Nakawe Project
Nakawe Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs citizen science and regenerative tourism expeditions in Baja California Sur, Mexico, partnering with sister company Baja Adventures to combine marine and terrestrial wildlife monitoring with conservation advocacy for Loreto Bay National Park.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersLoreto, Mexico
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Nakawe Project does
Nakawe Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization founded in 2014 and headquartered operationally in Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, with a registered US presence in Evergreen, Colorado (EIN 92-3384367). The organization advances conservation of the Baja California Peninsula through citizen science expeditions, wildlife monitoring, community-based surveillance, and regenerative tourism, operating with a small team of approximately 9 employees. Its core product is a portfolio of regenerative tourism expeditions (marine, terrestrial, and cultural heritage) operated aboard the dedicated vessel "La Puma" in partnership with sister company Baja Adventures, including day trips, multi-day cetacean-focused expeditions, blue whale expeditions, and combined land-and-sea programs. Underlying capabilities include camera trap biodiversity monitoring in Sierra La Giganta, cetacean photo-identification catalogs, hydrophone-based marine acoustic monitoring, GPS-based wildlife tracking, and VR documentary production.
The organization's business model blends earned revenue from paid regenerative tourism and volunteer programs with philanthropic donations. Baja Adventures handles expedition bookings and operations while Nakawe Project retains scientific oversight and conservation mission alignment; the organization reinvests 10% of expedition costs and receives 22.5% of volunteer program fees directly for conservation work. Customer segments span conservation-minded tourists, skilled volunteers (photographers, writers, designers), local Loreto communities (boat captains, ranchers), and institutional partners including CICESE, CONANP, CONACYT, INAH, Walter Munk Foundation, Wildlife Protection Solutions, FINS Initiative, Team Sharkwater, and equipment donors such as Endangered Species Chocolate, Jackery, and Vuarnet.
Nakawe Project derives strategic credibility from policy influence (notably contributing to Mexico's June 2025 ban on captive marine mammal entertainment), scientific partnerships informing Loreto Bay National Park management plans, and high-visibility advocacy including representation at COP29 in Baku. Distribution is hybrid: direct consumer sales via the Baja Adventures booking platform and on-site expedition operations, complemented by institutional research collaborations and a digital footprint (website, blog, Instagram, Facebook, documentary films). The organization's gtm combines event-driven experiential tourism with community-led engagement, leveraging expeditions as brand-building and advocacy engines rather than as profit-maximizing commercial channels.
Nakawe Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nakawe Project
- Legal name
- Nakawe Project
- Website
- https://nakaweproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Nakawe Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs citizen science and regenerative tourism expeditions in Baja California Sur, Mexico, partnering with sister company Baja Adventures to combine marine and terrestrial wildlife monitoring with conservation advocacy for Loreto Bay National Park.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nakawe Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Conservation Tourism Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (56152), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Wildlife Sanctuaries & Protected Seascape Visitor Operations (Reef/Marine Parks) (THAAAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Citizen Science & Conservation Volunteer Tourism Programs (On-Site) (THAAAFAH), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)
Keywords
Where Nakawe Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Loreto
- HQ country
- Mexico
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Nakawe Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Regenerative Tourism Expeditions: Revenue from marine, terrestrial, and cultural heritage expeditions operated in partnership with Baja Adventures. A key part of the model is reinvesting 10% of each expedition cost into conservation efforts. Expeditions include one-day marine expeditions, blue whale expeditions, biocultural expeditions, multi-day whalewatching programs, and land-and-sea combinations.
- Paid Conservation Volunteer Programs: Paid volunteer programs lasting 1-6 weeks in Loreto, focused on cetacean observation trips and contributing to distribution studies. 22.5% of participant fees directly supports Nakawe Project 501(c)(3) conservation work.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting community workshops, monitoring programs, and environmental analysis studies. EIN Number: 92-3384367.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Paid Conservation Volunteer Program (1-6 weeks) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Nakawe Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nakawe Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs regenerative tourism expeditions across the Baja California Peninsula covering marine, terrestrial, and cultural-heritage themes, complemented by a conservation volunteer program that places participants in fieldwork, and co-production support for documentary films. Expedition fees, donations, and grants fund on-the-ground conservation of regional ecosystems. A sister company, Baja Adventures, handles tour logistics.
