Baja Mexico Big Creature Snorkeling Trip
Join This 8 Day Group Snorkeling Safari to See Whales, Dolphins, Rays, Sharks, Turtles, Sea Lions, and More
March 8-15, 2023
If you love snorkeling with big marine creatures, this trip is for you. Based out of two beautiful resorts in Cabo San Lucas and La Paz in Baja Mexico, you will have unparalleled opportunities to snorkel with big pelagic marine animals, like whale sharks, groups of mobula rays, sharks, and also large schools of fish. You will also have the chance of seeing blue and gray whales, sea lions, turtles, and dolphins.
And after each day of exploring and snorkeling by boat, you can kick back and relax in your beautiful resort, with great food and company.
Watch this short video to see just some of what you might expect from this trip. This was filmed on a similar trip in 2019.
This trip is being run by our partner and friend Ben and his team. Based
in the U.K., they are experts at running amazing snorkel excursions, and have a
great
appreciation for the underwater world. A guide from Ben's team will be
with your 12 person group for the duration of your trip.
Where Are the Resorts and the Snorkeling?
Baja California Sur is a state in Mexico, in the southern section of the Baja California Peninsula. The Pacific Ocean is to the west, and the waters to the east are the Gulf of California, also called the Sea of Cortez.
Your trip starts after your arrival at San Jose Del Cabo Airport (SJD), which is just north of Cabo San Lucas on the southern tip of Baja. You will be met at the airport and transferred to Hacienda Encantada in Cabo San Lucas, where you will spend the next four nights. Your group will have your first dinner together on the evening of arrival, and you will get to know your snorkel guide. For the next three days you will go out on two boats, looking for opportunities to snorkel with different big creatures in the Sea of Cortez.
Next you will be transferred by road to Hotel Catedral in La Paz, where you will spend the next three nights. In La Paz you will have a one day boat tour to snorkel with whale sharks and sea lions. There will also be one day where you are shuttled to Magdalena Bay, where you will have very good chances of seeing many gray whale mothers and their newly born calves. This is a non-snorkeling boat tour.
After your last night in La Paz, you will be transferred back to San Jose Del Cabo Airport for your trip home.
What Creatures Will You See and Snorkel With?
For three days you will venture out on two well equipped boats to see
what wonderful creatures you can find and snorkel with in the Sea of
Cortez. At times you will focus on seeing sharks, and other times
you will find pods of dolphins, whales, and turtles. You will have lunch
on the boat, which is well supplied with snacks and drinks, and has a
flushing toilet.
On these days you may get to see gray and blue whales, orcas, blue and silkie sharks, and maybe even smooth hammerheads sharks. In previous trips snorkelers have had amazing experiences with huge groups of mobula rays, too.
Some experiences will be from the boat, but there will be many opportunities for getting in the water with creatures as well.
Later, it is a short boat ride from La Paz for great snorkeling opportunities with whale sharks that congregate in large numbers to feed on plankton.
Also close to La Paz your boat will visit a rocky island known for hosting a massive sea lion colony, and March is when their pups are excited to swim with snorkelers.
For your final adventure day you will be shuttled to Magdalena Bay on the Pacific side of Baja Mexico. This bay is generally very calm, and many gray whale mothers and their newly born calves fill the area this time of year. You will not be snorkeling, but will still have amazing sightings from a boat.
What Is Hacienda Encantada Like?
You will spend four nights at the Hacienda Encantada in Cabo San Lucas. Here you will have a glorious resort to relax at with beach access and numerous pools. You can dine in one of their multiple restaurants overlooking the stunning cliffs and the sea. And of course they have bars for evening libations at sunset. And with the unobstructed views of the sea, you might see breaching humpback whales from the resort.
The Garden View Suite rooms are comfortable and well appointed with air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, and free WiFi.
Breakfasts and lunches are included, and there are many excellent dinner restaurant options at the hotel.
What Is Hotel Catedral Like?
For the final three nights of the trip you will stay at Hotel Catedral, which is in the kicked back coastal town of La Paz, just blocks from the ocean. This is another upscale and comfortable hotel, with an excellent restaurant and rooftop bar with wonderful sunset views of the town and sea.
Your room is well appointed with air conditioning and a spacious bathroom.
The Hotel Catedral restaurant offers delicious breakfast and lunch which are included, and tasty dinner options. There are also other restaurants in La Paz you can explore.
Trip Details and How to Sign Up
This is a small group trip and we expect it to fill quickly. Your spot is reserved with your deposit. Contact Ben below for deposit instructions.
Trip Date:
March 8-15, 2023 - One double occupancy room available.
Price:
$5375 US per person (Twin/Double Share)
The initial deposit for this trip is $400 US per person. At 12 months before departure there is a $600 US per person interim deposit, and at six months there is another $1000 US per person interim deposit. The final balance will be due three months before departure. A few payment options are available including debit and credit cards.
Individual travelers - Ben will happily find someone of the same sex for you to share a room with. If he cannot find you someone, no single supplement surcharge will apply.
Inclusions:
- Transfers - round trip from/to San Jose Del Cabo Airport, and to La Paz, and Magdalena Bay
- 4 nights Los Cabos – Hacienda Encantada, Deluxe Room
- 3 x Day Safari in Cabo San Lucas
- 3 nights La Paz – Catedral, Standard Room
- 1 x Day Safari Whaleshark and Sea Lion La Paz
- 1 x Day Gray Whale Magdalena Bay
- Breakfast
- Lunch (excludes arrival and departure days)
- 16% Government taxes
Exclusions:
- Evening meals
- Lunch on arrival and departure days
- Snorkeling equipment rental
- Soft and alcoholic drinks
- Tips and general sundries
Trip Organizers
Ben and his U.K. based team are the
organizers and leaders of this trip (more about them below). Galen and
Nicole from TropicalSnorkeling.com are promoting this trip, but all
signups, trip organization and payments are made to and managed by Ben's
team. TropicalSnorkeling.com does receive a referral fee in exchange
for promoting the trip, at no extra cost to attendees.
How to Sign Up or Learn More?
Use the contact form below to contact Ben and his team to request more information about them and express your
interest in signing up. They will get back to you shortly with full
details.
More About Ben and Our Partnership
Ben (pictured with Nicole) is our friend and snorkeling trips partner. He and his team are based in the U.K. and have over 20 years of experience guiding in Asia and beyond. He has been running his own business since 2010 and is primarily offering guided snorkeling trips, but he started with diving. He began offering snorkeling specific trips because he was aware that snorkelers often get the short end of the stick when thrown in with divers. He and his team love the freedom and low stress of snorkeling, and are very aware of the different needs of snorkelers versus divers, in terms of the reef depth, and calm surface conditions needed.
From our
experience going on one of his snorkeling trips we found it very well
organized, the guides were fantastic and very helpful, and the underwater experiences were exceptional. Snorkeling
groups really get the benefit of all of Ben and his guides' years of
experience in the water, and with different resorts and liveaboards.
All
of his trips are small groups of 12-18 guests, or with a similar ratio
of snorkelers to guides. And for where they visit, and how packed they
are with experiences, they are affordable.
His company is licensed and insured. Barring extreme circumstances they do not cancel trips, and all funds are held in a trust until the trip is completed giving you 100% financial security if they or any of their suppliers go out of business before the trip happens.
Learn More About the Hotels
TripAdvisor Reviews of Bahia Hotel & Beach House
TripAdvisor Reviews of Hotel Catedral La Paz
Completed Trip Dates
2022
March 5-12
March 12-19
