Baja’s Remote Las Animas Eco-Lodge Offers Rare Birder’s Bonanza This Spring

Jan. 21, 2015 - PRLog -- SAN DIEGO, CA,  – Only a convenient two-hour hop south via small plane from San Diego’s Brown Field, Baja’s Las Animas Eco-Lodge (http://www.bajaairventures.com/WildernessRetreat.html) couldn’t be further removed from the bustle of civilization. Just the perfect location and pristine isolation needed for world-class bird watching and nature viewing.

Located one hour by motor skiff from the landing strip at Bahia de los Angeles, Las Animas (http://www.bajaairventures.com/) is the only boat-in lodge in Baja.  This roadless, eco-friendly property accommodates up to 14 guests in seven romantic, private beach-side yurts equipped with bathroom, solar shower, composting toilets, comfortable queen and king sized beds, covered decks and skylight roofs. The yurts are built around the spacious main palapa which offers an expansive deck that serves as a central dining area, game area and communal lounge space.

While guests appreciate such rare comfort deep in the wilderness, comfort is not the main reason they come here every spring, binoculars, birder’s guides and logbook in hand. Located a short boat ride away is Isla Raza (http://www.oceanoasis.org/fieldguide/islarasa.html), Mexico’s very first bird sanctuary, established in 1964. This is the best place on Earth to view the Elegant Tern (over 90% of the world’s population breed and nest here). Over 55,000 nests are typical on this small protected island where vast populations of Caspian Terns and ‘Watch Listed’ Heermann’s Gulls also reside.

This magical region of the Sea of Cortez has been coined the “Galapagos of Mexico” because of the over 170 species of sea birds, and abundance of whales, dolphins, sea lions, 3,000 species of fish, uninhabited mountains and deserts as far as the eye can see.

Two spring prime time departures have been planned for Isla Raza & Sea of Cortez Bird Watching Adventure (http://www.bajaairventures.com/baja-bird-watching-tour.html): April 28-May 2 and May 4-May 9, 2015. The six day/five night, all-inclusive rate is $2,395 per person, double (plus tax). Custom and longer trips are available. Price includes double occupancy yurt accommodations, roundtrip air from San Diego, naturalist guided outings, boat transportation, healthy homemade meals, beverages (including beer and margaritas) and optional activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, whale watching, swimming, fishing, sailing and hiking.

On Day One, guests enjoy a scenic 1-hour flight from San Diego to San Felipe, Mexico on the Sea of Cortez to clear customs. This is followed by an amazing flight along the Sea of Cortez, over countless turquoise bays and pristine islands to the Midriff Island Region near Bahia de Los Angeles. The adventure continues with a scenic 1-hour transfer by boat along the Baja coastline to Las Animas Eco-Lodge. The afternoon is spent exploring the area and bird watching on foot near the lodge. Evenings feature homemade meals, campfires on the beach; starlit skies, tranquility and solitude.

Days Two to Five are dedicated to nature. Mornings will be spent bird watching at Isla Raza and other nearby islands and bays dotting the the Sea of Cortez. Guests return to Las Animas for a freshly prepared lunch.  Afternoons offer additional nature tours or opportunities to explore on one’s own, snorkeling at a nearby sea lion rookery, whale watching, world-class sea kayaking, desert and shoreline walking for all levels, fishing, visiting off-shore islands by boat, sailing, finding a romantic private cove with no one around, or simply relaxing in a private hammock.

Day Six brings more morning bird watching, a picnic lunch enroute to Bahia de los Angeles with the possibility of whale watching and marine mammal viewing. The return flight gets everyone back to San Diego by late afternoon.

For details on the Isla Raza & Sea of Cortez Bird Watching Adventure call 1-800-221-9283 or 1-619-421-2235 orvisit online: http://www.bajaairventures.com/baja-bird-watching-tour.html

For information on other adventure packages offered year-round by Baja AirVentures please go to:  http://www.bajaairventures.com/

Scientific Data on the Birds of Isla Raza

Isla Raza island lies about one-third of the way down the 1000 km long Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) and about 12 miles from the coast of Baja California. The long narrow Gulf supports one of the most diverse and rich sub-tropical marine ecosystems in North America. Isla La Raza is one of a number of important seabird islands in the Gulf.

Raza (28ø49'N, 112ø59'W) rests on the nesting of three Larids endemic to Northwestern Mexico: the yellow-footed race of the Western Gull, the Heermann's Gull and the Elegant Tern. The Heermann's Gull colony is one of only eight known colonies and is easily the largest, containing perhaps over 90% of the species' nests. The majority of the world's Elegant Terns are said to nest on La Raza. A fourth laird, the Royal Tern, also nests on the island. An Alcid endemic to Northwestern Mexico, Craveri's Murrelet, may still nest on Isla Raza as well.

Media Contact:

For inquiries, interviews and photos please contact Widness & Wiggins PR:

Dave Wiggins: 303.554.8821 / dave@travelnewssource.com

Follow Baja AirVentures:

On Facebook:         https://www.facebook.com/BajaAirventures

YouTube:          https://www.youtube.com/bajaair

Twitter:          https://twitter.com/BajaAirVentures

Trip Advisor:          http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1673264-d1792687-Reviews-Baja_AirVentures_Las_Animas_Wilderness_Lodge-Bahia_de_Los_Angeles_Baja_California.html