S. in Botany at University of Hawai’i and her Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of Colorado. Her research has focused on developing the historic fire histories in piñon juniper woodlands and other forested systems of Southwest Colorado and, recently, of the Mogollon Highlands. Lisa is Emeritus Faculty at Prescott College.

Host or Publisher Natural History Institute