Big Animal Expedition
Sea of Cortez Multi-day trip
Expedition Overview
From April to July, the Sea of Cortez becomes one of Baja’s most exciting places to explore for large marine life.
Our Big Animal Expeditions are built around this seasonal gathering, spending long days offshore searching for whatever the ocean brings us, from massive fevers of mobula rays and dolphins to sperm whales, pilot whales, blue whales, whale sharks, sea lions and, when conditions and luck align, orcas.
Multi-Day Expedition
Contact us for price detail and availability
Every year from April to June, ask for Shared expedition or Private expedition.
Expeditions 2027
April 11 - April 16 : SOLD OUT- May 8 - May 14 : 7 Days/ 6 Nights
- May 15 - May 23 : 9 Days/ 8 Nights
May 23 - May 30 : SOLD OUTMay 30 - June 6 : SOLD OUTJune 6 - June 13 : SOLD OUT- June 20 - June 26 : 7 Days/ 6 Nights
- June 27 - July 5 : To be confirmed
This year, we're introducing two different ways to experience the season:
- CLASSIC EXPEDITIONS : 7 Days / 6 Nights
- EXTENDED EXPEDITIONS : 9 Days / 8 Nights
- WHEN : April - June
- LOCATION : Sea of Cortez
- PARTICIPANTS : Maximum 6
- Mobula rays
- Orcas
- Blue whales
- Adult whale sharks
- Fin whales
- Mega pods of dolphins
- Sea lions
This expedition involves long days at sea, regular entries into the water and snorkeling in open ocean conditions. Participants must be comfortable in the water, able to swim independently and have previous snorkeling experience. This is not suitable as a first snorkeling experience. For shared expeditions, all participants must be at least 16 years old.
What to Expect
Adventure Awaits You In Baja California
Our Big Animal Expeditions are all about spending as much time as possible on the water and going wherever the wildlife takes us. Each day, we’ll spend around 8 hours at sea, and sometimes longer when needed, covering large areas of the Sea of Cortez and using our experience, knowledge of the region and extensive local network to guide our search.
Over the years, we have built a strong network of local captains, fishermen, scientists and communities across the region. By sharing information and staying in constant contact with people on the water, we can react quickly to wildlife activity and focus our efforts where the best opportunities are developing.
Our days usually start early, searching for the giant fevers of mobula rays that gather in the region at this time of year. The early morning often brings some of the best mobula activity, with thousands of rays gathering in spectacular aggregations. As the activity begins to slow down, we head farther offshore and the search for bigger animals begins. From there, we explore the Sea of Cortez looking for large marine animals, pelagic wildlife and whatever else the ocean may bring our way. Every day is different, and that is exactly what makes these expeditions so special.
Sea of Cortez - Big Animal ExpeditionS
Every day is a new exploration, shaped by wildlife activity, ocean conditions and the latest information from our local network. Led by our experienced team, we cover large areas of the Sea of Cortez, following the signs and making the most of every opportunity we find along the way.
This year, we're introducing two different ways to experience the season: The Classic Expedition (7 Days/ 6 Nights) and Extended Expeditions (9 Days/ 8 Nights).
CLASSIC EXPEDITIONS itinerary
7 days / 6 nights
- Day 1: Arrival to La Paz / transfer to La Ventana / night in La Ventana
- Day 2: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La Ventana
- Day 3: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La La Ventana
- Day 4: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La Ventana
- Day 5: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La Ventana
- Day 6: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La Ventana
- Day 7: Breakfast & transfer to La Paz airport
EXTENDED EXPEDITIONS itinerary
9 days / 8 nights
- Day 1: Arrival to La Paz / transfer to La Ventana / night in La Ventana
- Day 2: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La Ventana
- Day 3: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La La Ventana
- Day 4: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La Ventana
- Day 5: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La Ventana
- Day 6: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La Ventana
- Day 7: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La Ventana
- Day 8: Full Day Ocean Exploration / night in La Ventana
- Day 9: Breakfast & transfer to La Paz airport
who this expedition is for ?
This expedition is designed for ocean lovers, nature enthusiasts, and amateur or professional photographers looking for a truly immersive experience with Baja’s marine wildlife.
The Big Animals Expedition it is best suited for those who are comfortable spending long days at sea, often far from shore, and understand that wind, waves and changing ocean conditions can sometimes make the experience more challenging.
Being comfortable in the water, having good swimming abilities and previous snorkeling experience are important to fully enjoy the expedition and make the most of every encounter.
Boat & Safety
Boats built for the expedition
Our expeditions are operated aboard traditional Mexican pangas, open boats that are particularly well suited to wildlife encounters in Bahía Magdalena. Their layout gives us excellent visibility while searching for wildlife and allows quick and easy access to the water when an encounter develops.
The boats are equipped with full shade coverage, comfortable seating and outboard engines, and are operated and maintained by our trusted local partners in Puerto San Carlos. After many seasons working in these waters, we know that having a reliable boat and an experienced local captain is essential when spending long days offshore.
Safety equipment onboard
Safety is a priority throughout every expedition. Before heading out, our team reviews the conditions for the day and all guests receive a safety briefing covering both boat operations and in-water encounters.
Each boat carries the safety and communication equipment required for our offshore operations, including:
- GPS
- Marine VHF radio
- First aid kit
- Life jackets
- Emergency signaling equipment
Experienced crew & guides
Every expedition is led by an experienced Baja Shark Experience guide together with a local captain who knows these waters intimately.
Our guides have extensive experience working around large marine wildlife and managing in-water encounters, while our local captains bring years of knowledge of Bahía Magdalena, its conditions and its wildlife.
This combination of local knowledge and experience in the water is at the core of how we operate, allowing us to approach each encounter responsibly while adapting to the conditions and wildlife activity of the day.