Right outside the walls of world-class beach resorts, you’ll find what Jacques Cousteau called the “Aquarium of the World.” Join the ATTA on a nine-day familiarization trip designed especially for adventurers to Baja California Sur. A land once colonized by the Jesuits, their cultural legacy is yours to explore first-hand between discovering stunning natural landscapes, rich local cuisine, and memorable encounters with marine fauna. AdventureWeek participants will sleep under the stars in upgraded camps and relax in comfortable accommodations with views of the peninsula’s famed ports.

Day One

Los Cabos is one of Mexico’s most exclusive beach destinations. Because it attracts the jet-set crowd, it’s well connected and easy to get to. AdventureWeek Baja Sur begins with a sunset cruise around Los Cabos’ iconic rock arch, where the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortes meet (keep an eye out for sea lions basking on the rocks), before returning to your hotel for your first night.

Day Two

The city of La Paz is Baja Sur’s unknown capital of adventure and the gateway to the Sea of Cortes. The uninhabited island of Espiritu Santo is a short boat ride away in the Gulf of California. We’ll spend the day exploring this UNESCO biosphere reserve by land or by sea with options to sea kayak, snorkel with sea lions, SCUBA dive or hike to sweeping island vistas. After a special dinner on the island, we’ll return to La Paz to rest up before tomorrow’s adventures.

Day Three

Today you’ll visit the magical town of Todos Santos, an oasis in the Sierra la Laguna desert. This is Mexico’s last frontier, home of the famed Hotel California and up and coming surf mecca. Listed as one of National Geographic’s Best Adventure Destinations in 2012, optional morning activities include hiking, surfing and/or rock climbing. In the afternoon, rest up a bit before returning to La Paz to connect with regional adventure providers for the first of two Marketplace events. Our hotel is right on the edge of the sea.

Day Four

Join the efforts of Baja Sur’s conservation leaders in a sea turtle project at Puerto Chale, where you’ll also have the chance to explore sand dunes, observe grey whales and search for endemic birds like the mangrove warbler, Belding’s yellowthroat and San Lucas robin while you explore the mangrove channels. Fall asleep stargazing in an eco-camp in the sand dunes. Your spacious tent is outfitted with mattress, blankets and linens.

Day Five

Founded by Jesuit monks in 1697, Loreto is one of Baja Sur’s oldest towns. Surrounded by the Giganta Sierra and the Sea of Cortes, Loreto is both stunning to look at and a colonial adventure to explore. This morning, we will cruise through the waters of Loreto National Marine Park in search of the blue whale. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005, this marine park boasts over 800 species of marine life, many of which are currently endangered. After lunch, take a siesta before connecting with local tour providers from Loreto, Comondú and Mulegé in the second Marketplace session.

Day Six

On our way to San Ignacio today we’ll stop to play in the white sands and swim in the warm waters of la Concepcion Bay, considered by many as the most beautiful beach of Baja Sur. We’ll stop for lunch at a local fisherman’s restaurant for something freshly caught and traditionally prepared. We’ll also visit the historic mining town of Santa Rosalía de Mulegé with its metal church designed by Gustav Eiffel and home of the oldest bakery on the peninsula. Before we arrive in San Ignacio for dinner, we’ll stretch our legs and observe the desert vegetation at the Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve.

Day Seven

Today we journey through time to witness the legacy of the ancient inhabitants of Baja Sur. The ancestors of the Cochimi Indians left 7,500-year-old cave paintings at Sierra de San Francisco. We’ll hike to this UNESCO World Heritage Site — arguably the peninsula’s greatest treasure as one of only six rock art complexes declared a UNESCO site in the world — with a certified guide who will bring this history to life through stories. Dinner is at a whale watching camp on the shores of San Ignacio Lagoon as we set our sites on tomorrow’s search for another of this region’s gems.

Day Eight

Throughout Baja Sur there are opportunities to have close encounters with marine creatures, but there is a special place that seems to be a favorite of the grey whales. San Ignacio Bay is a dreamlike place to get up-close and personal with these giants. We’ll be escorted by knowledgeable guides as we search the bay for whales. On our way to Loreto this afternoon we’ll stop at the Mulegé mission, observe frigate birds and make a stop at the oldest and largest cactus in the region. Take a brief rest from the long drive today upon arrival at your hotel in Loreto and enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow AdventureWeek participants and hosts.

Day Nine

AdventureWeek Baja Sur comes to an end today. We’ll depart from Loreto International airport to our respective homes.