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north america: baja california

Baja Intimate Insider

Some travelers hope to visit a foreign place and be ushered into the special venues, relationships and experiences that are only known to the few who live there, who have made friends there, and can create access / who know what is worthy of your curiosity, time and leisure.

The creators of “The Baja Sur Intimate Insider” are experienced North American tourism executives who have built their homes, friends, associates and life experiences in Baja. They will share it the way they know it and invite you to join in for the best there is.

We stay at only small, boutique hotels and inns; no massive resorts where you are lost in the crowd. Our guides are hand picked. You meet and interact with owners, artists, rancheros and chefs, and with a small group of like-minded travelers. You will quickly become an "Insider" here and you will never forget it.

Day 1 - San Jose Del Cabo - Art, Wine, Food

Upon arrival at San Jose del Cabo airport, be met and transferred directly to the luxury, boutique hotel, Casa Natalia. Explore the adjacent cathedral and town square with its many shops, galleries, dining and imbibing spots, and the Saturday “Organic Market” with its food, art and crafts at Jockey Club Park. Or just relax as you enter “Mexican Time”. Enjoy the serenity poolside at Casa Natalia, a member of “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” (just 16 rooms) and named by the Conde Nast Traveler “Readers Choice Awards” as “The Best Hotel in Mexico, 2008 & 2009.”

This afternoon, meet your guide for the Art & Wine Walk tour at the Palapa Bar and savor your first wine tasting. Walking along the streets with your glass of wine, visit 3 galleries where the artists will explain their works and serve us another wine with fruit and cheeses. You may linger awhile in the art district then meet for dinner at our hotel, hosted by owner-chef Loic Tenoux at Mi Cocina, for innovative Mexican – Euro cuisine that includes incredible appetizers, locally caught seafood, organic vegetarian entrés, perfectly grilled specialties, Mexican dishes and irresistible deserts, amid open flame braziers, towering palms, art covered patio walls and limestone tables.

Accommodations: Casa Natalia
Included Meals: dinner

Day 2 - San Jose del Cabo - Beach, Spa, Kayaking, Hiking

Today is filled with optional choices. Have a beach day on the Sea of Cortez, enjoy the extensive services of the hotel’s Desert and Sea Spa, relax poolside, or arrange golf, tennis, horseback riding, deep-sea fishing, kayaking or hiking. Activities are available at an added cost; consult the resort's concierge for details and planning. Your dinner this evening is at the fabulous Manuel’s Creative Cuisine. Manuel was personally trained in Italy by the first Italian chef to have won a Michelin third star. This will be a special evening!

Accommodations: Casa Natalia
Included Meals: breakfast and dinner

Day 3 - Todos Santos & Local Flavor

After breakfast at Casa Natalia, head north along the Pacific coast in private Suburbans to experience the traditional way of life of the mountain rancheros in Baja. Meet local potters in a true mountain oasis, and learn how Baja Californians have carved their homes and livings out the mountains for centuries.

Admire the simple but impressive architecture of the area and, of course, view the work and art of the potters. Getting there is half the adventure, driving through the huge, dry arroyos and the beautiful desert roads that lead up into the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, passing through forests of cactus and desert life along the way.

Visit Doña Ramona and her family on their working ranch. While Ramona’s family puts together a delicious lunch for us, Ramona puts on a pottery class, imparting not only her tricks for working with the local clay, but also stories from her life in the mountains. Once you’ve created your own Baja pottery masterpiece, Doña Ramona takes us into the kitchen to teach us each how to make tortillas in the traditional style – absolutely fantastic! Lunch is typically several wonderful dishes, each made with fresh ranch ingredients.

After lunch tour the ranch, including the ostrich pen. Check out Doña's kiln and her little ranchero chapel, for the visiting priest that comes to the village twice a month. Time and interest permitting, wind up the trip by visiting some potter neighbors before heading on to The Todos Santos Inn. Late afternoon is for exploring this “Pueblo Magico”, the colonial town of Todos Santos, founded in 1724, or for relaxing by the courtyard pool at our historic hacienda sanctuary. Meet for a welcome libation early evening at the Inn‘s old world hacienda bar, then stroll to a memorable dinner at Los Adobes, our favorite bucolic, open air setting in Todos Santos, for fine Mexican cuisine not often experienced "up North."

