Mexico: Soul searching on women’s trip to remote Baja island

Women’s Empowerment Workshop and Women’s Wilderness, both based in Colorado, are teaming up to offer a six-day active outing to Mexico’s Baja California from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1.

The trip’s base camp will be on the island of Espiritu Santo in the Sea of Cortez.

The area is home to pristine desert-marine ecosystems, with blue-footed boobies and other exotic sea birds, fin whales, dolphins, sea lions and gentle whale sharks.

The women-only trip will be led by Women’s Empowerment Workshop founder Susie Kincade, a nature-connected personal coach and retreat leader; and Suza Bedient, a National Outdoor Leadership School facilitator for 30 years and Tree of Life Mentoring founder.

Bedient is an expert in the geography, flora, fauna and spirit of the Sea of Cortez, which she calls her “heart’s home.”

“The idea of this course is to cultivate your own wisdom and courage while connecting to the earth and sea with no distractions other than the nature around us,” Kincade said. “Such retreats, creatively led by nature coaches, produce fertile ground for personal growth, heightened awareness, compassion and connectedness.”

She said two pre-retreat coaching sessions help prepare participants for the trip, and that two post-trip sessions then aid them in integrating their experience into their world upon their return.

Participants will hike among gigantic cacti; swim with curious sea lions; sea kayak; stand-up paddle; snorkel with parrotfish, Moorish Idols, rainbow wrasse, turtles and dolphins; and comb beautiful beaches -- all in the Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna, Islas del Golfo de California (APFF-IGC), a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The trip will be guided by Baja Expeditions, which has 25 years of experience leading groups to this region.

The outing includes two nights in La Paz, five nights and six days at the Espiritu Santo camp, ground and boat transportation, marine park fees, three meals a day and a double occupancy stay in comfortable tents.

All activities are covered as well, including guiding, group circles, excursions and group coaching, including pre- and post-retreat sessions.

The cost of the trip is $1,750 per person.

Info: Earth & Sea Eco-Retreat

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