Scheduled programs for 2010
& 2011 See list below.
Click buttons above...
What
to expect on Mary & Piet's learning vacations...
Expect
the unexpected...
| Please let us tell
you about Baja's
Frontier Tours' handcrafted learning vacations... |
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Good News just in for
our Baja California guests:
Our old friends in
Guerrero Negro have just emailed us on February 3rd to tell us "...there's
been plenty of rain and we believe the desert will be precious by
the time you arrive!"
In El Nino years such as
this one, we have very often enjoyed those rare and spectacular
bursts of desert color - carpets of flowers in the Vizcaino and
Sonoran Deserts of the peninsula |
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You're in Good Company—Our
guests are very special people of all ages bonded by common curiosity about the
chosen travel environment and their passion to learn about the world around
them. The result
is VERY pleasant people sharing our enjoyment of these unique travel and
learning vacation experiences.
Great fun combined with
learning—During
BFT's four decades, an approach
has evolved through which we share our favorite places with pleasant, thoughtful,
independent
and curious guests who choose our enthusiastic guidance and the enjoyable
companionship and sociability of like-minded traveling companions. You'll
enjoy our guests (and our scholars) as we do!
The very best scholars for our
travel environment—Our instructors
are always highly skilled and affable folks, whose company and knowledge you'll
enjoy. In Baja California, for example, we are your
hosts, tour operators and instructors. On other trips, if the subject is not our
specialty, we produce and operate the program personally (as always), and work with the best and most knowledgeable of interpreters.
Additionally, we work with a number of local specialists to
provide our guests a well-rounded understanding of the focus subject of
the trip, be it natural or cultural history, archaeology, geology, the
arts or
whatever.
Learning vacations
that will change who you are—not
sightseeing tours. We do see the sights. And yet we do so much more. We rarely sit around in
lectures. Our guests are much more experiential people. Hands-on folks, who
enjoy getting out and actually enjoying the experience of being there...of
learning in the field. Details vary considerably from one trip to another. That's why we suggest that
you call us and learn more about the program that really seems to be speaking to
you.
Savor the
anticipation...plan way ahead.
We must plan over a year ahead to secure reservations at the hotels we choose. And to
schedule our scholars. Your early decisions will assure you a space on your chosen learning vacation.
Some programs fill many months in advance. Others fill at the last minute; and
sometimes trips are cancelled several months in advance for lack of
participation, only to have folks call later to sign up. So, please plan ahead and savor the anticipation. We
do look forward to speaking with you and to enjoying your
company again...or for the first time! Never stop learning!
Great food & lodging—always
part of the BFT experience to the extent the travel environment permits! Generally some meals are included; and for
the others, we guide our guests to places where they are free to choose from healthy mouthwatering specialties,
from
Baja to Oaxaca, Chihuahua, Arizona and New Mexico. In Baja California, every restaurant and hotel
we'll take you to is one we've shared with our guests for well over 30 years...most
of them since they first opened their doors. The
variety of truly fresh seafood is mouthwatering! We select accommodations that allow
us to accomplish the goals of a particular trip, generally the best that an area
has to offer. As some
itineraries take us off the beaten track at times, our choices vary from fairly
simple to rather extravagant, and always clean, comfortable, pleasant and safe.
"Wish
Lists" planning for the future—Each
tour program is different; many are unique: offered one time only. So,
we encourage you to call us to discuss your interests so that we may
help you choose the memorable and fun experience that will be just right
for you! For some programs that tend to fill quickly, we offer the
opportunity to put your name on a "Wish List" for that
trip well in advance, before a date is chosen and details are available. This means you'll be among the first to receive
details and the opportunity to sign up when itinerary specifics are available and
the program is officially scheduled. Call for information.
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We're accountable—These
days, when business is so often impersonal and lacking in accountability,
we hope you’ll appreciate that we create and operate each program
personally. As BFT's owner/operators, we’re right there with you on your
vacation to keep things humming. Your safety, comfort and enjoyment are
very important to us! Our quality control is excellent. Our commitment
is deep and personal; we’re accountable. Each of BFT’s four decades has
taught us a lot about producing learning vacations. We hope you enjoy our
style!
Weather & Timing—We
thoroughly consider optimal weather and special events—both natural and
cultural—in planning scheduling for each learning vacation. We plan carefully to avoid bad weather and crowds
whenever possible. You will notice that our offerings
come in fall, winter and spring. That's because most of our favorite places are
hot (or crowded!) in the summer.
