Our Planet

Here is YOUR Chance to Experience Gray Whales and Whale Sharks!

September 27, 2018 By Tam Warner 20 Comments

Here is your chance to experience gray whales and whale sharks and other awesome wildlife!

Trip overview

Experience two of the Earth’s most charismatic marine species, gray whales, and whale sharks. From the majestic setting of RED’s gray whale eco camp in Magdalena Bay, you will observe up close the magnificent gray whales that come to these protected waters to mate and calve. Magdalena Bay is home to a staggering number of marine mammals, aviary species, lush mangrove canals and towering sand dunes. Across the narrow peninsula on the Gulf of California, named the “world’s aquarium” by Jacques Cousteau, you’ll visit Espíritu Santo island, teeming with sea life and home to resident sea lions that you can observe up close from the water. You’ll also have the chance to snorkel with the mystical whale sharks, the gentle giants that gather just outside the Bay of La Paz. You will experience regional cuisine with gourmet flair, and You’ll be accompanied along the way by expert naturalist guides that will give you a local’s eye into the region’s culture and natural history.

la paz, magdalena bay, gray whales, la paz, whale shark, red travel mexico — Hotel Catedral by Janet Frost of Go Learn Things!

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival and Transfer to La Paz

Your driver will be waiting for you at Los Cabos International Airport to take you on the scenic drive from San Jose del Cabo to your hotel in La Paz (2.5 hours). RED staff AND TAM FROM TRAVELS WITH TAM, will be waiting to assist with your hotel check-in and to answer any questions you might have. You will meet the rest of your group and your naturalist guide at dinner, and receive a signed copy of ALL FISH FACES by Tam Warner Minton. Rest up for tomorrow because your adventure begins!

Meals included today: Dinner

Lodging: Hotel Catedral

Day 2 – Whale Sharks and Hidden Beaches of Balandra Bay

Your driver will pick you up at your hotel early in the morning and transport you to the marina to try on your snorkeling gear and wetsuit. We will then head out on the water for the short trip to the whale shark observation zone. On the way out of the bay, your guide will brief you on whale shark ecology and regulations for snorkeling. You’ll have the chance to get in the water accompanied by your guide to snorkel alongside these marvelous creatures. During peak holidays when observation activity increases, we will explore the surrounding area by boat as we wait for our turn to see these incredible animals.

The trip continues to Balandra Bay, a natural protected area and home to pristine beaches, mangroves, and stunning scenery. Here we’ll have a tasty lunch (dietary restrictions taken into account), explore the nature trails, snorkel in the crystal water and relax and unwind before heading back to La Paz.

La Paz is unique as a whale shark destination for its proximity to the observation zone and efforts undertaken by tour operators, regulatory agencies and civil society to responsibly manage this extraordinary experience. During peak holidays when boat activity increases, we may flip the itinerary and explore Balandra Bay and the surrounding area before entering into the whale shark observation zone.

Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch

Lodging: Hotel Catedral

Day 3 – La Paz to Magdalena Bay

Depart from La Paz early in the morning en route to Magdalena Bay, jewel of the Pacific and home to a staggering number of migratory and marine birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals including the migratory gray whales. We will stop at one of our favorite local ranchos for a snack and a hearty cup of cowboy coffee. Arriving to Magdalena Bay we will head out on the water for the short trip to our secluded island camp, searching for whales along the way. After happy hour, chat with your guide to learn about the natural history of the region.

Day 4 – Gray Whale Observation and Exploration of Magdalena Bay

After a good night’s rest wake up and enjoy a delicious breakfast at camp. Wake up early to watch the fishermen conservationists prepare their sea turtle monitoring nets. Today we will learn more about the gray whales, their incredible migration, and the importance of Magdalena Bay for breeding and calving to these magnificent creatures. We will head out in pangas (outboard skiffs) to look for gray whales. Friendly whales often approach the boats, and the mothers are known to push the young calves closer, which can make for an incredible interaction between two species.

Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: RED Basecamp

Day 5 – Gray whales, Magdalena to La Paz

In the morning wake up to take in the spectacular sunrise one more time. After breakfast we will bid farewell to our hosts and head out in the search for whales. Make sure your camera is handy to capture images of these magnificent giants. After a picnic lunch on a secluded barrier island, we start back for La Paz where the journey concludes. B/L

Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch

Lodging: Hotel Catedral

Day 6 – Espíritu Santo Island

After breakfast we will head to RED´s office for the boat ride to

and a natural paradise that will amaze you with breathtaking island scenery and rich marine life. Jump in the water to snorkel with the sea lions and observe tropical fish. Afterwards, your captain will seek out a secluded beach for a tasty lunch and time to relax or explore this unique place before heading back to La Paz in time for dinner.

