La Paz Snorkeling Tours: Our Top 4

1.Adventure to Espiritu Santo Island: Snorkel with Sea Lions and Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 661 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $136Our pick

Set out from La Paz in a small group of up to eight with a marine biologist guide and captain. Snorkel near sea lions, visit Espiritu Santo and Isla Partida, eat fresh ceviche or a vegan meal on a quiet beach, and watch for dolphins, whales, rays, and seabirds.

“Mateo & Christian were extremely prepared and professional for the entire day as well as catering to english and spanish speaking groups. As it was Christmas Eve vibes here high and the sea answered with unexpected detours to explore a massive dolphin colony and even found some whale sharks! Swimming with the sea lions was fantastic well guided and safe. 11/10 guys thank you for a lifelong memorable day. Small group and don’t forget to tip your captain!”

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2.Whale Shark snorkeling tour in a reduced group with local marine biologist

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 594 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $190

Join MeXplore in La Paz for about three hours with a local marine biologist and captain. Groups of up to eight use provided wetsuits, masks, fins, and snorkels, then take several surface swims with wild whale sharks. GoPro photos and video arrive by email within two to three days.

“This whale shark excursion was hands-down amazing, and a huge part of that is thanks to Angel (our marine biologist) and Marco (our boat captain) Angel explained everything so clearly — from the rules and safety guidelines to how to respectfully interact with the whale sharks — and made sure everyone felt comfortable and confident the entire time. They helped us find several whale sharks and when some of us weren’t able to get great photos in the water, Angel came through with his GoPro and later emailed us the most incredible photos and videos. That extra effort meant so much and allowed us to truly relive the experience. This…”

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3.Balandra & Tecolote: hike, kayak and snorkel in paradise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 299 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $136

Start at Balandra at 8 am for tandem kayaking through calm coastal water and mangroves, then snorkel a rocky reef before hiking 5 km to Tecolote. Guides such as Mateo, Alex, Alberto and Daniel share local nature knowledge. Lunch, water and gear are included, but transport is not.

“Mateo and Eduardo were wonderful tour guides. We enjoyed the kayak through the mangroves and to the beach to snorkel. We saw lots of beautiful fish and even some sea turtles that popped their heads up every now and then. The hike along the coast was so fun. We walked along the water and in the water at times. The scenery is amazing and Mateo and Eduardo were very knowledgeable about the marine life and the area. We ended the hike with homemade ceviche under a nice tent. It was a great ending to our tour. Highly recommend! Thanks Mateo and Eduardo!”

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4.Espiritu Santo Island Snorkel & Sea Lion Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 172 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $145

Cruise from La Paz to Espiritu Santo Island National Park, snorkel beside playful sea lions at Isla los Islotes, then eat ceviche at Ensenada Grande. Sunrider Tours provides gear, guides, drinks, and winter wetsuits. Guides such as Maritza, Gale, and Juan-Manuel have earned praise for clear wildlife explanations.

“We absolutely love our guide, Deliice and skipper, Hector. They were very helpful in every step of the way. It’s a great learning experience for kids and adults. Information about the landscape, marine life & a bit of history were shared during the trip. We saw dolphins, whales, sea lions, & and all sorts of fish. Snorkeling was fun and the sea lions came out to play. Good food was served on a secluded white sand beach.”

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