Meals included? Not
necessarily. And that can be a good thing for you. Some of our programs include most
meals; the cuisine of Oaxaca is an example. Others include few or no restaurant
meals; Baja is an example of the latter. Many trips include a number of
enjoyable picnic lunches afield, when we find ourselves far from
restaurants. Generally, we include meals when there is some specific reason
to do so. By not including all meals, we save you money. Let me
explain: When we include meals, they must be ample to satisfy the grandest
appetites; and they must be what we think you want to eat. However, if you
eat lightly (perhaps you and your traveling
companion prefer to share entrees), then you're paying for a big meal that
you're not enjoying. Additionally, when you do the ordering,
you may choose from the full range of an often-extensive menu, thus enjoying
- and paying for - exactly, and only, what you choose.
Smoking—In
the interest of health and comfort, there is no smoking where our guests gather—in
vehicles, at meals, group discussions, field interpretations, whether inside or
outdoors. No one breathes smoke unless they choose to. Some of our hotels are
non-smoking properties. Smokers who are happy to observe these courtesies are very welcome
on every program.
BFT has offered natural and cultural history
learning vacations in Baja California,
Mexico since 1966. Today, our offerings also include the Greater American
Southwest, featuring Arizona and New Mexico (including our Indian Country programs), Sonora, Chihuahua,
the historic Valley of Oaxaca, Copper Canyon and more in both Mexico and the
United States. Mary & Piet produce and operate every single one of their programs personally.
Our philosophy
regarding Baja's Frontier Tours' goals is simple: We go to places that are
special to us and that we've found our guests enjoy immensely, as well;
sometimes these are not the most popular tourist destinations, rather they are special places
where our guests can learn, enjoy and refresh
themselves in peace, safety and comfort. We assure the success of each
program by producing and operating it personally...we enjoy each experience right
along with you, making each program the best learning vacation possible!
We don't just have customers, we build
relationships. We invite your participation to make
this a reality. We enjoy your calls and emails to discuss your interests, answer your questions and to help you
consider a particular trip and determine if it's right for you. We're here to
help you choose, plan and enjoy the most memorable
and personally satisfying vacation possible. And, if we haven't spoken for a
while, to get acquainted...or to
catch up with you,
Piet & Mary Van de Mark
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Piet & Mary Dennis
Winsten photo
Scheduled
BFT programs for 2010 & 2011......
Our Learning Vacations
Listed Below are now reserving/filling. Call us for Brochures &
Reservations and to discuss your questions and interests.
Please Note: Most
programs are offered only every few years, while some are one-time-only special
events...so, if you see something that really interests you, don't just put
it off 'till next year without learning if it will ever be offered
again! Make your decision now and enjoy the anticipation! Don't miss out!
Scheduled
BFT programs 2010
& 2011 -
The Best of Baja. Whale Watching &
Natural History - March
1-9, 2010.
Experience
Baja California, Mexico's personalized natural history...including
boating with Scammon's Lagoon's friendly gray whales. Scammon's is the
largest and best-protected migratory destination. Thousands of whales
have always been there for our guests for over forty years. We look at
the whales, not for them! And on average, half of our guests get to pet friendly
whales and their calves! The opportunity to enjoy the most wonderful
fresh seafood and delightful Mexican (American and continental, as
well) cuisine is unsurpassed! Co-sponsored with Tucson's wonderful Arizona-Sonora Desert
Museum, this program is offered for 2010 at our 2006 price!
This price
will not be offered again; due to increased costs, the 2011 price
must increase by several hundred dollars.
COPPER
CANYON: Land of the Tarahumara - April 17 - 25, 2010. We're
very pleased to offer this program
one last time,
Call to put
in your reservation now! We have no plans to offer this program
again.
The 2007 trip
filled in 2006. The first one in 2004 filled up quickly, too, so please don't delay your decision to join this
spectacular learning experience and expect to come in the future; a $300 deposit holds your
spot for this trip. A simple call or email will assure your
participation. Join us round trip from Tucson
with amazing Barney Burns, Ph.D. in our very comfortable rolling
classroom motor coach. Please
call and let us help you with any questions so you don't miss this
next one.
(to benefit Native Seeds/SEARCH).
Mesa Verde Archaeology -
May 12 - 18, 2010. Mesa
Verde in Colorado’s Four Corners Country is renowned for
striking landscapes and spectacular pre-historic cliff dwellings,
the last homes of the Anasazi before the region’s abrupt
abandonment in A.D. 1280. Where did these people come from? Where
did they go? You’ll understand the great span of Pueblo history
in this region; during our exploration there, archaeologist
Jonathan Till will unravel the past by visiting both seldom-seen
sites in the archaeologically rich Montezuma Valley, and the
incredible Mesa Verde.
