- This week on "Epic Trails", we're in Baja California Sur.

(Stella and Rafa screaming) Oh boy.

It looks amazing.

- [Rafa] Sit here, sit here.

- Oh my god, oh my God, oh my God!

Okay, whoa, this is scary!

Oh my God.

Holy smokes, this is like beautiful, pristine water.

Oh, whoa, I can't believe we're so close.

Epic Trails is made possible by the following Alaska by rail.

Passengers can travel the coasts and wilderness of Alaska with baggage, service, meals, and wheelchair access.

Information available at AlaskaRailroad.com Collette offers small group exploration tours, destinations and local experiences.

Explorations by Collette.

Guided travel since 1918.

Vivid-Pix memory station and software allows users to scan personal history items like photos and documents, record voice narrative, and share what has been conserved.

More online at Vivid-pix.com.

Host- Additonal support provided by these sponsors ♪ upbeat music This week, we're in the beautiful Baja California Sur.

Our adventure starts here in Loreto where we'll be exploring the city a little bit before we head into the mountains to do a ton of hiking in the next few days.

- So are you interested about history?

- I am interested, and actually that's exactly what I was gonna ask you about.

As I get to travel to these beautiful, amazing places, I really want to immerse myself not only on trail, like in the nature on trail, but also in the culture and get to know people as much as I can, and learn more about the history of everywhere I go.

- Loreto is a national park, which is very important in Loreto.

We are really proud about the national park because a lot of people from all over the the world, they come over here to do different activities like diving, kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing.

I like to show you, you know, something about the art.

Lots of people, you know, they make art and they make the presentations.

While we here in the city hall, we always talk about the key painting because going and see, you know, what the ancestor left to us is kinda interesting because we always, you know, as a man we would like to to understand where we come from.

And then, you know, going out to see the key paintings, you know, it's a good connection, and also it's spiritual.

We have millions and millions of cells so the skin is coming off.

- Yeah.

- We don't notice, you know, but we drop off cells all over, and the cells stay there forever.

- Wow.

- Yeah.

So when we walk into the canyons and we walk to the key paintings, the cell, all our ancestors are there.

- Everything that you've told me just makes Loreto seem so magical, you know, like really rich in history, and culture, and a lot of activities, and I feel like that's just so beautiful.

(insect buzzing) We got to these tiny little cabins at the base of a massive volcano.

It was actually like three volcanoes in a row and we didn't get there until the evening, and so it was pretty close to sunset and I had to like prepare to hike up this mountain, and for the most part I am confident and comfortable.

I cannot believe that tomorrow we're gonna be up that mountain and feeling super nervous, but also so exciting.

Like, I'm so excited, and it's been probably about a year since I've been to the top of a mountain.

I'm all butterflies, and nerves, but also scared.

Just to see like how my body holds up, and how I do, and how it goes.

You just never really know.

We got a super early start, and the sun is starting to come up, and the clouds are starting to gain color.

I can see the outline of this big volcano that we're about to climb up.

We're definitely trying to avoid stepping on any cacti and hooking our feet.

This hike is gonna be really hard.

We're gaining like 3,000 feet and probably like two miles at the end, and it was supposed to be a little over six miles all the way up the mountain.

It's really hard to walk even though it's really gradual and flat right now.

It's pretty sandy and dusty.

We're passing some really, really big cacti.

It takes a year for one of these to grow one inch.

So this is very, very old, and it's super beautiful.

The higher that we climb, the longer that we went, the trail got like pretty narrow, and yeah, it was definitely a good idea to wear pants.

I started out with shorts, kind of very optimistically, but I had to put pants on very quickly 'cause I was getting scratched up.

Whoa, guys, yeah.

I feel one in my elbow.

They went through my shirt and I can feel them sticking out of my elbow.

Great.

Wow.

This has never happened to me before.

Wow, perfectly.

Oh, I can see them this way.

Whoa.

You see that?

That is so weird.

According to the map, we'll be up in 0.3 miles, so that means we should be done pretty soon, but I just got stabbed by a cactus and I had to sit down 'cause I was emotionally overwhelmed.

So hopefully, hopefully we get up there without getting poked anymore, and while we keep breathing and our heart doesn't pound out of our chests.

I swear I'm a professional.

(laughs) I've hiked thousands of miles.

You just wouldn't know it 'cause I'm also a baby sometimes.

It was just such a relief to get to the top because it was so challenging, and then it kind of felt like we couldn't really see the peak.

The very tippy top of this volcano was kinda tucked back just enough to keep the top of it out of view for most of the hike, and so even up to the last like 500 feet, I was still unsure of where the top was.

Oh my gosh.

Whoa!

It was just so magical and special to be up there.

(upbeat bright music) Okay, I'm normally someone who just hikes, and now I'm broadening my horizons and getting into kayaking.

