A note about Aventureros and your trip fees:

The trip fees support, in part, participation in CampOceano activities for local children participating in our Aventureros program. Aventureros students will join us on our two included boat trips, creating space for visiting and local students to make friends and practice new languages. We encourage you to read more about our Aventureros program with your children prior to our trip and get them excited about this unique opportunity.

Space is limited to 18 participants. Reservations are first-come, first-serve and are NOT finalized until the initial reservation form is complete and payment is received. This program is recommended for families and open to anyone looking to rediscover their sense of wonder. We also offer community science research programs, including the Stars to Sea program.

Equitable access to nature is a core value of VSI. We never want money to be a barrier to making a trip, so we have created a scholarship fund to bring the Baja experience to people who would otherwise be unable to visit. You can donate to our scholarship fund here. Email us at [email protected] to learn more or if you are interested in applying.

Exclusions

• Travel to and from San Diego from home location
• Lodging and adventures in San Diego before and after the trip
• Snacks, sodas, alcohol, souvenirs
• Travel & Medical Emergency Insurance (mandatory for every participant)

 Day 1: Meet at Holiday Inn Express San Diego Airport – Old Town at 5:30 AM sleepy-eyed and maybe a bit uncomfortable, as we don’t all yet know one another. After we load our luggage, and grab some breakfast, we say some quick hellos and find a cozy seat in a van, put our backpack under the seat and we are off for our epic road trip adventure. We depart from San Diego at 6:00 AM sharp so that we arrive before dark in Bahía de los Ángeles. We like to say, we start the trip with the sun rising on our left and when the sun moves to our right side, we are close!

Stops on the way may vary but include snacks & lunch (included in the price), sightseeing, stretch breaks, and scenic views. The road trip is part of the fun and gives opportunities for making new friends, playing car games, and the occasional carpool karaoke. We arrive at the station in the evening, receive a tour of the facilities, and have our first dinner all together overlooking the Gulf of California. After we set up cots, many choose an early bedtime while others may engage in quiet conversation with others.

Day 2-5: Each day kids can participate in daily CampOceano lessons from science educators, while parents have an opportunity for optional activities including kayaking, snorkeling, or relaxing on the private beach just steps away. Daily boat trips (2 of the 4 days) include searching for whale sharks and marine mammals, collecting data for citizen science research, exploring unique marine and coastal habitats, and learning about oceanography and conservation. One day we will remain at the Vermilion Sea Field Station and explore local ecosystems and the town. Most evenings are free to relax, explore the town, or enjoy the following optional activities: kayaking, hiking, exploring wetlands/mangroves, reading, beachcombing, tide-pooling, stargazing, night snorkeling, and more! During many of these activities, we will integrate with several of the local youth of similar ages from the Aventureros program for incredible collaborations and sharing of knowledge. If you have particular interests, please reach out to your Trip Leader or Program Coordinator at least one month in advance. For example: if we know that you are a cactus enthusiast we can arrange a botanical excursion or if you are fond of history or archaeology, we can arrange a tour of nearby sites with local experts (may incur additional fees for optional tours).

On Day 5 of the trip, there is the opportunity to add a 3rd additional boat day for $50/person. Optional activities include a fishing trip, SCUBA ($250/person), or a wildlife/snorkel excursion, depending on the interest level of the group. 

Day 6: Depart Bahía de los Ángeles at 7 am for San Diego, arriving approx. 7 pm-9 pm (please do NOT schedule returning flights on Day 6 as arrival time cannot be guaranteed). The drop-off in San Diego is Holiday Inn Express San Diego Airport – Old Town (1955 San Diego Avenue, San Diego, CA 92110).

Remember to book your inbound flight into San Diego no later than the day before your trip begins and your outbound flight from San Diego no sooner than the day after your trip ends. 

Also, consider joining our CampOceano Facebook group as a way to meet your field mates in advance and plan for shared rooms, adventures, etc. It’s a closed group but ask to join and we will approve you!

Important Note: While whale sharks have typically visited the waters off Bahía de los Ángeles each summer, we can not predict that the sharks will be present during this program. Therefore, there is no guarantee that participants will see or swim with a whale shark.