Rio
Grande Pueblos
& Georgia O'Keeffe Country with
Mark
Bahti - November 6 -13, 2010.
This is our most comprehensive and wonderful program
from the new
features - and
it won't be offered again for a few more years). This one is produced for
Tucson's Tohono Chul Park & the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Join Mark Bahti and Mary & Piet, along with New
Mexico Pueblo Indians, artists and historians, to savor the arts and culture of one of the
most amazingly beautiful places in America! Now, with the added
excitement of Georgia O'Keeffe Country, her Santa Fe museum and
lot, lots more, including four delightful nights you'll consider
home at Santa Fe's Inn of the Governors just moments from the
historic Plaza. Motorcoach comfort also provides
you our rolling classroom approach to learning vacations to
deepen your understanding and prepare you for
every stop on our fascinating journey. We've chosen excellent
accommodations near some of New Mexico's finest restaurants in
Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos to assure you restful and memorable
evenings...and some mighty fine New Mexico dining!
Free!
16th Annual
Christmas Folk Art Sale Free!
16th Annual
Christmas Folk Art Sale -
Dec.
4 & 5, 20
Dec. 10.
This
has become a
Christmas shopping tradition for many of our guests in Southern Arizona!
Join
Barney Burns &
Mahina Drees (our Copper Canyon scholars!) and learn what they have done
for decades to benefit the native people of Northwestern Mexico.
Scroll down to near the bottom of this page for more details...
Death
Valley: Where
Wonder Reigns! December 7-13, 2010. Geologist Amazing Bob
Scarborough loves Death Valley!
Most visitors are surprised by the
awesome beauty and scope of this amazing out-of-the-way place. We invite
you to join us to explore your amazement: share this affable geologist’s
long experience in this very special place, home to wonderful geologic
mysteries! From mile-high Dante’s View, we'll peer way, way
down at Badwater: (at -282’ it's the western hemisphere’s
lowest elevation!), while across the valley spectacular Telescope Peak
rises to 11,049'. Fabled Scotty’s Castle provides a memorable
tour. Long-abandoned 20 mule team borax works,
lovely sand dunes and narrow canyons are among many other wonders we’ll
experience. Photograph and walk about the desert in fine fall weather.
The historic Furnace Creek Ranch Resort offers us very
comfortable nightly accommodations plus a full range of resort
amenities. Get your brochure and plan now to find out just how much fun
you can have on this unique and comfortable learning adventure!
Reserving now.
NOTICE:
As you consider your
learning
vacation plans, please keep in mind that many of our programs are
offered one-time-only, or are available to you just once every few
years. If you're thinking about "going next time"
please call us to check on availability.
The Chiricahua
Cottages - for your personal quiet getaways in southeast Arizona anytime...
please click on the Chiricahua Cottage button at the top of the page...
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We thank you all who
made BFT’s 43rd year so memorable! |
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As
we prepare to move into 2010 and 2011, as well,
we are keenly aware of how especially blessed we are by all of you
who have returned over the years to repeat a favorite program, and
those who’ve come back to try something new.
We
are truly grateful to those among you who honor us with
recommendations to your friends, and to those of you who come back
in the company of your friends to share the experience
together.
We
are humbled by this appreciation and by your trust and your thanks for what we do.
You
teach us joy with your smiles and your enjoyment of the adventures
we share together! We deeply appreciate that you’ve chosen to
invest your time and resources with us in a period of fun and
refreshment, learning and renewal.
We
are thankful for you all!
Another
joy we have in producing learning vacations is that we, too,
continue to learn. We learn from you, our guests, as well as from
our scholars. As you already know, we learn from your questions,
and often from your interests and observations, as well. Some
of our best programs begin with a question from our guests - "Have
you ever thought about doing a tour to...." We
do hope that you're all weathering the financial uncertainties of these times. Be assured that we're keeping our costs as
low as we can, while always being mindful of offering our guests both
quality and value in terms of accommodations and meals, transportation and teaching
staff. The Best of Baja 2010 is offered again with a five-year-old
price; we can't keep this up, so we hope you'll take advantage now.
In
October of 2008, we enjoyed the real excitement of our primary
scouting our Mesa Verde Archaeology program in Colorado’s
colorful Four Corners Country. This has become another fascinating
archaeology program in spring 2010 (that’s just next year already, isn’t
it?).
Our
Mesa Verde scholar will be Jonathan Till, an esteemed local archaeologist
who is especially recommended to us by our friend Gwinn Vivian. As with
each program we produce, you’ll find far more to this itinerary than
simply visiting those famed cliff dwellings in the Park! The depth of this
region's human history is amazing! |
Those
of you who’ve enjoyed our Chaco Canyon Archaeology
program over the years have come to know and appreciate Dr. Vivian; and by the way, Chaco
with Gwinn is on our schedule for this October. We're pleased to
report that it's filling very well (Thank you!), and we still have
a few spaces left for you.
