Merritt's 40th

Island Campout Adventure

Isla Ceralvo · April 18-20, 2026

Hey you! You are an important person to me and I want you to join me for my 40th birthday campout. Here is the goal: to have the best day of my life and I want you to be there for that. Let me know if you can make it using the links below.

The sooner you let me know the better so that I can coordinate the boats and captains accordingly. I would rather have you sign up now and cancel later if you are unsure than wait until the last minute. If you need more information, this page is full of it so give it a read or just hit me up on Whatsapp: 1-406-270-2344.

The Plan

Three days on a remote island beach in the Sea of Cortez. Setup on the 18th, the birthday party on the 19th, and pack out on the 20th. Boats run from Playa Central in La Ventana. Bring your own food, water, gear, and good vibes. We'll have shade structures, solar power, Starlink, and a DJ setup on the island. Come prepared, have the time of your life, and leave the beach cleaner than you found it.

Schedule

April 18, Setup Day

8:00 AM
Setup Crew Boat

5+ volunteers needed. Shade structures go up first, then work in shifts with swim breaks. Merritt's on this boat.

5:00 PM
Evening Supply Crew

Rachael Lentz works the dock. Low-key campfire jams. Save your energy for tomorrow.

April 19, The Birthday

8:00 AM
Main Crew Arrives

Expect to land around 9 AM. Rach & Grom on dock duty.

Morning
Island Hike or Chill

Optional hike up the island (goat skulls & mischief), or set up your camp and settle in.

Afternoon
Beach Party

Snorkel, dive, paddleboard, DJs on the decks. The main event.

5:00 PM
Last Shuttle Wave

Final inbound boats for the night. After this, you're on the island until morning.

Night
Party Through to Sunrise

Music, stars, fire, the Sea of Cortez. This is what we came for.

April 20, Pack Out

~10:00 AM
Departure Boats

Everyone contributes to cleanup. Clean the beach, organize gear, load boats carefully. Dry bags encouraged.

Important
Be packed and ready when boats are scheduled.

Our captains have their own schedules and families. Do NOT make them wait. If the group is running behind, logistics crew must notify captains in advance. Need extra time? Tell the logistics crew EARLY so we can coordinate.

Boats & Booking

$500 MXN round-trip, cash, paid when you board.

When you register, you're requesting a departure and return time slot. Once we receive everyone's registration requests, we'll coordinate with captains to figure out the most efficient way to organize the number of boats needed for each time slot.

Every departure boat also goes back to Playa Central after unloading. You can leave on any returning boat if you need to, but check in with Merritt, Adam, or Rachael before you go so we know you're off the island safe and don't send a search party for you.

Note your gear size when you register so we can plan boat space. Own boats welcome. We plan to have an overnight support boat anchored nearby for emergencies.

Fishing

Interested in a fishing trip while we're out there? Let Merritt know! If there's enough interest, he can negotiate a dedicated fishing boat for a crew. Isla Cerralvo sits in world-class Sea of Cortez fishing grounds. Check the fishing interest box when you register, and mention what kind of fishing you're after in the notes.

The Route

Boats launch from Playa Central in La Ventana and cross the channel to the west-facing beach on Isla Cerralvo. Please carpool to the boat dock to reduce the number of parked cars in the launch area.

Playa Central Boat Dock, La Ventana (24.053094, -109.988589)
Party Beach, Isla Cerralvo (24.154722, -109.872219)

Food, Drinks & Supplies

Bar

We will have a communal bar area with coolers and ice. You are encouraged to bring whatever you want to drink along with some extra for the community beverage pool.

Food

We will have a communal kitchen area with a propane stove, cutting boards and cooking utensils, and cooler space. Meals will be potluck style, so bring some stuff to contribute and we can all share in the cooking/cleaning efforts.

Bring your own cup, plate/bowl, and eating utensils. Low waste, zero litter. Big Ciel water jugs will be provided but show up with at least 1 gallon of water of your own as well.

Pesos

Make sure to have at least 500 pesos on you in case we need to pool in cash for an extra supply run.

What to Bring

Essentials

  • Good tent + solid stakes (stake immediately, tents have blown into the sea)
  • Good shoes (sand gets HOT)
  • Sunscreen & layers
  • Medications & personal first aid kit (check & restock it)
  • Water & food for your stay

Camp Life

  • Sleeping bag / sleeping pad
  • Headlamp
  • Dry bags (for boat crossing & beach)
  • Reusable cup, plate, utensils
  • Water bottle
  • Snacks
  • Trash bag (pack it in, pack it out)

Fun Stuff

  • Snorkel gear
  • Paddleboard / kayak
  • Instruments
  • Camera
  • Fishing gear (if interested)
  • Good tunes on your phone

House Rules

Dig a hole, do your thing, burn the TP with a lighter (unless wind makes fire risky, we'll advise). Bury it. Shovels will be available but bring your own if you can.

Safety

We'll have first aid kits and Starlink for emergency comms on the island. We plan to have an overnight support boat anchored nearby for emergencies. Your emergency contact (someone NOT at the party) is required at registration.

That said, this does not mean we have a full medical operation out here on this remote island. Your best medical kit is to avoid putting yourself or others in a dangerous situation.

The sooner you register the easier it will be for Merritt and his team to organize this amazing event. Last-minute Larry's will have their fate decided by the playa gods.