Travel

Flying/Driving In, Hotel, & Day 1 Meet-Up

As our day begins early on Day 1 of your itinerary, plan to arrive no later than the day before your trip begins and to depart San Diego no sooner than the day after your trip ends. Domestic and international travel has experienced many cancellations in recent months and we highly recommend giving yourself an extra day of travel to ensure you do not miss your trip should your flight be canceled or delayed. 

Our journey begins on your trip’s Day 1 at 5:30 AM at Holiday Inn Express San Diego Airport – Old Town. 

Flight Information:

With recent flight price increases, we recommend booking flights as far in advance as possible. Remember to book your inbound flight no later than the day before your trip begins and your outbound flight no sooner than the day after your trip ends.

We welcome your itinerary questions at [email protected]

Bahía de los Ángeles

Situated along the shores of the Gulf of California within the Bahía de los Ángeles Biosphere reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Vermilion Sea Field Station (VSFS) has hosted scientists, conservationists, educators, and students since the 1970’s. Bahía de los Ángeles is a sleepy little town unlike other crowded Mexican tourist destinations. It is primarily known for fishing and was formerly a mining town. It is authentic Mexico at its finest.

Spending Money

Once we depart from San Diego, all of the basic trip expenses will be covered including transportation, lodging, meals, water, and van snacks. You will only need to spend money for additional snacks, drinks, and souvenirs which tend to be inexpensive. The amount of money you bring is up to you but we highly recommend bringing a variety of denominations. Most of the stores we visit will take US dollars but usually can’t break anything over a $20 bill. Please inspect bills that you bring from home for marks, rips, or tears as they will not be accepted. When using money exchanges in Mexico, we recommend you inspect all bills given to you for rips or tears and ask for replacements before you leave the money exchange. Many establishments accept credit cards. You may pay cash for optional boat days.

For additional information such as a suggested packing list and other travel related questions, please review the VSI CampOceano Trip Planner which will be provided with registration confirmation.

Registration

Registration is OPEN!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL TRIPS

1. Registration will occur in two parts. Initial registration will require contact information and a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of $400. Secondary registration will be submitted prior to April 2, 2023. It will require passport, insurance, medical and dietary information, and the remainder of your payment in full.
2. You will need a valid passport for all members of your party.
3. You will also need proof of travel insurance to cover any medical expenses or emergencies while abroad. 
4. With secondary registration, VSI will offer optional and strongly recommended trip cancellation insurance. This $100 insurance will protect payments made to VSI after initial deposit. 

• Example 1: Book in August and decide to cancel in February, you will forfeit your non-refundable deposit
• Example 2: Book in August, purchase VSI’s optional cancellation insurance ($100) at secondary registration, and decide to cancel just a week before your trip. You forfeit your non-refundable deposit, but the remainder of your registration payment is refunded.
• Example 3: Book in August, choose to decline VSI’s optional cancellation insurance ($100) at secondary registration, decide to cancel in April. You will forfeit your full payment.

While we understand that the COVID situation is ever-evolving. It is VERY UNLIKELY that VSI will cancel trips. If you cancel for ANY REASON the cancellation guidelines above will be followed. We strongly encourage you to register when you are confident you will be able to attend and feel comfortable attending while recognizing that trips may fill.  We strive to make all of our stakeholders happy and comfortable, and we maintain careful COVID protocols to keep our participants and community safe. By registering you agree to follow our COVID protocols; these can and will update as necessary. 

COVID-19

Our team is committed to the wellbeing and safety of all program participants and to those of the Bahía de los Ángeles community. We are so grateful to continue our field programs and we strive to provide a safe environment for all participants, staff and our community members.

All participants in a Vermilion Sea Institute program will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before beginning any trip. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in helping us create a safe environment for all.

During this time of widespread pandemic, we are committed to using the best available science and resources to maintain our COVID-19 operations plan.

Please note that the information on this page is subject to change. If you have any urgent questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected] or reach out to your trip leader directly.