Saddling South - General Information

TOURS and RIDES - Ride the cowboy trails and experience life as it was on the California frontier. Multi day pack trips are designed to visit historic missions, traditional ranches and the waterholes used for centuries by local travelers. A campfire by a palm-lined pool ends a fantastic day on the trail.

Bungalow Base Camp Trips - Enjoy quiet village life in the tiny mountain town of mission San Javier. Have the luxury of a bed in a flower covered bungalow, with daily rides on historic trails and visits to picturesque ranches.

TOUR COST INCLUDES - Saddling South makes your trip easy and convenient. Our full service tours include airport greeting and ground transfer, hotel nights according to tour, guides, riding and pack stock, all day-trip or expedition gear, great food on tour and an end of trip fiesta dinner.

ANIMALS - On our tours we select the best desert-trained horses and mules from the area, and do our best to match your skill level to an appropriate mount.

T r a v e l - For flights to Loreto, Baja California Sur, contact:

Alaska Airlines 800 426-0333
AeroMexico 800 237-6639

Your arrival and departure days are included in the listed itinerary. Please check on flight availability early & inform our office of your travel arrangements as soon as they are confirmed.

A c c o m m o d a t i o n s

Saddling South will make your hotel reservations for the first and last night of your tour at one of our favorite hotels. If you are arriving early or staying extra nights you may check our list of local hotels and contact the hotel direct to make a reservation.

E q u i p m e n t

Horses, mules and related equipment - western saddles and traditional regional saddles (western style with built-in leather pommel bags and saddle bags. Tents - one and two person sturdy A frames and domes. First aid and repair kits. All other camp and commissary equipment.

P h y s i c a l     R e q u i r e m e n t s

Anyone in good physical condition and willing to share in an occasional camp chore is welcome on our tours. Some regular exercise and stretching will help if the activity is new to you. We provide a medical form for you to fill out prior to the trip for the guide's information. Minimum age is 10 years old.

F o o d

Many guests exclaim, "I never knew one could eat so well on a camping trip!" Please note any specific dietary requirements on the reservation form.

W a t e r

Drinking water used on trips will be purified. for those of you concerned about the possibility of an intestinal disorder, we suggest a daily dose of acidophilus for one to two months before travel. Be sure to buy the kind which needs no refrigeration, and remember to continue taking them for the duration of your trip.

G u i d e s

On our trips you will be accompanied by Trudi Angell and 1-2 local guides. Trudi has spent the last 25 years living in Mexico. She speaks fluent Spanish, is an experienced trip organizer and is a friend to the ranch folks we meet along the trail. The local guides are respected friends who share wonderful stories of desert lore and local history and make us feel at home with their genuine ranch hospitality.

Tipping: If you choose to reflect your satisfaction with a guide's performance, consider a tip of $2-5 per day per guide. Usually a group will pool tips and present it at the end of the trip.

W e a t h e r

Baja California has essentially two seasons - hot and humid in summer / mild and windy in winter, with conditions for touring best from fall through spring. As everywhere in the outdoors weather conditions may alter a travel plan and an itinerary may change if necessary.

A v e r a g e   D a y t i m e   T e m p e r a t u r e

Rain is infrequent. Only a few trips each winter might experience a day or two of wet weather. Night temperatures can occasionally fall to 40's mid-winter.

S p e c i a l     N o t e s

A valid passport is required for entry into Mexico. You will be issued a tourist card which will be stamped upon arrival at the Loreto International Airport. No immunizations are required for entry into Baja. We request that alchohol intake be kept to a minimum while in remote environments. Wine or beer with dinner is occasionally provided on a tour. Any illegal substances are strictly prohibited by Mexican laws.

I n s u r a n c e

It is strongly recommended that participants have trip cancellation insurance to protect against the unexpected need to cancel your reservation at a late date. We also encourage you to consider insurance coverage for expenses caused by accidents in and evacuation from remote areas. We will provide you with both liability and trip cancellation insurance forms upon receiving your reservation.

I n f o r m a t i o n     R e s o u r c e s   /   B o o k s

Almost an Island by Bruce Berger / Gathering the Desert by Gary Nabhan / A Desert Country Near the Sea by Ann Zwinger / Into a Desert Place by Graham MacIntosh / Travels with a Baja Burro by Graham MacIntosh / Baja California Plant Field Guide by Roberts / Loreto: First Mission and Capital of Spanish California, by Ann ONeil / Last of the Californios by Harry Crosby* / Cave Paintings of Baja California by Harry Crosby* / *note: that most of the Crosby books are out of print and can be ordered via your local library, anything he has written on Baja is well worth reading!

R e s e r v a t i o n s

Click here for printable reservation form.  Print out the form, complete all the information and send it with your deposit. To reserve a space, send a deposit of $200, the balance payable 60 days before trip starting date. If you must cancel 31 days or more before a trip, the fee less the $200 deposit will be refunded. No refund will be available for cancellations up to 30 days before a trip. Ask our office about re-schedlue plans. For more information or to check availability of trip spaces please contact our office .

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