Expedition Highlights

• Encounters with huge pods of wild dolphins, often counting thousands of individuals

• Snorkeling / freediving in a large colony of sea lions, meeting their curious pups 

• Snorkeling / freediving during the second-biggest sardine run in the world:

  • Encounters with big animals feeding on large bait balls of sardines in crystal clear blue water - Striped marlins, sea lions and whales

• Encounters with different species of whales: Humpback whales, Bryde’s whales and Fin whales

• Watching humpback whale mothers with their new-born calves

• Watching mating rituals of humpback whales males - impressive breaches, fin and tail slapping

• Encounters with mahi-mahi, wahoo, tunas, and sailfish

• Listening to whale songs

• Observing variety of bird species

• Trip to sand dunes with many sand dollars

• Information about the ocean and animal behaviour from professional expedition guides

• Driving through a desert full of huge cacti

ITINERARY:

Day 1:
Meeting, briefing, and accommodation

La Paz: Arrival, Briefing & Accommodation

Upon arrival, you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to your accommodation in the La Ventana area on the coast of the Gulf of California. In the afternoon or evening, we will hold an introductory meeting and briefing, during which we will review the expedition program, safety guidelines, and best practices for interacting with marine wildlife. The expedition will officially begin the following

morning.​​

Accommodation: Private villa (double rooms with en-suite bathrooms)

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Days 2–3 – La Ventana: Ocean Safari

Sardine Run - Striped marlins, sea lions and whales

Over these two days, we will embark on an ocean safari in the La Ventana area. Each day, we board our private boat and head into the open sea to areas with a high concentration of marine life. The program is adapted daily to the conditions at sea to maximize your experience while maintaining respect for the animals and their natural habitat. The Gulf of California is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity.

Depending on the season and conditions, we may encounter dolphins, whales, rays, orcas, and other open-ocean inhabitants.

Accommodation: Private villa (double rooms with en-suite bathrooms)

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Day 4 – Balandra & Transfer to Magdalena Bay

In the morning, we will set out on our journey to Magdalena Bay. Along the way, you will marvel at the stunning colors of the Mexican desert, dotted with towering cacti. We will stop at one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico – Balandra Bay. Its shallow, turquoise, crystal-clear waters, framed by dusty pink mountains, offer breathtaking views of the Baja California coastline. At the bay, you can relax, take walks, swim, and soak in the peaceful, unique atmosphere of this extraordinary place. Afterwards, we will

continue to Magdalena Bay, which provides direct access to the open Pacific Ocean. In the evening, we will hold a briefing about the “sardine run” – a spectacular natural phenomenon during which massive schools of migrating sardines attract marlins, sea lions, whales, and other large marine creatures. The Mexican sardine run is the second-largest in the world.

Accommodation: Hotel  (double rooms with en-suite bathrooms)

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Days 5–7 – Sardine Run: Magdalena Bay

These three days will be spent on a private boat, fully immersed in the mesmerizing natural spectacle known as the sardine run. By observing the activity of seabirds, we will locate massive schools of sardines, which form vibrant, pulsating shoals to protect themselves from predators. This extraordinary phenomenon attracts a multitude of marine animals and creates unique conditions for snorkeling right in the heart of the action. Marlin, growing up to 4.2 meters in length and weighing around 200 kg, drive the sardines toward the surface, striking from below. Dolphins, sea lions, sharks, mahi-mahi, sailfish, wahoo, and countless seabirds often join this underwater feast, creating a literal explosion of life both above

and below the waves. The winter season is also ideal for observing humpback whales, which migrate to this area to breed and give birth. You may witness tender moments between whale mothers and their newborn calves, as well as dramatic male rivalries during mating rituals. Each day, we will repeatedly seek out areas of highest activity and enter the water to become part of this unique natural performance. In the wild, nothing is guaranteed – and that is exactly what makes these experiences so authentic, thrilling, and unforgettable.

Accommodation: Hotel  (double rooms with en-suite bathrooms)

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Day 8 – End of Expedition

After breakfast, we will say our farewells and transfer you to the airport

or your next accommodation in the La Paz area.

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Do not book your flight back home for this day before 3:00 PM.

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GALLERY