Meet Sabena:

Your Retreat Facilitator

⤹ more info below

THE DEETS

Isla Espiritu Santo, La Paz, Baja, MX. This island is a pristine island that is protected by the Mexican government.
Participants can fly into Cabo San Jose or La Paz.
Beginner-Intermediate paddling for 2-3 hours a day/5-9 miles a day.
Suitable for all healthy people who engage in regular physical activity.
No prior kayaking skills required. We will be paddling in coastal waters with easy-to-access shelters.
**Wind is a very common factor in Baja California Sur. If you decide to do this trip, you should consider that paddling with wind might be a possibility. Sometimes, the sea can be too rough for paddling. If this is the case, itineraries and locations could vary.
The group will be between 8 to 10 participants with 2 guides and 1 retreat host/facilitator.
The kayaking trip is fully catered meaning everything will be ready for you, so that all you need to worry about is paddling from one epic beach to the next one, in which food, cold drinks, shaded areas and a ready-to-use kitchen will be waiting for you at each beach.
Please note that with most physical adventures, team work is required. We will need basic assistance loading and unloading the boat every time we change camp. Each person will set up and take down their own tent, too.
Certified, bi-lingual naturalist guide(s) & cook(s). Singles and/or double kayaks, all kayaking gear, shared tent, sleeping pad, dry bag, pick up from your La Paz hotel to the Island on day 1.
All food and beverages during expedition including, non alcoholic drinks, coffee/tea, etc.
Does not include:
- Airport transfer and flights, pre-trip hotel accommodation (Recommended shuttle companies will be shared at the time of registration).
- Travel insurance (required and ranges from $60-$100 for the duration of the trip). We recommend World Nomads.
- Dinner o
Available for rent:
- Sleeping bags (25 USD)
- Snorkel sets (20 USD)
- Wet suits (30 USD)
- Solo Tents (20 USD)
We will have 2 workshop sessions woven into our days and as we kayak, snorkel and take in the breath taking natural world!
Sessions will include:
- authentic relating workshops where we are encouraged to express fully and safely
- evening sessions under the stars where we share what is on our hearts while being held by a strong council of women
- guided meditation and journaling/writing sessions
- movement sessions (think: yoga + impromptu dance parties?!)
Californian Sea-lions, tropical fish, endemic ring-tailed cat (Babisuri), dolphins, manta rays, Pelicans, Blue-footed Boobies, Ospreys, Frigates, Herons and Egrets

THE DAYS

day 1 | baja by boat

transfer from your hotel in La Paz to Espiritu Santo Island by boat. Before you embark on paddling, your guides will brief you on safety measures and basic information on correct use of equipment and sea kayaks. We will also dive into getting to know the group and setting our intentions for our trip before we embark on our first paddle under the spectacular volcanic cliffs and arrive at the first of many beautiful beaches to set up camp.

paddle distance: 5 - 6 miles

day 2 | nautical navigation

before we continue in our kayaks, we will embark on a guided morning workshop. We will explore a new section of Espiritu Santo’s coastline, with small islands where countless seabirds nest. Our next bay features fascinating canyon with a depth of history! We will have our first council evening where we come together to share authentically through guided prompts.

paddle distance: 5 - 6 miles

day 3 | down by the bay

we will continue the retreat with a morning reflection practice and then head to the northern part of the island, paddling through Isla Partida and setting up camp at Ensenada Grande Bay, a stunning location with a myriad of reefs to explore with your snorkeling gear. We will create a safe container for our second council of the retreat.

paddle distance: 5 - 6 miles

day 4 | playful paddle

we will visit the famous sea lion colony, home to approximately 300 sea lions that reside here year- round. We will board a motorboat and head to the northern tip called the “The sea lion colony,” where these friendly animals live. Here, you’ll have the incredible opportunity to swim with playful sea lion pups and witness the great biodiversity of the Sea of Cortes. We will return to camp, have lunch, and head back to Hotel Catedral in La Paz where we can ground down, shower and have one last dinner together.

paddle distance: 5 - 6 miles

day 5 | farewells

we will end the retreat by saying final farewells and parting ways with a richness of experience under our belt.

paddle distance: 0 miles!

Pro Kayaking Guides

〰️

10 like-minded women

〰️

Workshops on the beach

〰️

Epic snorkeling

〰️

Pro Kayaking Guides 〰️ 10 like-minded women 〰️ Workshops on the beach 〰️ Epic snorkeling 〰️

READY TO ADVENTURE?

Two payments of $875

Get $100 off your first payment with checkout code: EARLYBIRD

Valid through July 1st, 2025

SIGN UP

~ all sea kayaking gear including top of the line sea kayaks, lifejackets, paddles and sea skirts ~

~ workshops focused on communication, journaling, movement and breath work ~

~ two pre-trip calls to review personal gear and set the retreat container ~

~ two professional sea kayaking guides + one host/retreat facilitator ~

~ final night in a hotel and/or airbnb in La Paz ~

WANT MORE INFO?

