Espíritu Santo Island Snorkeling: Sea Lions & Balandra Beach

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/10

Duration6h 30m

GroupUp to 18

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

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.

6h 30m

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.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for 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.