Accommodations: Todos Santos Inn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Todos Santos - Arts, Beach, Horses & Hotel California

Today in Todos Santos there are options and inclusions for your choices. After a home made Mexican or Norte Americano (your choice) breakfast at Landi’s in the Inn, our docent guide will escort us to meet several wonderful artists in their studios and galleries, followed by lunch at Todos Santos Cafe and a tour of the historic home that was once the first cinema in Todos Santos, hosted by the owners and round the world sailors, Doug and Lisa.

Optional beach horse back riding is available today also. This evening our dinner experience is “hands-on” at the legendary Hotel California where executive chef Dany Lamote personally instructs us in creating a fine evening meal together. First on the agenda is making our own margaritas behind the Hotel California bar – and consuming them of course. Then it’s on to the hotel kitchen where Dany will teach us to prepare each course for the evening that is then graciously served by the hotel staff in the candle lit open-air dining room. After dinner we will enjoy the Milky Way in the night sky and an expert star talk, with champagne, from a cliff-side vantage point overlooking the Pacific Ocean, away from town lights. Altogether a most memorable day and evening.

Accommodations: Todos Santos Inn
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa

After a leisurely breakfast at Landi’s, enjoy the spectacular drive down the Pacific Coast on Baja Route 1 to our boutique beach spa resort on one of the most privileged beaches in Los Cabos, Acapulquito Beach. Our 22 room Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa is perched on the rocks above the rolling waves of the Sea of Cortez. This is classic Cabo oceanfront living, and the concierge will arrange any of Cabo’s optional activities that you desire: the spa is available to you with its extensive menu of treatments (including half off your first treatment), and the palm-lined infinity pool and beach invite your relaxation. Professional surfing lessons are also available at the on-property surf school.

After your invigorating, or relaxing day, enjoy dinner on your own, one option being the hotel’s famous outdoor, cliff-perched, palapa-roofed 7 Seas restaurant.

Accommodations: Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa
Included Meals: breakfast and lunch

Day 6 - Relaxation, Beach, Spa, Golf

Today is totally yours: relax at the pool, beach or spa, or head out for a round of golf, a 4-wheeler ride, fishing – whatever you like. All activities are optional, at an added cost, and can be arranged with the concierge.

Accommodations: Cabo Surf Hotel & Spa
Included Meals: breakfast and lunch

Day 7 - Prepare to Fly Home or Extend Your Stay

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or we invite you to take our extend day option and enjoy another day and night at the Cabo Surf Hotel and Spa with airport transfer the following day.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast



Itinerary Notes: We may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. Our ability to be spontaneous makes our style of travel unique.

Included: All lodging and meals listed by itinerary, daily activities and excursions, local guides and experts.

Exclusions: Airfare to Mexico, excess baggage charges, taxes, gratuities, items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages, optional activities on leisure days, and insurance of any kind.

Arrival & Departure: The Baja Intimate Insider begins and ends in San Jose del Cabo. Please plan flights to arrive anytime on day 1 and to depart in the afternoon on day 7 of the outlined itinerary.

Payment & Cancellation: In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of $500 is required at the time of booking. A Reservation Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Cancellations are subject to the following fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 91 days - 50% of deposit
90 to 31 days - 50% of total trip cost
30 to 0 days - 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with travel insurance. Please note that you must purchase your travel insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Click the link below for a selection of policies from our partners at Travelex.



Qualifications: Baja Intimate Insider will be enjoyed by anyone with a sense of adventure and love of nature and culture.

For additional information and reservations, please contact us:

800-728-2875 | 530-583-1775 | fax 530-583-1711 | travel@AdventureSmithExplorations.com