Product overview
Nakawe Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization offering regenerative tourism expeditions centered on citizen science and conservation in the Baja California Peninsula. The core offering consists of marine expeditions aboard their dedicated vessel La Puma and terrestrial expeditions in Sierra La Giganta, operated in partnership with sister company Baja Adventures. Expedition types include one-day marine expeditions, Blue Whale Expeditions (seasonal), multi-day Whales and Oases Expeditions, Whales of Loreto Expeditions, Land and Sea Expeditions, Islands of Loreto Expeditions, and Biocultural Expeditions. The organization reinvests 10% of expedition costs directly into conservation efforts. Additional offerings include a Conservation Volunteer Program, Documentary Film production partnerships, and Donation capabilities. The portfolio is unified by a regenerative tourism model that combines adventure with scientific data collection to protect marine biodiversity and support local communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Regenerative Tourism Expeditions Multi-day paid expeditions across marine, terrestrial, and cultural-heritage themes on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, with revenue reinvested into nonprofit conservation work. Targeted at individual eco-conscious travelers.
- Conservation Volunteer Program Hands-on volunteer placements that place participants in marine and terrestrial conservation fieldwork tied to the expedition program. Targeted at individuals seeking structured, ethical volunteer experiences in Baja California.
- Documentary Film Production Partnerships Co-production and field-partner support for documentary filmmakers producing conservation content about the Baja California Peninsula, with resulting films distributed on platforms such as Amazon Prime.
Quantifiable outcome
- 45 regenerative tourism expeditions conducted in single winter season with 161 participants covering 80-100 miles per expedition and 360+ hours in open ocean
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Nakawe Project
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Nakawe Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Nakawe Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Wildlife Protection SolutionscoreVR educational project collaboration for wildlife protection documentaries. Joint expedition in February 2022 to Baja California Sur and Magdalena Bay created VR documentary showcasing untamed landscapes and diverse wildlife for conservation awareness.
- Baja AdventurescoreSister regenerative tourism platform operating all expedition logistics, bookings, and on-water activities. Shares expedition costs and participant data; jointly collects cetacean distribution data for conservation. Nakawe Project provides scientific oversight and conservation mission alignment while Baja Adventures handles tourism operations.
- CICESE (Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN)coreMarine research institution providing scientific expertise and analysis for cetacean distribution studies. Researcher Mario A. Pardo from CICESE/CONAHCYT conducted December 2024 scientific expeditions in Loreto Bay National Park to enhance understanding of cetacean distribution and behavior.
- CONANP (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas)coreGovernment agency overseeing Loreto Bay National Park. Nakawe Project collaborates on training expeditions, invites officials for capacity building, and submits sighting reports via satellite phone for conservation follow-up.
- CONACYT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología)coreNational science and technology council funding research collaborations. Researcher Mario A. Pardo affiliated with CONAHCYT collaborates on marine mammal distribution studies.
- Walter Munk Foundation for the OceansmajorOcean conservation foundation co-founded by Mary Coakley Munk and Walter Munk. Partnership focuses on ocean education, field trips, and awareness campaigns about migratory marine species including mobula munkiana. Planned participation in Walter Munk Day in La Jolla.
- FINS Initiative (Fighting for International Nautical Species)majorMarine conservation initiative that invited Nakawe Project to attend COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Jointly screened shark documentaries including FIN, Sharkwater Extinction, and Revolution at the FINS initiative pavilion.
- Team SharkwatermajorRob Stewart's conservation legacy organization. Nakawe Project represents Team Sharkwater at COP29 and screenings, continuing Stewart's mission to protect sharks and ocean ecosystems.
