Sea of Cortez
A trifecta of up-close encounters of the marine kind!
We start off this feast of a day by visiting the whale sharks in the Bay of La Paz*. Each year the whale sharks congregate here from roughly late October through late April, and we have the opportunity to observe and even snorkel with them. DYK: whales are mammals, sharks are fish, and the whale shark gets its moniker from being the largest fish on the planet. At up to 59 feet and 15 tons it is definitely a whale of a shark!
From the Bay of La Paz we head north a few miles to Isla Gaviota, a Blue-footed Booby rookery, to check out our azure-footed friends. Many people think you have to go all the way to the Galapagos to find the boobies, but there are several colonies right here in the Sea of Cortez.
Just a little north of Isla Gaviota is the sea lion colony of San Rafaelito, where we’ll have the indescribable joy of snorkeling and playing with the fun-loving young sea lions. When we simply can’t keep up with them anymore, we’ll head straight to the calming beauty of Balandra Bay, dazzling with its white beaches and crystal-clear waters.
Once at Balandra Bay, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch on one of the beautiful beaches and take our time to snorkel or walk if we’re so inclined. The van will pick us up at Balandra for the transfer back to Todos Santos. A remarkable day.
Duration
- Full Day
Price in USD
- 4-6 guests: $265/person
(*A 16% IVA tax will be added to final price)
Includes
- Bilingual naturalist guide/professionally licensed driver who is a certified Wilderness First Responder, NOM-9 graduate and Leave No Trace certified
- Roundtrip transportation from Todos Santos in a private vehicle. (90 minutes each way)
- Private boat and captain in the Sea of Cortez, including the Bay of La Paz and Balandra Bay
- Swimming with whale sharks and sea lions, visiting Blue-footed Booby rookery
- All gear, including snorkel and wetsuits
- Delicious picnic lunch
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Going Green
- This trip is carbon neutral
- No single-use plastics are used
- All organic waste is composted and all eligible materials are recycled
Tomorrow's Air
Carbon removal from our atmosphere is essential in addressing the world's climate crisis. We are a proud carbon capture education partner with Tomorrow's Air and have supported the removal of one ton of carbon dioxide from the air. Learn more!
What to Bring
- Swimsuit, towel + beach shoes
- Reef-friendly sunblock
- Hat & Sunglasses
- Dry clothes for return drive
*Swimming with whale sharks in the Bay of La Paz is a tightly regulated program designed to both protect the sharks and to enhance the human experience of enjoying these magnificent beings in their home environment.