And
everywhere during our Mesa Verde scout we found such an abundance of wildlife! We saw
countless birds
and deer and wild turkeys; and we enjoyed a very close look at a wild
mountain lion! As
always, we’re having lots of fun while planning and producing
learning vacations for you.
Some
upcoming programs are fully published, with brochures currently
available, while others are just being announced with This Page Under
Construction still showing on some web pages.
For
the very best in natural history adventures, we again feature The Best of
Baja, reserving now for its March 1st, 2010 departure. This is our
root program, going back to 1967 when BFT first took its guests
whale watching in Scammon's Lagoon. Co-sponsored with
the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, this learning vacation features those friendly California gray whales plus the peninsula's astoundingly
beautiful Sonoran
Desert; this experience in the enchanted peninsula always manages to create magical memories for
our
guests, as it has for us for over 4 decades! Day
of the Dead in Southern Arizona, Join noted Tucson author
and oral historian, Patricia Preciado Martin as we present two day-trips
on November 1 or 2, 2009. We offer an itinerary change from
previous years that will invite a lot of folks back to find out more
of what happens right here in our own State of Arizona
during this colorful celebration. Reserving now for both Tohono Chul Park
and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Of
course, awesome Copper Canyon - Land of the Tarahumara
as only Dr. Barney Burns & Mahina Drees of Native
Seeds/SEARCH can do it for you from our comfortable rolling
classroom. Hop on our motor coach roundtrip from Tucson in April
of 2010; this adventure is reserving now and will not be
offered again for quite some time.
And
for those of you in and near our Tucson, Arizona home, who look
forward to more folk art from Northwest Mexico, our Fifteenth Annual Christmas Folk
Art Sale, coming, as always, on the first weekend in
December. Always Free admission. Always wholesale prices. See you
there!
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More
Southwest Indian Country programs are coming in Arizona and New
Mexico. If you missed our Acoma-Zuni trip this past May (produced
for Tohono Chul
Park with our friend Mark Bahti sharing his expertise, as always), do consider Rio
Grande Pueblos & Georgia O'Keeffe Country, planning now for
November 2010. Also benefiting from Mark's expertise, this is the premier
Indian Country program for cultural anthropology buffs, serious collectors and just-looking guests alike.
We've
added new and expanded features to Rio Grande Pueblos, our grand-daddy of all
Indian Country learning vacations. Offered now in November 2010, it has become
Rio Grande Pueblos & Georgia O'Keeffe
Country, featuring four delightful nights in Santa Fe, and much,
much more!
Death Valley: Where
Wonder Reigns will
revisit this amazing place in the best of weather (now, there's a
challenge!) and, as always, with
Amazing Bob Scarborough, that enthusiastic geologist who's passion for the place
flows throughout
our adventures there.
Coming in December 2010, which normally offers an excellent time of weather and
photography in
the valley featuring cool nights and pleasant sunny days.
For
you serious cactophiles, many of you missed joining our typically affable
assortment of guests, including a few joyful folks from England and Australia,
for our Sonora's
Seaside Desert & Tropical Thornscrub. This once-only program was
produced for the Cactus & Succulent Society of America following their Tucson convention
in April 2009. We've left the web page up so you can admire the lovely Sonoran
scenery!
Do
you love our Sonoran Desert, perhaps combined with the Pacific Ocean and
friendly California gray whales? Well, if you missed our Sonora trip,
you'll find plenty of cactus combined with very fresh seafood and
memorable scenery in The Best of Baja, beginning March 1st.
We
love to hear from you!
Please
give us a call just to stay in touch and let us know how you are and to catch up on what we're
doing, too... anytime. We're here to help you find just the right learning
vacation for you.
Piet
& Mary Van de Mark
|
Please click
on their image to be directed to Travel Insured's website to learn more
and to purchase travel insurance for your learning vacation with us. |
We
recommend the purchase of travel and trip cancellation insurance.
Travel
Insured has provided our guests with excellent service for many
years. |
Our favorite places in Baja California,
Mexico are those that have remained relatively unchanged since BFT first
ventured into "The
Forgotten Peninsula" in the 1960's. Perhaps that explains our
focus on the midsection of Baja, rather than well-developed and more
familiar areas like Cabo San Lucas, lovely as they are. We hope you'll
join us to experience some of the peninsula's lovely hidden, uncrowded
and unchanged places that most of the peninsula's visitors fail to experience in
their mad rush to Baja's resort country. |
Go With
Experience! We do!