Meals included today: Breakfast, Lunch

Lodging: Hotel Catedral

Day 7 –Departure

After breakfast, your driver will be waiting outside the hotel lobby to transport you to the Los Cabos International Airport.

Meals included today: Breakfast

Cost per person $2,200.00 and Includes: round trip ground transportation between SJD airport and La Paz; round trip ground transportation between RED camp and La Paz; all meals and beverages as specified in itinerary; bilingual naturalist guide with WFR certification; double occupancy lodging in hotel (La Paz) and RED tent camp; 3 whale watching excursions; all park entrance fees; whale shark and Espíritu Santo activities as described in the itinerary; snorkeling equipment and wetsuits; all taxes. This is a custom trip designed by Red Travel Mexico and Travels with Tam.

Please contact me at [email protected] if interested!

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Excludes: airline flights and any transportation not described in the itinerary; any meals and activities not described in the itinerary; gratuities.

Notes on itinerary: We make all efforts to adhere to the itinerary described above, but we may modify the itinerary due to wind, weather, and other factors. The safety and enjoyment of our travelers are our top priorities. Please see our terms and conditions for more information. We do not guarantee wildlife sightings, interaction or behavior. All travelers must comply with communicated protocols and regulations regarding activities within natural protected areas and interactions with wildlife.

Explore the Wonders of the Baja Peninsula with Tam and Red Travel Mexico

September 14, 2018 By Tam Warner Leave a Comment

Get Ready for Adventure and explore the wonders of the Baja! Travel Red Travel Mexico and Tam on March 10-16, 2019 and experience two of the Earth’s most charismatic marine species, gray whales, and whale sharks! [Read more…] about Explore the Wonders of the Baja Peninsula with Tam and Red Travel Mexico

Visit Amazing St Simons Island if you Love Animals!

June 11, 2018 By Tam Warner 5 Comments

visit amazing st simons island, st simons, georgia sea turtle center — Turtles nesting

You should visit amazing St Simons Island if you love animals! I was overjoyed to find different types of interesting animals in and near St Simons. My son in law once asked my daughter why our family always spent our vacations looking at animals. The answer is animals are endlessly fascinating, and important to our ecosystems…. I love them, and since I planned the trips,we traveled to see animals. [Read more…] about Visit Amazing St Simons Island if you Love Animals!

It is #WorldOceansDay, What One Thing are YOU Going to Do?

June 8, 2018 By Tam Warner 1 Comment

Adidas and Parley made these awesome shoes made of ocean plastic! I bought 2 pairs!

It is World Oceans Day 2018! Are you tired of hearing that our oceans are in crisis? Too bad, because it is true. Did you know our oceans are 30% more acidic than they were 100 years ago? Did you know that 4 out of the 5 mass extinctions on earth took place when oceans became too acidic? Did you know that they recently found microplastic in organisms in Antarctica??? Our oceans are paramount to our very lives. We have to start caring about it, or we will destroy ourselves.

Let’s all replace plastic with biodegradables. Please check out this link to Amazon’s biodegradable straws! Remember, we all need to #startwith1thing. What 1 thing will you start with???? For switching to biodegradable makeup and sunscreens go to SHOP BEAUTIFUL YOU.

Check out this article from The Center for Biological Diversity. Here are the facts:

Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, which can cause intestinal injury and death and transfers plastic up the food chain to bigger fish and marine mammals.
Sea turtles also mistake floating plastic garbage for food. While plastic bags are the most commonly ingested item, loggerhead sea turtles have been found with soft plastic, ropes, Styrofoam, and monofilament lines in their stomachs. Ingestion of plastic can lead to blockage in the gut, ulceration, internal perforation and death; even if their organs remain intact, turtles may suffer from false sensations of satiation and slow or halt reproduction.
Hundreds of thousands of seabirds ingest plastic every year. Plastic ingestion reduces the storage volume of the stomach, causing birds to consume less food and ultimately starve. Nearly all Laysan albatross chicks — 97.5 percent — have plastic pieces in their stomachs; their parents feed them plastic particles mistaken for food. Based on the amount of plastic found in seabird stomachs, the amount of garbage in our oceans has rapidly increased in the past 40 years.
Marine mammals ingest and get tangled in plastic. Large amounts of plastic debris have been found in the habitat of endangered Hawaiian monk seals, including in areas that serve as pup nurseries. Entanglement deaths are severely undermining recovery efforts of this seal, which is already on the brink of extinction. Entanglement in plastic debris has also led to injury and mortality in the endangered Steller sea lion, with packing bands the most common entangling material. In 2008 two sperm whales were found stranded along the California coast with large amounts of fishing net scraps, rope and other plastic debris in their stomachs.
White Pelicans in St Simons Island

Longspine Squirrelfish, Cozumel 2018

Boulder Star Coral

A Blue Eyed Puffer Fish!

