to our world. - NOLS

Imagine a land of stark contrasts: ocean and desert, cactus and pine, teeming seas and sparse shores. This is the Baja
Peninsula, a land of unique wilderness opportunity. NOLS Mexico is the home of our ocean-based programs where you
can learn how to sea kayak and sail as well as backpack. You’ll learn about the rich diversity of this marine ecosystem,
about the whales and sea birds and fish that call this place home. There will also be occasion to interact with the people
of Baja California. We provide educational opportunities for local educators, students, and land managers, as well as
financial aid and scholarships for NOLS courses in both Spanish and English. We have a long-standing partnership
with the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, collaborating with their departments of marine biology, geology,
and alternative tourism. We have been off-the-grid in Coyote Bay near Mulegé in central Baja for over 30 years,
and our high-tech, low-impact facility was specifically designed to meet the needs of our students.
MEXICO
Abe Goodale
Alex Plank
The Drascombe Longboat is the perfect venue to learn how to sail and develop as a
team. Coyote Bay
With personal coaching from your NOLS instructors you'll master surf landings and
more. La Zorra Beach, San Nicholas Bay
BAJA COASTAL SAILING
A NOLS sailing course will get you well on your way to sailing on
your own and being a competent crew member. You’ll be aboard a
unique yawl-rigged open boat, the Drascombe Longboat, which is a
light, maneuverable craft perfect for learning sailing basics, exploring
shallow coves, or hauling onto desert beaches. You’ll learn coastal
navigation on waters rich with marine life, from intricate sea fans to
raucous sea lions. This course follows nature’s rhythms, so you may
find yourself up before dawn or sailing until dusk to take advantage
of a favorable breeze. There are bound to be some long, challenging
days on the water, but there should also be time to wonder at the
night sky or at the sea stars in a tidal pool. You’ll learn to read winds
and waves with confidence, work as a crew with your coursemates,
and on windless days, practice rowing and towing. The boat will
be your home on the water, but you’ll also practice Leave No Trace
camping on shore in this unique desert that greets the sea.
DETAILS
Age and Length: 16 & Over • Average age: 23 • Duration: 22 days
Tuition: $3,955
Optional Optional College Credit: 2 hours Risk Management, 2 hours Leadership
Techniques
Dates: page 107
Facing Page: Running with the wind, these students enjoy the ride. Isla San Marcos
BAJA SEA KAYAKING
Baja Sea Kayaking has it all—technical skills, incredible scenery,
leadership practice, and unique opportunities for cultural exchanges.
On this course you’ll navigate the Sea of Cortez, carrying
everything you need for your journey inside the hull of your
sea kayak. Your instructors will teach you how to maneuver this
craft onto remote beaches surrounded by cliffs and how to handle
the boat when waves and winds pick up. On land, you’ll practice
cooking, Leave No Trace camping, and maybe some beginning
Spanish. Free diving is a special part of this course, and you’ll often
spend afternoons exploring coastal reefs and the vast array of
multi-colored fish that inhabit them. You may even have the opportunity
to enjoy the catch of the day from local fishermen. By
the end of your expedition, you’ll walk away with the ability to
lead your own sea kayaking adventure and an appreciation for this
dramatic Mexican coastline.
DETAILS
Age and Length:
16 & Over • Average age: 23 • Duration: 22 days
23 & Over • Average age: 35 • Duration: 14 days
Tuition: $3,410 (16 & Over); $3,235 (23 & Over)
Optional College Credit: 2 hours each Environmental Ethics, Leadership Techniques
(16 & Over); 2 hours Skills Practicum (23 & Over)
Dates: page 107
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