Sea of Cortez Combo: Whale Sharks, Sea Lions & Balandra Beach
Overview
Available languages
6 hours 50 minutes
Mobile ticket
This experience combines of the unique adventures that the Sea of Cortez has to offer! On this amazing tour, you will have the opportunity to swim and snorkel with whale sharks and sea lions at la Paz, Baja California.
Come and swim next to the whale shark, the world’s largest fish! Every October these magnificent creatures travel in large numbers to the beautiful Sea of Cortez, more specifically to the Bahia de La Paz, giving you the rare opportunity to experience one of the most exiting encounters between people and nature. Observe this amazing creatures up close and in its natural environment.
In addition to the whale shark experience, we will take you snorkeling with the friendly Sea Lions at San Rafaelito reef.
End this amazing day tour with a visit to one of Mexico’s best beaches: Balandra, where you will enjoy paddleboarding, fresh ceviche and your favorite drink at the beach!
This is an experience you will remember for the rest of your life!
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What‘s Included
Soda/Pop
(fish ceviche, ham and cheese sandwiches, diced fruit, granola bars, cookies, and chips)
Bottled water
Paddle boards
Photo and videos of your tour at no additional cost
Use of Snorkelling equipment
Certified Tour Guide
Permits and bracelets for access to the whale shark area
Alcoholic Beverages
Gratuities
What To Expect
There are few experiences in the world that match swimming alongside the largest fish in the ocean! The whale sharks are known as the "gentle giants of the sea!” Whale sharks can measure up to 40 feet (12 meters) in length. Every year, nearly 100 juvenile whale sharks migrate to the Bay of La Paz during winter months to seek food and shelter. Join us on our fun and educational tour from October to April! Our tour guides will brief you on everything you need to know about whale sharks in La Paz. After that, we will take a short boat ride to the areas where these magnificent animals are found and you will get a chance to go snorkeling with whale sharks and other awesome marine animals! After swimming with the world’s largest fish, we will take you to San Rafaelito reef where you will get to jump into the water once again and encounter some friendly sea lions. A short boat ride will then take you to one of the best beaches in Mexico: Balandra, where you will enjoy paddleboarding, fresh ceviche and your favorite drink while you dip your toes in this incredible turquoise-water sandy beach! Live this unbelievable experience with us and scratch it off your bucket list!
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Sea of Cortez Combo: Whale Sharks, Sea Lions & Balandra Beach
Reviews
7 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
This tour made my last day in Mexico my BEST day in Mexico!!
904katef,
May 9, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were on a road trip in the Baja and had booked a 3 hour whale shark tour with Viator VIP tours before we left. Katya, Tour Manager, contacted us to let us know there were not enough people for the tour on our chosen day, offering another day or an option to upgrade to this longer tour. Communication and rescheduling was easy and we are SO GLAD we made the decision to change because it was totally worth it!! Reservation Manager, Ana Marcela, kept in contact to assure us the changes had gone through and we were booked and knew where to meet. There were only 4 others on our boat, with the able Fernando at the wheel and our personable, knowledgeable guide, Angel, in charge of the day's activities. I highly recommend a small group tour because it determines the time you will be swimming with the whale sharks. Fernando and Angel were clearly skilled at spotting the whale sharks, and Angel kept the whole process moving to maximize our time allotted in the national park, as well as in the water. We had three separate swims with the whale sharks, all mind blowing. Then a swim near the sea lions, followed by excellent snorkeling around a small island. Once we put down anchor at the beach, other guides joined in to help, and tables, chairs, umbrellas and a gourmet lunch miraculously appeared! As we pulled into harbor I was reflecting on my 2+ weeks in Mexico, thinking the only thing we had not seen on various boat trips was dolphins (this IS nature; there are no guarantees!). Suddenly, there were dolphins playing around us. It was Friday afternoon, the dock was within sight, and Fernando was probably ready for the day to be over. Instead, he immediately cut the engine and turned to slowly follow and let us enjoy the dolphins. A bonus end to a stellar day!!!
Twelve out of Ten!!
Chad D,
Mar 28, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Took my wife and 3 boys out (ages 13, 10 & 3 - yes you read that right LOL) and we had the best day ever!! We went for Spring Break last week of March and out Captain and tour guide were so great, knowledgeable and helpful. We swam with whale sharks, saw mantarays, dolphins, bottle nose dolpins, humbpack whales, swam with sealions and viewed 100+ species of fish plus a moray eel. We had a civiche lunch on the beach and we honestly couldn't have asked for more. They set up a great picnic lunch at Balandra and we just loved it. A day like this is priceless for me and I can't speak highly enough. Our guide, Cammie, was so sweet and good with the kids - super knowledgeable about sea life and the ocean. A+ in my book1
Excellent Trip!
ramonah177,
Jan 9, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guides were outstanding. The trip was everything we hoped it would be. Thanks for such a great day!
Highlight of our time in La Paz!
Davy D,
Dec 31, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00We fully enjoyed our day! The crew was very professional and fun. Swimming with the whale sharks and seeing the sea lions delighted us enormously. I highly recommend On Board Baja which was the company booked on Viator.
This is the tour your looking for!
Anna L,
Dec 18, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00Once in a lifetime tour. A must see in La Paz. The guides are extremely knowledgeable and took great care of us during our tour. The lunch was fantastic and we had a blast. If only we could have stayed longer. Worth every penny!!
Great day!!
Liana E,
Mar 30, 2021
- Review from Viator
5.00We took the whale shark, sea lion and beach tour, and it was amazing. I took my teenage son and his friend for the day tour, and we all had a great time. Our Guide, Dorian, was so helpful and attentive. He even went out of his way at the end of the trip to help us locate a place to get the required Covid test to return to the US. We did swim with the whale sharks 3 times, we could have gone out again, but I was getting cold.
The best thing I've ever done!
Solarceo,
Mar 25, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent Service. The tour is wonderful, everything went perfect and just as we expected. We recommend it my friends and I with our eyes closed.
From US$289.00
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