Espiritu Santo Island: Snorkel with Sea Lions & Beach Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.98 (814 reviews) 98% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/15

Duration6h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN · FR +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Swim with sea lions at Espiritu Santo then unwind on quiet beaches

You’ll swim near playful sea lions around Espiritu Santo Island, guided by marine biologists who know every cove. After snorkeling, share fresh ceviche on an empty beach where pelicans might join you for lunch. Expect laughter, salty skin, and moments of real connection — both with wildlife and people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkel and explore Espiritu Santo Island

Snorkel with sea lions at Los Islotes
Lunch on sandy beach with refreshments
Visit abandoned pearl farm and mangroves
See rock formations and bird colonies
Spot dolphins, whales, or manta rays

The Experience

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous when our boat slowed near Los Islotes — the rocks were alive with barking sea lions, and their smell hit me before anything else. Our guide, Ana, grinned like she’d seen this a thousand times but still loved it. “They’re curious,” she promised, handing me a mask. I hesitated at the edge, water colder than I expected for Baja. The first pup zipped past my flippers so fast I swallowed half the Sea of Cortez in surprise — not my most graceful moment.

Snorkeling with sea lions is wild in every sense. They dart around you, sometimes close enough that you catch their fishy breath or see those big eyes checking you out. Ana floated nearby, pointing out which ones were just showing off and which to give space (especially the big males). She told us June through August is their rookery season — so if you come then, you just watch from the boat and snorkel reefs instead. Still worth it for the color alone: turquoise water, orange cliffs, flashes of silver fish everywhere.

Afterwards we landed on a beach that felt almost private — no crowds, just our small group and a few pelicans eyeing our lunch. Ceviche tasted better than any restaurant meal I’ve had (maybe because I was starving), plus chips and cold soda under a blue tarp for shade. One of the crew showed us tiny shells in the sand and told stories about old pearl divers here; I tried repeating one name in Spanish and got it totally wrong — everyone laughed, including me. There’s something about eating with salty skin and sand between your toes that makes you feel like you belong there for a minute.

We saw dolphins on the ride back — quick flashes, nothing staged or guaranteed. The sun left everything gold for a while before we reached La Paz again. I still think about how quiet it felt out there compared to town. If you want to snorkel with sea lions around Espiritu Santo Island and don’t mind getting a little salt in your mouth (and maybe your hair), this day trip is probably for you.

What’s included

Your day includes all entry fees and taxes for Espiritu Santo Island access plus use of snorkeling equipment throughout the tour.
Water is served in cups to avoid single-use plastics.
Lunch features fresh ceviche (vegan option available if needed), chips and cold drinks right on a sandy beach before heading back to La Paz in the afternoon.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mexico Travel Adventure