Hi, Ramon.

- Hi, what's going, Stella?

How are you doing?

- Good, how are you?

- Good, good, I'm excited to go kayaking.

- Me too.

- All right.

- It looks so beautiful out today.

- It's beautiful.

Yes it is.

Beautiful spot here in Concepcion Bay.

- So Ramon, can you tell me about what we're gonna do today?

- Oh, we're gonna go kayaking.

We're gonna go around the islands, and we'll see some sea birds.

There are carrons now, and the seagulls are nesting as well so really cool to see them.

- Oh wow.

- Natural habitat.

- Awesome.

Well, let's get zipped up and get on the water.

- All right, let's go.

- Concepcion Bay is 60 kilometers long, more or less, have six main islands, and it's really protected from winds and whatnot, and there's also fish that spawn here and clams.

It's like an aquarium.

- Cool.

- There's a lot of little fish.

- Welcome to La Mision Mulege.

This is one of the older mission in Baja.

This mission is from a long time ago, 1705.

They start to build on this and finished in six years.

We go that way first.

- [Stella] Okay, why is it important to go this way first?

- And this here, when the people come to make the mission, they leave here the missioneros.

This is part of the history because the people of construction this mission, living here, sleeping here, eating here, you know?

It's very important this.

This is the mission, inside is authentic.

The walls, so you can see right here is authentic.

318 years ago.

- Wow.

- You born yet this?

No, me neither.

Look, that's beautiful.

- It looks like such a beautiful oasis.

- Yeah, it is.

- Along the river.

So it looks like some of the palm trees are burnt.

Like, was there a fire?

- Yeah, three years ago big fire we have here.

All the palm trees there is burning, and we are very sad about this.

In almost 10 months, I don't know, 10 months, they start to green again.

- Yay!

- Yeah, we have again.

- That's not too long.

- They're strong.

- Wow.

I have never been anywhere like this, I don't think.

It really feels like an oasis in the desert.

Today we're just outside the red out exploring the hidden beauty of Tabor Canyon.

It's a thrilling hike through rugged terrain, stunning vistas, lush vegetation, and my favorite crystal clear pools.

Ooh, wow, look at this lizard.

Oh my god!

It's gone!

Dang it, I wanted to see it a little bit closer, but I guess he's in my path, so good that he ran off.

Whoa.

Big scary rocks.

Okay.

Whoa!

This is scary!

Oh my God!

Cannot believe there's a tiny little hole to get through here.

Definitely didn't look like this is the way, but thankfully that Karen showed us how to get through here.

Oh my gosh!

Whoa!

So cool.

Okay, when I get to the top of this one, I'll put my poles away.

I've had these poles since I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, and even when I go on hikes where I know it's gonna be a lot of scrambling and I'll probably be hand over feet, I tend to feel a lot more comfortable when I have my poles so I like to bring 'em just in case.

Oh my gosh!

Whoa, this is so, so, so clear.

I really wanna get in it.

(Stella laughing) Honestly, I think water is a big reason I go hiking.

Just to find pristine pools like this.

Feels so magical.

(upbeat bright music) - Welcome to the mission of San Javier, and I want to introduce the second oldest mission in Baja.

One of the most pristine too.

We haven't been doing any changes, as you notice.

The way they build it is pretty much the same.

So let's go and explore.

- Okay, that sounds great.

The Mission of San Javier is gorgeous, and the moment you step inside it, it looks like you've traveled in time.

Each corner of the mission tells a story, and Rafa seems to know all about it.

Not far from the mission, there's a centuries old olive tree that just looks like it came from a fantasy book.

- You have to touch him because he is a source of positive ions.

Oh, you get emotion.

Yeah.

(both laughing) Good.

You think about how many people have been here, it's a special friend, and he has a lot of stories to tell.

- I like, don't know why I'm so emotional.

- Yeah.

Be emotional.

You need to transmit that to people.

We have an electrician system and we have some positive ions and negative ions.

So when we have the interaction with wildlife, they are full of positive ions, and in our life we have, you know, frustrations.

So when we get close to a dog, when we get close to a tree, we do that.

- Like exchange.

- Exchange of ions.

And that's why the people feel so good when they are close to a dolphin, or close to an old tree like this.

We bring Stella today to have some fun in the Mesquite canyon.

It's also called Wet Canyon.

This is a river bed.

Of course, you know, now it is dry.

So we call arroyos, but there is a time when we have the hurricanes, when we have heavy rains, this river bed get I would say probably three to five feet high, and then just runs all the way out and bring water, all the water.

All the water goes into the ocean.

Sometimes we have droughts for three or four years, and then you still walk into the canyon and the water is still running.

It is incredible, you know?

- Holy smokes.

This is like beautiful, pristine water.

Let's see how it feels.

My shoes are gonna get wet later anyways, right?

- Yeah.