- INAH (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia)minorNational anthropology and history institute collaborating on cultural heritage expeditions and public talks about cetacean distribution and behavior for improved management of protected natural areas.
- Kilometro UnominorLocal initiative in Loreto collaborating on marine conservation, education, and field experiences in Baja California Sur.
Scale indicators6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Nakawe Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Earthwatch Institute: Global nonprofit that engages paying volunteers in scientific field research across marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Closely comparable citizen science expedition model, including paid participant fees supporting research.
- Oceanic Society: California-based nonprofit running whale watching and conservation travel programs, including state-certified naturalist-led expeditions. Directly comparable citizen science + experiential conservation model serving similar nature-minded traveler segments.
- Natural Habitat Adventures: Conservation-focused nature travel operator offering small-group wildlife expeditions worldwide. Comparable in offering small-scale, mission-aligned wildlife expeditions with scientific interpretation components.
- Baja Adventures: Sister regenerative tourism company that operates all marine, terrestrial, and cultural expeditions for Nakawe Project from Loreto Bay National Park. Closely comparable in product offering and customer base, with shared mission and operational integration.
Broad incumbents
- WILDCOAST: Larger nonprofit focused on coastal and marine ecosystem conservation along the Pacific coast of Mexico and California. Comparable mission area (coastal/marine conservation in Mexico) and advocacy/community engagement model, though with broader geographic scope.
- WWF Mexico: Mexico office of a major global conservation NGO working on marine protected areas and species conservation. Comparable marine conservation mission in Mexico and similar institutional/government donor relationships.
- Lindblad Expeditions: Larger expedition cruise operator with a National Geographic partnership, running wildlife-focused voyages including cetacean-heavy itineraries. Comparable in combining education, citizen science, and small-vessel expedition tourism, though at much greater scale.
Emerging players
- SEE Turtles: Nonprofit running sea turtle conservation volunteer tourism programs in Latin America. Comparable model of paid volunteer programs generating conservation data and funding, with similar participant segment of conservation-minded travelers.
Others
- Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (CEMDA): Mexican environmental law and policy organization that engages in marine and coastal conservation advocacy. Comparable through overlapping policy advocacy work in Mexico, including marine protected area governance and species protection.
Regional players
- Todos Santos Eco Adventures: Baja California Sur-based eco-tourism operator offering wildlife, whale watching, and nature-based experiences. Same geography and overlapping customer base (Baja-bound conservation tourists), with comparable marine and terrestrial expedition products.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Nakawe Project social profiles
Digital presenceNakawe Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nakawe Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Nakawe Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nakawe Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nakawe Project
What does Nakawe Project do?
Nakawe Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs regenerative tourism expeditions across the Baja California Peninsula covering marine, terrestrial, and cultural-heritage themes, complemented by a conservation volunteer program that places participants in fieldwork, and co-production support for documentary films. Expedition fees, donations, and grants fund on-the-ground conservation of regional ecosystems. A sister company, Baja Adventures, handles tour logistics.
Is Nakawe Project a public or private company?
Nakawe Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Nakawe Project founded?
Nakawe Project was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Nakawe Project based?
Nakawe Project is headquartered in Loreto, Mexico, in the Latin America region.
How does Nakawe Project make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Regenerative Tourism Expeditions are the primary driver. The others are paid Conservation Volunteer Programs and donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Nakawe Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Earthwatch Institute, Oceanic Society, Natural Habitat Adventures and Baja Adventures. Broad incumbents are WILDCOAST, WWF Mexico and Lindblad Expeditions. SEE Turtles is listed as an emerging player. Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (CEMDA) is listed as an others. Todos Santos Eco Adventures is listed as a regional player.
Does Nakawe Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nakawe Project.
What industry is Nakawe Project in?
Nakawe Project's product category is Conservation Tourism Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAFAJ, Marine Wildlife Sanctuaries & Protected Seascape Visitor Operations (Reef/Marine Parks), with a secondary code of THAAAFAH, Citizen Science & Conservation Volunteer Tourism Programs (On-Site). Its NAICS code is 56152 and its SIC code is 7900.