French Grunts

How to Stay Fit While Traveling!

June 1, 2018 By Tam Warner 24 Comments

Trying to stay fit while traveling is a major challenge! Don’t I know? On fabulous trips with delicious food, it is easy to miss workouts!

Of course, if you’re traveling somewhere like New Zealand and staying in a place like Absoloot Value Accommodation Queenstown you’re going to be surrounded by active people that flock to New Zealand in order to experience the great outdoors and live a very active lifestyle.

When you travel in unfamiliar environments you don’t have consistent access to the gym equipment you’re used to. Many resorts do have workout facilities, but they aren’t always the best. With that in mind, here are three top tips on how to stay fit while you are traveling.

stay fit while traveling, new zealand, workout, stay fit — Some things are easy to take along, like the TRX Bands!

On Demand Fitness Classes

Les Mills now offers an on-demand digital platform containing the world’s most popular gym classes such as Body Pump, Body Balance and Body Combat. This relatively low-cost subscription model (around $10 per month) means you have access to online classes anywhere in the world, presuming you have an internet connection… you can even save them offline, on your phone, to watch them anywhere you can think of; even in the jungle or a remote desert island.

Swim

Swimming is one of the best ways to keep in shape as it’s a great cardiovascular sport plus it works every major muscle group in your body. This is always my go to exercise when I am near the ocean. Diving or snorkeling is an amazing workout and encompasses fun and learning with exercise. You can explore a whole new world beneath the water! Also, if you can afford to pay a little extra for a hotel with a pool then you can have a fantastic workout at no extra cost, in the comfort and convenience of your hotel. Going somewhere cold? Check for hotels with indoor pool facilities!

Take Some Equipment With You

Clearly, you won’t want to be taking weights on your flight but there are plenty of small and lightweight pieces of equipment that you can take along. For instance, you could take some TRX bands, resistance bands, which are particularly effective at working your upper body, and a skip rope. Skipping is how boxers train because it provides a fantastic all over cardiovascular workout. Then, there is always the option to go for a nice long walk and explore the area. I’ve been known to take a yoga mat along on trips!

Hey, there are many ways to keep fit while traveling, and just because you don’t have a gym doesn’t mean you can’t continue to exercise and stay in shape while you’re traveling the world. Keep exploring, my friends!

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Is Your Sunscreen Contributing to the Death of our Coral Reefs?

May 23, 2018 By Tam Warner 4 Comments

Your sunscreen is contributing to the death of our coral reefs if you are using sunscreens with Benzophenone-3 AKA Oxybenzone. Almost all “name brand” sunscreens (the usual suspects) include this chemical. It is great at reducing UV exposure, but it is classified by the FDA to be an eye irritant and slightly hazardous for skin contact! Yep, your sunscreen is hazardous to your skin because of the chemicals in it. (www.spectrumchemical.com)

The US Center for Disease Control (CDC), says that 97 percent of Americans have this chemical circulating in their bodies. 97%! Benzophenone-3, or Oxybenzone, is also listed as a direct cause of coral bleaching. Do you really want that chemical on your skin and IN your body? Or on your child or baby? I hope the answer to that is a resounding NO. Check the labels, folks! Avobenzone is used in replace of Oxybenzone, but don’t be fooled, it is still a benzophenone. They often use different names and slightly different benzophenones to make you think the sunscreen doesn’t have it. Homosalate is another common sunscreen ingredient that, for health reasons, is limited to less than 10% in a formula by the FDA. Why? Because it bio-accumulates in the body faster than it can be eliminated and is considered a hormone disrupter. That’s what we all need, a hormone disrupter! Check the ingredients of your sunscreen. Stream2Sea has a card you can print out at https://stream2sea.com/ingredients-to-avoid. Almost all of the “name” sunscreens are filled with chemicals.

I have a couple of recommendations for safe, non toxic sunscreens for you to purchase, both well rated by the EWG. A super great source is the SkinStore, they have organic, chemical free, cruelty free and lots more! Safer for you and your children, and safer for the environment!

KISS MY FACE organics. The EWG (Environmental Working Group) gives KISS MY FACE organics a high rating for sun protection and health. I have used KISS MY FACE quite often, and have found it to be an excellent product. It comes in sprays and lotions and is mineral based. I highly recommend it! You can find it at Amazon. https://amzn.to/2KC6G30
STREAM2SEA products are also highly rated, and their website is full of great information. (https://stream2sea.com) They are chemical free and mineral based.

For more tips on how to help the Ocean environment and animals, my book, ALL FISH FACES, has plenty of tips and information for you and your kids, or grandkids!

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OUR PLANET

For more tips on how to help the Ocean environment and animals, my book, ALL FISH FACES, has plenty of tips and information for you and your kids, or grandkids!

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