La Paz: Espíritu Santo Island & Whale Shark Day Trip

Swim with whale sharks and snorkel with sea lion pups near Espíritu Santo. Cruise past Balandra Bay and enjoy a beachside ceviche lunch in a secluded cove.
Set out from La Paz marina for a full-day of marine adventure in the Bay of La Paz and around Espíritu Santo Island. Combine three of the region’s standout wildlife experiences in one day, from swimming with whale sharks to snorkeling with playful California sea lions and relaxing on a quiet island beach. Along the way, take in dramatic volcanic scenery, spot local marine life, and enjoy a fresh ceviche picnic by the sea.

After leaving the marina, cruise across the bay toward Espíritu Santo Island, watching for dolphins and other marine life as you go. Pass well-known coastal landmarks including Balandra Bay, Mushroom Rock, and Isla Gaviota, where blue-footed boobies may be seen nesting. During the scenic crossing to Los Islotes, learn about the island’s landscapes and its history as the "Island of Pearls."

At Los Islotes, snorkel near a wild colony with a size of over 400 Californian sea lions and look out for playful pups darting through the water. Explore nearby reefs filled with tropical fish before heading to a secluded cove on Espíritu Santo Island. Here, pause for a beachside picnic with fresh local fish ceviche, tostadas, burritos, fruit, snacks, and cold drinks. You can relax on the sand, enjoy the setup on the beach, or continue exploring the reef.

Later, continue to the protected whale shark sanctuary for the final part of the day. Enter the water in small groups of two with your guide for a closer encounter with the world’s largest fish. The tour finishes back in La Paz after a full day of wildlife, snorkeling, island scenery, and time on the water.

Depending on local permit schedules for the Whale Shark Sanctuary, our itinerary may begin with the whale shark experience before heading out to Isla Espíritu Santo and the sea lion colony (or vice versa).

Federal Regulations & Slot Notice

Please Note Regarding Local Regulations & Scheduling:
Whale shark encounters take place inside a strictly regulated natural protected area managed under local federal permits. The area opens only when a minimum threshold of 10 whale sharks are present, and entry is capped at 14 authorized boats per window. Operations run across four strict daily time slots (8:00 AM–11:00 AM, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM, and 3:00 PM–5:00 PM), and no entry is allowed outside these hours.

Because official slots are allocated through a daily municipal permitting system—morning slots are granted late the afternoon prior, and same-day afternoon slots are released at 8:00 AM—we cannot guarantee a specific departure time in advance. Exact departure times are subject to local bureaucratic assignment. We ask all guests to maintain flexibility on tour day, and our team will confirm your exact departure time as soon as park authorities assign our slot (either the afternoon before or the morning of your tour).

Om de beschikbaarheid te garanderen, dient u zo snel mogelijk te reserveren. Vroegboekkorting is het overwegen waard, vooral als u de reis plant tijdens het hoogseizoen, zoals op feestdagen of in het weekend.

Deze excursie kunt u kosteloos annuleren tot: annuleringstijd voor aanvang van de reis. Bij annulering na: annulering na: annuleringstijd of niet aanwezig zijn op de excursie wordt de volledige prijs van de activiteit alsnog in rekening gebracht. Te laat komen bij het ophalen of vertrekken wordt beschouwd als niet komen opdagen.