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Tucson's
16th Annual Mexican Folk Art Christmas Shopping Spree!
Always
Free Admission! Always Wholesale Prices!
Saturday
& Sunday December 4 & 5, 2010, 10 am - 3 pm
NOTICE!
Cash
or Checks Only Please
NOTICE!
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It's become a
Christmas shopping tradition for many in
southern Arizona who leave the crowded malls behind and gift their family and
friends with truly unique Folk Arts of museum shop quality at true
wholesale prices! Add to your own dazzling collectable decor! Accept
our invitation to join those wonderful folks at Unknown Mexico—Barney
Burns & Mahina Drees—who will again open their warehouse to Friends
of Baja’s Frontier Tours for a two-day Wholesale Holiday
Shopping Spree...our way of saying "Thanks and Happy
Holidays!" The treasures of the Mayo, Yaqui and Tarahumara
people are knowledgeably selected during Barney and Mahina’s
exhaustive forays into remote corners of Mexico: Wooden Bowls and Utensils!
Baskets! Ceremonial Masks! Instruments! Weavings! Wood Carvings!
Furniture! Toys! Decorations! Lots of Specials & Surprises! All at
genuine once-a-year wholesale prices from an anthropologist who’s
working to preserve the crafts and culture of the native peoples of
northwestern Mexico. Support the arts! Refreshments, too! Your friends
are welcome. Come and say "Hello" to us, too...
we’ll be there to help! Piet & Mary Van de Mark.
Barney & Mahina
have
graciously agreed to take us to Copper
Canyon - Land of the Tarahumara once again. This seems to be
the very last time this tour is offered. We're planning our
next learning vacation with Barney in April 2010. This program benefits Tucson's Native Seeds/SEARCH, which
Barney & Mahina helped found 25 years ago! Historically, this trip fills up! The
2007 trip filled in 2006. Remember: no one knows Copper
Canyon and it's people like Barney & Mahina; this is the best
of the best...and it may not happen again, so we hope you'll plan now to plan
ahead and enjoy the anticipation of this very special event!
PLEASE NOTE: COME ONLY ON THESE TWO DAYS AND
ONLY
BETWEEN 10AM and 3PM. Unknown Mexico is wholesale ONLY and NOT
OTHERWISE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU!
Just follow the map
that will be posted here next November to
Unknown Mexico; if it's crowded, please park in the corral and walk up
the road. 10am to 3pm these days ONLY, thank you!
This special event is free of
charge. BFT does not profit from this event, other than the joy we take
in your support of Barney & Mahina and their artist/farmer
friends in Northwest Mexico...and the pleasure we enjoy in seeing all of
you who come to shop and say "Hello!"
This is our way of
thanking you for traveling and learning and sharing the adventure
with us on our learning vacations...many of you for many, many
memorable years.
We wish you all a
very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year throughout 2010!
Piet & Mary Van de Mark
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Any
questions or comments about our website?
Thanks very much for bearing
with any confusions that may beset your browser. Please feel free to e-mail us
about anything. We always answer all
emails received. If you've emailed us and not received a reply, perhaps
we didn't receive your email. Please try again or, better yet, give us a
call!
QUESTIONS &
RESERVATIONS?
Considering a trip? Or wondering
which trip? Each program is personally produced and operated by Piet
& Mary Van de Mark and their knowledgeable interpreters of natural
and cultural history, anthropology, archaeology, geology, or whatever-ology
happens to be the focus of the particular program. Each trip is unique, and the
answers to the details and questions that concern
you may not be obvious on the web site. We're here to discuss your interests and answer
your questions so you may make a good decision. We have brochures for
you with detailed itineraries. Having considered all these things, you'll
join a select group of folks to share a very pleasant and memorable
learning experience.
Contact
Mary & Piet by phone: 520-887-2340
(Tucson,
Arizona)
Outside Arizona call
Toll Free: 1-800-726-7231
If
you enjoy fun and learning, we
hope you'll join
us for your next getaway
or vacation.
Planning
a
tour with us? The
Chiricahua Cottages on your own? Thoughts about your next
vacation? Please tell us
how we can help you make it happen!
©Baja's
Frontier Tours
LLC, Tucson, Arizona
2003 & 2007 & 2008 & 2009 all
rights reserved
Please
request written permission for copy or publication of any portion of these
pages. Thanks! Proofed
by Marcia Quiroz at Tucson,
Arizona January 11, 2006. Thank
you, Marcia!
The
management would also like to thank Mike Liebert for help with proofing!
Updated
by Piet Van de Mark September 2009. Typos? Not Marcia or Mike's fault!
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