Baja Adventures & Nakawe Project Loreto NextGen: youth local training in regenerative tourism

In Loreto, young people face limited career opportunities. Regenerative tourism, however, presents a powerful pathway, one that creates meaningful employment while protecting the natural environments that sustain local communities.

Through Baja Adventures and Nakawe Project NextGen, we support local youth by helping them develop the skills to become nature guides, sharing our expertise in biodiversity, conservation, sustainability, and provide essential English lessons for interacting confidently with guests.

We are actively involving young people as assistants in our field programs, immersing them in regenerative tourism practices and preparing them for future guiding roles.

Heydi (20), from a family of local fishermen and culinary professionals, has grown up connected to the ocean. She dreams of becoming a wildlife and marine guide.

Heydi Murillo

Adrian (13), raised on a ranch, has spent his childhood riding mules and learning about the land. He hopes to become a “guiding cowboy” and is eager to learn English.

Adrian Luceo

Both NextGen assitants participate in our expeditions, gaining firsthand experience in local ecosystems, data collection, guest interaction, logistics, safety protocols, and field operations. Our training program invests time, mentorship, and resources into helping these young people grow into confident professionals and regenerative tourism leaders.

Training for aspiring guides includes:

• Understanding Loreto’s unique biodiversity hotspots

• Learning cultural and natural heritage

• Practicing sustainable tourism principles

• Building communication and interpretation skills

• Developing economic awareness of regenerative tourism

• Mastering safety procedures and field ethics

This holistic approach helps shape the conservation-minded decision-makers of tomorrow while engaging them in research, stewardship, and education today.

Baja Adventures marine expeditions in Loreto Bay National Park focused on cetacean distribution and citizen science data collection.

Empowering Loreto’s youth through capacity development is essential for building a resilient community, especially in the face of economic and climate challenges. Through Baja Adventures NextGen, we help young people become leaders who protect their natural and cultural heritage while building sustainable, dignified livelihoods.

‘Eyes of the Sierra" project by Baja Adventures, a camera trap monitoring program conducted in the Sierra de la Giganta

Our model embraces the belief that a core part of this place’s essence lies in Loreto’s people , both the wise elders who hold deep knowledge and the youngest generations who carry the future. This intergenerational connection enriches the culture and strengthens the commitment to stewardship and regeneration.

We thank everyone joining our expeditions and supporting our projects—you are helping us make this happen. You’re part of a larger team working toward a common purpose. Your participation is really making a positive difference.

Together, we are building a community dedicated to conservation, education, and immersive nature experiences.