BOOK A CALL

VISIT PAST RETREATS

“We don’t often take time to step back and be with ourselves and other people in a very natural way… You can bring the practices we do out here back into daily life easily but it takes resets and retreats like this to remind yourself to do it.”

Kristina Fiflis, Yosemite Backpacking 2023 Participant

PAST RETREATS

FAQs

Yes! This trip is a great step into the world of sea kayaking for newbies. Your guides will give you paddling lessons, review how sea kayaks work and cover how to properly wear your gear while in the kayak.
We do recommend engaging in exercise 2-3 times a week for the month prior to ensure you feel empowered and strong.
We are also able to offer a more flexible program. For instance, you can choose to ride in the boat to the next camping beach, if needed.
Your first payment of $875 is required to reserve your spot for Kayak Baja 2025. Save your spot here.
The second payment of $875 is required 60 days before the departure date.
Once your first payment is made, you will receive a form with logistical questions, a packing list and other resources to prepare for the trip.
Trip insurance is required for the duration of the trip. This will help cover costs in case of a personal trip interruption, delays, etc.
Check out worldnomads.com (Usually around $60- $100). Be sure to see if any of your credit cards provide travel insurance already.
Open Circle will charge any expenses incurred due to an emergency evacuation resulting from an accident or illness. Charges will apply only in cases where the evacuation logistics do not align with the scheduled movements within the trip.
Yes! We work with amazing local chefs who can accommodate any dietary restriction and will make food tailored to your needs.
We will gather dietary restriction information upon registration.
We recommend flying to Los Cabos airport (code: SJD) and taking the shuttle up to La Paz. Los Cabos is one of Mexico’s premiere resorts so there are numerous airlines offering low-cost flights from many different cities.
We recommend booking a shuttle to La Paz with Ecobajatours. You can book your shuttle through their website: www.ecobajatours.com
It takes 3 hours to reach La Paz. From there, it is only a 5-minute cab ride to most hotels. In the rare case that the shuttle is full, please contact us directly for further assistance.
We will send a full list for your reference upon signing up for the trip! You have the option to rent gear such as snorkeling gear, wetsuit, solo tent and sleeping bag. Sleeping pads, shared tents and dry bags can be provided free of charge
There won’t be service nor power on Isla Espiritu. The guides have Garmin inReach to call for help in the case of an emergency.
You can bring a portable charger to keep any necessary devices charged.
We are a small business and price our retreats as low as we can while still covering our costs! That said, we want it to be accessible as possible, and if price is a barrier to attending send us an email and we can see if there's something we can do.
You can cancel for a full refund 60 days before the trip start date less the processing fees associated with your payment (2.9% of the amount paid).
If you cancel within 60 days of the trip start date, you will not receive a refund.
Trips are limited in spots and logistics (i.e. food + gear) are planned according to group size hence the fees being non-refundable.
Open Circle requires travel insurance so participants are covered in the case of emergency.
In the unlikely event that Open Circle has to cancel a trip due to lack of participants or some uncontrollable factor, we will notify you at least one month before the departure date.

A full refund will be provided. Open Circle is not responsible for any expenses incurred in preparing for the trip (e.g., non-refundable airline tickets, personal equipment purchased for the trip, etc.).

SEND A NOTE

Sabena here, you retreat host and facilitator. I welcome any and all questions you may have about the expedition retreat. I care deeply about creating a safe and inclusive experience and here to help answer your questions. Seriously… don’t be shy!

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Thank you! We will get in touch within 48 hours.

You have two homes:
EARTH & YOUR BODY —
take care of them.

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Thank you!

Meet Sabena:

Your Retreat Facilitator

⤹ more info below

THE DEETS

THE DAYS

day 1 | baja by boat

day 2 | nautical navigation

day 3 | down by the bay

day 4 | playful paddle

day 5 | farewells

Pro Kayaking Guides

〰️

10 like-minded women

〰️

Workshops on the beach

〰️

Epic snorkeling

〰️

Pro Kayaking Guides 〰️ 10 like-minded women 〰️ Workshops on the beach 〰️ Epic snorkeling 〰️ Pro Kayaking Guides 〰️ 10 like-minded women 〰️ Workshops on the beach 〰️ Epic snorkeling 〰️

READY TO ADVENTURE?

WANT MORE INFO?

“We don’t often take time to step back and be with ourselves and other people in a very natural way… You can bring the practices we do out here back into daily life easily but it takes resets and retreats like this to remind yourself to do it.”

FAQs

SEND A NOTE

You have two homes:EARTH & YOUR BODY —take care of them.

OPEN CIRCLE

Pro Kayaking Guides 〰️ 10 like-minded women 〰️ Workshops on the beach 〰️ Epic snorkeling 〰️

You have two homes:
EARTH & YOUR BODY —
take care of them.