Espíritu Santo Island Snorkeling: Sea Lions & Balandra Beach

Six and a half hours: sea lions, coral reefs, lunch on the island, and Balandra's turquoise shallows.

This snorkeling tour from La Paz visits Espíritu Santo Island in the Gulf of California, where you snorkel with sea lions and coral reefs, swim at Paradise beaches with lunch included, then finish at Balandra Beach: Mexico's most famous beach. The boat carries an onboard restroom and a certified bilingual guide. Hotel pickup and all snorkeling gear, including wetsuit, are included. Sea lion snorkeling runs September through May only.

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkel and beach day at Espíritu Santo

• Snorkel with sea lions
• Snorkel at coral reef
• Swim and sunbathe on island beaches
• Have lunch with drinks
• Visit Balandra beach for photos and swim

The experience

The boat leaves your La Paz hotel in the morning and heads out to Espíritu Santo Island, where the day splits into three snorkeling stops. The first is a sea lion encounter. You enter the water where they hunt and play, a moment most snorkeling tours cannot offer because the animals are seasonal (June through August they are elsewhere). The second stop is a coral reef where the reef structure and fish life anchor the morning. Between the two, you swim and sunbathe at Paradise beaches on the island itself, and lunch arrives on board: fresh fish ceviche, ham and cheese sandwiches, water and soft drinks.

The afternoon runs to Balandra Beach, the landmark that closes the day. The water there is shallow and clear, the sand is white, and the beach is small enough that it fills early: being on a scheduled tour means you arrive while there is still room to move. You snorkel there too, or swim, or photograph the curve of the bay. The boat carries an onboard restroom, which matters on a 6.5-hour day, and a certified guide who speaks English and Spanish. All snorkeling equipment, including a wetsuit, comes with the tour. You do not rent or buy anything separately.

Hotel pickup and drop-off in La Paz are included, as are passenger insurance and the access permit to the protected natural area. The tour runs year-round, but sea lion snorkeling is only available September through May. If you are traveling June through August, you still snorkel the coral reef and visit the same beaches, but without the sea lions. Lunch comes in two versions: the standard menu or a vegan option, your choice at checkout.

What’s included

• Certified bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• all snorkeling equipment and wetsuit.
• fresh fish ceviche, ham and cheese sandwiches, water and soft drinks for lunch.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in La Paz.
• passenger insurance.
• access permit to the protected natural area.
• onboard restroom.

Options for this experience

2 options

Espíritu Santo Island tourGuide in English or Spanish · 10:30Includes pickup

Vegan optionGuide in English or Spanish · 10:30Green PAZion Salad: green leaf, Mizunz, Tango, oak leaf, tomato, spinach, arugula, frisee, red leaf, radicchio, baby butter, kale and vinaigrette; includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:30

Book up to1h before

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 39 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by La Paz City Map

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to snorkel with sea lions and coral reefs in one morning. The seasonal window (September through May) is when the sea lions are in the Gulf, and the boat's onboard restroom and included lunch mean you can stay on the water without breaking the day into logistics. If you travel June through August, the same beaches and reef snorkeling are there, but without the sea lions.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

When can I snorkel with sea lions on this tour?

Sea lion snorkeling runs from September through May. If you travel June through August, the tour still includes coral reef snorkeling and the same beach stops, but the sea lions are not present during those months.

What snorkeling equipment do I need to bring?

You bring nothing. The tour includes all snorkeling gear and a wetsuit. The boat provides everything you need to enter the water.

Is lunch included, and can I choose what I eat?

Lunch is included on the island: fresh fish ceviche, ham and cheese sandwiches, water and soft drinks. A vegan option is available if you select it when you book.

Does the boat have a restroom?

Yes. This is the only boat on this route with an onboard restroom, which is useful on a full-day snorkeling tour.

What is Balandra Beach like?

Balandra is Mexico's most famous beach: a small cove with shallow, clear turquoise water and white sand. The tour finishes there, giving you time to snorkel, swim or photograph before returning to La Paz.

Does the price include hotel pickup?

Yes. Round-trip transportation from and to your hotel in La Paz is included, along with all fees, taxes and passenger insurance.