South of The Border Tours

What a fantastic excursion we had exploring the El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve and La Salina Salt Fields with a very special group of people from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. We forged through inclement weather and experienced all we could with two of the best guides; Jesús Garcia/Cultural Conservation Research Associate at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and Bob Scarborough/former staff Geologist at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, involved in the construction of Biosphere II, advisor to the Arizona State Parks Board, and a Southwest naturalist with 35 years of experience working with countless organizations and tour groups. This tour will be offered again in November of 2020! Check out the adult education travel page at ASDM's website, https://www.desertmuseum.org/center/adults_families.php. Sign up early, this tour always sells out!

More photos to share from our tour to the F.A.O.T. music festival in Alamos

On top of the hill is the Mirardor.... best views of Alamos!

It’s that time of year again!!! We are on tour in Alamos, Sonora MX to attend F.A.O.T., an annual international music festival. This is our 26th year bringing groups and it’s always a thrill!!! The town is alive and music is played on several stages each afternoon, evening, and night! It’s quite an experience!!

Tonight on CNN, 9:00pm eastern time is the premier of the “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” documentary.
In the summer of 2018, we had the honor of taking Linda and her invited guests (can’t tell you who, watch the documentary), the CNN film crew and others associated in the making of this film to the town of Banamichi which is in the northern region of Sonora along the Rio Sonora River Valley. If you look real close you can see our bus in the first few minutes of the documentary as it begins with Linda sharing her family roots from generations past who were ranchers there. Needless to say Stephen was out of his mind to be a part of this experience and to see the documentary was a very cool experience for him.
Personally speaking, I was too much in awe of this whole event to go. Here’s why, my first concert when I was 16 was Linda Ronstadt at the old Legend City. I was an instant fan, and back in the day of albums and cassette tapes, I would listen to every song just a bit at a time, constantly move the record player needle back or hit the rewind button on my cassette player and repeat this process until I knew every word as pitch perfect as I could all while starring obsessively at the album cover. Years later at my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary I sang Linda’s version of I’ve Got a Crush on You. This hit was on her big band album with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra.

In March of next year we are part of the team that is including her documentary at an int’l film festival in Alamos. Her relatives that still perform as a band will join our tour. And few other surprises are planned that will be epic.

Watch or record this tonight!!! It’s soooooo good!! .

In 48 hours we will tour to the Copper Canyon in Chihuahua MX with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum with amazing stops along the way. Can’t wait. These photos are from our last tour!! .

Just finished an special tour program with Tohono Chul to Santa Fe. Led by Mark Bahti, the tour included; Zuni, Acoma and a tour of the campus of the Institute of American Indian Arts. Highlighting the trip was a visit to the Jemez feast day as guests of potters Maxine and Dominique Toya.

Our artist hop included sculptors Roxanne Swenzell, George Rivera and santos artist Arthur Lopez. A heartfelt thanks Jo Falls at Tohono Chul and their excellent travelers... and all the people who made it possible. We hope to revisit the region in 2021.

This... is Baja!

Day 8 ASDM Baja Tour
We spent the day visiting the Misión San Javier and Lorèto.

Taco time in the streets of Mulejè.

Group photo in Mulejè.

Finding family in Santa Rosalía!

Campo Cortes!

Day three ASDM Baja
Cataviña Desert

Bob has something to say about sand.

Surprised the group with a motorcycle tour of the sand dunes!

ASDM Baja Day 2
Awoke to beautiful weather in Tecate,BCN. After a fabulous stay at Sanctuario Diegüeño, we visited the Museo Kumeyai. Continuing our journey, we passed thru the wine and olive oil region, Guadalupe Valley and dined at Finca Altozano....a true farm to table restaurant with chef Javier Plascencia. Then a beautiful drive to the coast thru Ensenada and the intense agricultural region of the northern Baja....culminating at Hotel Misión Santa Maria on the Pacific coast.

Today we begin our Baja Peninsula tour with the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. A very well suited group of 21 for the adventure.

We’re enlightened by Raconteur, Bob Scarborough and his lovely wife Martha. And of course Jesus García from ASDM.

Night one in Tecate. A 1000 mile peninsula to enjoy... and culminate in Los Cabos on the 18th.

Salud

Esteban

This once in a lifetime adventure traveled along the entire length of the Baja Peninsula from the desert chaparral through fertile coastal habitat and across the rocky backbone of the peninsula Baja and into the bizarre desert of the Vizcaiño with its amazing forests of cirio (boojum) and cardón. A highlight was our time spent off the grid in San Ignacio at a whale camp where we interacted with gray whales!! We then made our way to the Gulf side of the peninsula, to the start of our drive along a stunning coastal highway with aqua-marine coves and gorgeous white sand beaches. We snorkeled at Isla Coronado and stayed in beachfront in Loreto Bay followed by the charming artists’ haven of Todo Santos and witness the famous Los Arcos geologic formation at the tip of Baja. And finally, we crossed the beautiful Gulf of California by ferry to return to the mainland and home via Sonora. We hope to offer this tour through the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in 2019!

Bienvenido to the South of the Border Tours FB page!!!! We are excited to share our tour experiences to regions throughout Mexico and the Southwest that showcase our passion for unique tours to uncommon places. Our tour leaders and guides are the very best in their field of expertise and our extensive network of contacts and friends to the places we travel, assures unique and exclusive opportunities you won’t find anywhere else! Our philosophy is to provide well-organized “Ed-venture” tours with surprises around every corner with itineraries designed to expand on specific group interests. We are dedicated to providing the very best travel experience!! Make sure to click on photos and then albums to view our past tour experiences!! Hope to see you on our next excursion.

Some impressions of our recent week-long tour of gardens and museums in LA, Pasadena and Santa Barbara.

WE ARE CURRENTLY OFFERING THIS TOUR NOVEMBER 5TH - 8TH, 2018 WITH THE ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM.

Join Jesús García, Naturalist/Education Specialist at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Bob Scarborough former staff Geologist at the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum on an interactive adventure to the El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve. Photos below are from previous tours in which we visited Quitovac and the Salinas (salt fields) in the Gulfo de Santa Clara! Both Jesús and Bob are simply amazing on this tour!

Visit https://www.desertmuseum.org/center/adults_families.php (click on adult classes and trips) to learn more info!!!