Baja Wild Encounters Snorkeling Tours

Baja Wild Encounters Snorkeling Tours - La Ventana

Join a snorkeling adventure to explore the rich marine life of the Sea of Cortez in La Ventana. Experience the calmest waters during morning excursions, as you head towards Isla Cerralvo in search of the diverse wildlife of the area. You my spot jumping rays, breaching whales, sea turtles, orcas, dolphins and more in some of the world's most biodiverse waters. You will stop at various snorkeling spots to get a chance to swim with the breathtaking marine life of the area before returning to shore in the early afternoon.

Book your adventure today to uncover the best-kept secret in Baja, away from the crowds of Cabo, La Paz, and Todos Santos.

Check out our insider's review of the La Ventana Sea of Cortez Snorkeling Tour - including photos and video!

Snorkeling Trip Itinerary

Start time: 7 AM

6 hour Boat trip - Each trip customizable to each group, example itinerary:

• Set off in search of various pelagic marine life
• Visit snorkel spots to swim with the marine life
• Snacks and lunch on board
• More snorkeling with the marine life we encounter
• Return to land

📍Location of Adventure

We meet at the boat launch in front of Playa Central. Here is the Google Pin to the meeting location.

Snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez

The Sea of Cortez wasn’t called the World’s Aquarium by Jacques Cousteau for nothing! Isla Cerralvo is Baja’s most southern island in the California Gulf, making it a meeting point of Megafauna and pelagic fish. Every day is a surprise and you can see different marine life throughout each season of the year.      

Tours are available year-round. Below are the main seasons, but the shoulder seasons are the months on either side that can still see the species.

Whales: January - April (but still appear randomly throughout all of the year)

Mobula Rays: Main Season April - June & Sub Season November - January

Giant Oceanic Manta Rays: June - October

Dolphins, Sea Lions & if lucky Orcas: All Year Round

Why Choose Baja Wild Encounters

Baja Wild Encounters focuses on ethical and regenerative travel experiences. They hire a network of local captains who are experts at spotting wildlife. In Baja, Mexico, where shark fishing has been legal and regulated since the 1970’s, coupled with a long history illegal fishing and poaching, the regional shark population has plummeted 70 percent due to overfishing. The local shark fisherman - Tiburoneros - face harsh conditions miles from the coast, on a small boat, where everything can go wrong, but for many of these fisherman there are no alternatives. They continue to fish in a risky industry and for low wages as it’s their only known source of income.

Baja Wild Encounters provides alternative economic benefits by hiring the local fisherman, their boats, and their knowledge of the waters at a guaranteed fair and above-market salary. They are proud to support the local communities and families while helping to conserve the nature around them.

They also focus on wildlife education throughout the tour, giving you the opportunity to learn about the wildlife and how to respect the wildlife you observe.

Pictures and videos (including drone and underwater GoPro videos!) are included in the tour, and will be sent following the tour. They also provide food and water during the tour.

What’s Included in the La Ventana Snorkeling Tour

• Captain & Guide
• Snorkel Gear (Wetsuits not included but can be ordered ahead of time)
• Light food
• Water (please bring a reusable water bottle)
• The boat tour will be in a Panga boat - image shows our Panga - Max 7 explorers in a small panga and Max 10 in a big Panga)
• Light food:
  • Ceviche. Vegetarian options are available.
  • Dietary restrictions? Just let us know.

What's Not Included

• Wetsuits - can be rented at Playa Central, or Baja Joes
• Flights/transfers to La Ventana. Please contact us if you need assistance.
• Tips/gratuity (10%-15% of the trip price is customary but is at your discretion)
• Transaction fees (2.9-5%)

What to Bring

Wetsuit from October to May we recommend a wetsuit. From December to Feb, a 5mm suit is recommended.

Warm clothing (not necessary in summer) - it can get cold in the early morning outside of the Summer months and with the wind.

Rain jacket/windbreaker (not necessary in summer) - the wind chill can be cold, and the water can splash into the boat

Sunscreen/protection - it can also get really sunny and warm during the day - please bring biodegradable, as normal sun protection is damaging for the reefs.

Sea sickness pills - if you are prone to nausea - it can get quite wavy on the boat.

A good attitude, this is nature, there are no guarantees with what we can see, we will use our experience and expertise to put you in the best places possible for sightings but there is always a chance that you won’t see anything.

FAQs

What is the minimum age requirement for participants on the La Ventana snorkeling tour?

We don't have any age requirements but if you have questions, please feel free to contact us before!

Do I need previous experience to do the La Ventana Snorkeling Tour?

No previous snorkeling experience is needed. However, being able to swim is a requirement.

What kind of boat is used for the La Ventana Snorkeling Tour?

Baja Wild supports local captains and use their fishing “Panga” boats. They are sturdy boats with shade from the sun and dry storage to keep your belongings safe. There’s space for up to 10 people, although generally, they keep it to 6-8 people per trip unless more are requested.

What is the maximum group size for the La Ventana snorkeling trip?

The maximum size for the group is 8 per boat, but we do have more boats available to accommodate larger groups.

Are the La Ventana snorkeling tours private or open groups?

The tours are open and anyone can join the tour. Private groups are available to book and we can accommodate private snorkeling tours upon request.

Can you swim with marine life on the Sea of Cortez La Ventana snorkeling tour?

PLEASE NOTE: The marine life is the number 1 priority, if at ANY point they feel that the animals do not want to interact, then they will be left alone. Baja Wild is a conscious company and is very focused on not disrupting the animals. They want to make your experience as fun as possible and give you the best interactions with animals, but never at the harm of any wildlife.

Whales (Humpback, Grey, Blue, Fin, Sperm)

It is prohibited to swim with Whales in Mexico, however, if you are on a dive, or swimming with other marine life that we are allowed to swim with (e.g. Bait Balls and Marlin) and a Whale comes along then it is accepted.

Orcas & Dolphins, Sea Lions, Mantas, Mobula Rays, Marlin, Turtles, Sharks & all Fish

Yes, absolutely! And often they will interact with us humans! They follow best practices to respect the marine life and not disrupt them with the boat and entering the water. This gives a better interaction with the animals and also protects them.

Do the boats harm the whales?

Baja Wild Encounters does their very best not to harm any animals. They don’t harass the marine life, and use techniques to make the marine life feel comfortable enough to approach. If at any point the animals do not want to interact with us then they will leave them alone and look for others to interact with. Is it possible to see other marine life (whales, dolphins, etc)?

Yes! The beauty of Baja is that it brings many surprises! Baja has 5 of the 10 largest whales in the world, it is home to many species of dolphins, orcas, sharks and many different birds.

What is the cancellation policy?

• More than 48 hours of the tour start time, we will return 50% of your payment.
• Within 48 hours of the tour start time, your payment is non-refundable.

What happens in case of bad weather or unfavorable weather conditions?

If Mother Nature calls and if there is too much wind or rain or if the conditions are not safe to go out for any reason, we will cancel the tour and refund your funds.

Can I bring my camera or other personal belongings on the trip?

Absolutely! Bring your camera, drone or go pro to capture the footage!

Is there a possibility of encountering challenging or dangerous wildlife?

Sadly, the sharks are being overfished and you rarely see any and there is typically nothing to worry about. The jellyfish here aren't bad at all and we typically don't have any issues.

Is transportation provided to the meeting location, or do I need to arrange my own?

We don't offer transportation, you'll meet us at our meeting location from where we start the tour

La Ventana Snorkeling Video