- Oh my gosh, this is perfect.

Wow, I'm ready to just like, can we just spend the day here?

- Oh yeah, sure.

Why not?

- I'm not sure what I'm gonna get.

We'll see, Rafa said maybe we will be able to stay dry if we can do some good rock hopping, but I've been known to lose my footing and fall in, so there's no telling.

- In some of the areas we got up probably about four or five feet, but remember, the last time we had rain was in September.

So this is about eight months when we had the last time raining.

So the canyon have been, I mean, the water have been labeled heavy coming down.

But if you come over here in a month of November, December, January, definitely you have to be swimming in the canyon.

(Stella giggling) - What?

- Whoo, my legs are getting in the water.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay, I feel better.

Are there any fish in here?

- [Rafa] Just once in a while you have some piranhas.

- Oh my gosh!

Rafa.

Hey!

No jokes while I'm walking through mysterious water.

- [Rafa] This is pretty much the end of the canyon.

You know, I hope you like it.

So what do you think about it?

- I had such a beautiful experience with you and this canyon today.

I loved seeing all the colors in the oasis at the bottom of the canyon.

- Would you come back to this place again?

- Oh, definitely.

- Oh, I'm glad you like it.

I'm so proud about it.

(upbeat bright music) - We are going to go to Coronado Island, and we get to one of the places over there where we are going to start our hiking.

And after that we have, you know, an encounter with the sea lions, and we are gonna be swimming with sea lions, but also a lot of fish around there.

- I was already excited about this adventure.

Swimming with sea lions, hiking on an island, but on top of that, something magical happened on our way to the first hike.

- [Rafa] There, sit over here.

- Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!

I can't believe this is real.

There are so many, there's like a dozen.

- [Rafa] Yeah, so they like to see your eyes.

Yeah, look at their eyes.

It's good to show your emotion.

We love that.

(Stella laughs) - [Stella] Wow!

Is it okay if I jump off?

- Yeah, it's okay.

Still holding on the boat.

Okay, good.

Loreto's a unique place.

You know, we have everything.

10 minutes, you are in the ocean, 15, 20 minutes you are on the Sierra.

All the combination of beautiful things around.

That makes Loreto be a magic town.

- I can see why.

The trail is so beautiful.

I absolutely love how you can see the ocean.

It makes every step worth it.

Oh my goodness!

(Stella screams) - So do you do a little bit of a ballet?

- Not really.

- No, not really?

Because I like to have a picture of you.

- Oh yeah, do you need me to do- - And this is pretty much my icon.

I always do when I get to the top of the mountain.

So you do this.

- Oh wow.

Okay.

- Yeah.

Okay.

Okay.

Come on.

Yeah, look at me.

Perfect.

Stella, are you ready to go and play with the sea lions?

- Yes!

- Okay.

Wow!

Oh my gosh!

These sea lions, they're so vocal.

Oh my gosh, there's a little baby, like a tiny little one.

I am so excited to swim with sea lions.

Definitely a little terrified because they're massive, but I don't know, as long as they don't bite me.

(upbeat uplifting music) I cannot believe how close to the sea lions we got, and how comfortable I felt.

I didn't feel scared at all.

They just felt like, the energy was like, okay, you know?

Wow.

Honestly, never done that before.

Backpacking backpack from a boat, onto the beach, to go up climb up a mountain.

I feel so refreshed swimming with sea lions.

Now coming to hike on an island.

(Rafa and Stella screaming) - We made it to the top!

Gimme five.

- [Stella] I'm blown away.

Like, this is so stunning.

It's wonderful.

- Isn't it beautiful?

- Yeah it is.

- Yeah.

I'm not tired about this.

I have seen this many, many times and I still enjoy them.

That's why I come every time I get the chance and opportunity to come to these hikes.

I don't wanna be missing them.

- There's so many things in Baja I would love to do, and I feel like I got to experience so many things from swimming with sea lions, to seeing dolphins, to just like no words for how amazing that was.

Climbing up many canyons, and getting to experience pristine pools, and getting to see the culture like, nested within every little city that we got to visit.

What a wild adventure.

I'm so glad I got to visit Baja.

Before we hike back down, we need to do one more thing.

- Yeah.

- One, two, three, put your leg higher.

- Higher, higher, higher.

- See how beautiful the ocean over there.

Epic Trails is made possible by the following Alaska by rail.

Passengers can travel the coasts and wilderness of Alaska with baggage, service, meals, and wheelchair access.

Information available at AlaskaRailroad.com Collette offers small group exploration tours, destinations and local experiences.

Explorations by Collette.

Guided travel since 1918.

Vivid-Pix memory station and software allows users to scan personal history items like photos and documents, record voice narrative, and share what has been conserved.

More online at Vivid-pix.com.

Host- Additonal support provided by these sponsors ♪ upbeat music