• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

Swimming with Sea Lions in La Paz: Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated: July 31, 2023 · Baja California Sur

There are only a few places in the world where you can swim with sea lions, and one of the best places to do that is in Baja California Sur’s coastal capital of La Paz.

Honestly, though… if there’s one experience you can’t miss out on while vacationing in La Paz, Mexico, it’s got to be swimming and snorkeling with the sea lion colony on Los Islotes Island in Espiritu Santo National Park.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

In fact, the Sea of Cortez is one of the rare places where you can swim with sea lions, watch humpback whales and dolphins, and do a fun shipwreck dive — all in one day!

It’s no wonder that La Paz was dubbed the “Aquarium of the World” by Jacques Cousteau. La Paz’s diving scene is incredible, but even if you aren’t a diver, you can still enjoy the company of the playful juvenile sea lions on a snorkeling and swimming tour.

Read more below to learn about how you can safely and responsibly swim with the sea lions of Los Islotes off the coast of La Paz, Mexico here!

Table of Contents show
How to Snorkel & Swim with Sea Lions in La Paz
Where Are the Sea Lions of La Paz?
What to Know Before You Swim with Sea Lions in Espiritu Santo National Park
How to Book Your Sea Lion Snorkel/Swim Tour
Is It Really Safe to Swim with Sea Lions?
Our Experience Swimming & Diving with the Sea Lion Colony of Los Islotes

How to Snorkel & Swim with Sea Lions in La Paz

Where Are the Sea Lions of La Paz?

The sea lions of La Paz live on a rocky islet just beyond Espiritu Santo Island inside the national park, which is located about 1h30m by boat off from La Paz.

To get to the bountiful sea lion colony of La Paz, you’ll need to take a sea lion snorkel/swim tour or hire a licensed boat guide as they are the only ones permitted in the park.

You cannot go on your own to Los Islotes as this is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Park.

While there is another small colony of sea lions closer to La Paz—the outcasts of Los Islotes—this is not typically where tourists go to swim and snorkel.

This guide specifically talks about the sea lions of Los Islotes Island inside the Espiritu Santo National Park.

What to Know Before You Swim with Sea Lions in Espiritu Santo National Park

Here is what you need to know before you head out on your sea lion excursion.

☀️ Seasonality: The sea lion colony of Los Islotes mates during the warm summer months and therefore is closed off to tourists from June–August.

🦭 Safety: The juvenile sea lions are playful and curious and are safe to swim with. However, as your snorkel or dive guide will advise, you must avoid getting close to the much larger macho sea lions. They have a distinct physical appearance and will not play nice if you enter their territory.

💰 Cost: The chance to swim with sea lions in their natural environment and to see them play underwater is an incredible experience. That said, reaching the sea lion colony takes lots of time (1h30m one-way by boat) and fuel, which is why most tours cost around $125 USD for a day trip.

🚤 Time: Considering that the colony is quite far from La Paz, you can expect this experience to take all day. Most trips will depart from the marina around 8–9am and return around 3–4pm in the afternoon.

🎒 What to pack: Lunch/snacks and refreshments are typically provided on the tours, but you should take a towel, eco-friendly sunscreen (like this one that I use), a water camera or phone pouch, and plenty of water (in a reusable bottle, of course!).

🎟️ Marine park pass: Not all tours will include the marine park pass, which costs around $6-7 USD. If not, you will need to pay this in person, so take cash.

🤝 Tipping: Local guides and boat captains are who will lead this adventure and it’s customary to tip your crew.

sea lion colony on Los Islotes in Espiritu Santo Park in La Paz Mexico

How to Book Your Sea Lion Snorkel/Swim Tour

The best way to book this experience is to go through a tour operator like Sunriders which offers all types of tours, including a sea lion snorkel tour.

You can also go through a dive shop in La Paz (yes, even if you don’t intend to dive but instead charter a boat and snorkel/swim with the sea lions on a day safari).

✨ Book your sea lion snorkel experience in La Paz here! ✨

Whether snorkeling or diving, the sea lions love to play in your bubbles — and their own!

Is It Really Safe to Swim with Sea Lions?

If you have never swam with sea lions before, you’re in for a treat! The sea lion puppies, or juveniles, are extremely playful and curious.

Don’t be surprised if, like real doggo puppies, they try to playfully chew on your arms, legs, snorkel fins — or even your head!

While their nibbles don’t hurt, their young teeth are sharp. My dive guide explained he got bit a little too hard once and it punctured his wetsuit.

So, while you can (and possibly will) have in-your-face close encounters with the sea lion puppies, don’t overtly reach out your fingers and limbs.

Let them come naturally to you and don’t tease them.

Our Experience Swimming & Diving with the Sea Lion Colony of Los Islotes

When I think back to the day we dove with the sea lions, three words come to mind:

  • Play
  • Bubbles
  • Wonder

That in a nutshell is what it feels like to be in the water with these silky, big-eyed babies — playful, bubbly wonder.

But besides the sense of awe and freedom that comes with seeing these wild animals play with you in their natural environment, there is a bit of stress, too; you are entering their wild, unpredictable territory, after all!

That said, I felt totally safe with my dive team, but the sea lion puppies swim at carefree speeds that will quickly make you dizzy if you try to follow them with your eye (frankly, I couldn’t keep up).

That said, diving with sea lions is a different experience than snorkeling with them.

Since you will be on top of the water, you will need to stay aware of your proximity to the rocky shore as the current may shift your location without you realizing (again, watch out for aggressive adult males).

Don’t be alarmed if they approach you—or even your boat—before you even get the chance to dip your toes in the water. They are extremely curious and will get nearer to observe you.

All in all, whether you swim and snorkel or dive with the sea lions, this experience is by far one of the most unique and best things to do in La Paz!

Like it? Share this post on Pinterest!

By: Bri · In: Baja California Sur

you’ll also love

Hiking to Cerro de la Calavera in La Paz
Woman standing with sandboard at Mogote Sand Dunes near La Paz, Mexico.Your Guide to Sandboarding the Mogote Dunes in La Paz, Mexico
Woman tourist standing atop hill overlooking Balandra Beach and Bay in Baja California Sur, Mexico.The Ultimate Guide to Playa Balandra: Mexico’s “Most Beautiful Beach”

Join the List

Stay up to date with the latest adventures and travel guides.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

The Ultimate Guide to Scuba Diving in La Paz, Mexico

Primary Sidebar

hello!

I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

About Me

Connect

join the list

Featured Posts

digital nomad working on laptop

The Perfect Packing List for Digital Nomads

Best Travel Accessories for Backpackers - Bits of Bri

Best Travel Accessories for Backpackers

Woman in red bikini walking down steps into sea at Bachelor's Beach, Bonaire.

The 10 Very Best Beaches on Bonaire Island

QUICK LINKS

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS

Search

Let’s Connect!

@bucketlistbri

Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confi Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confidence & sense of self (at the risk of sounding cliché), of “my essence” and inner Knowing, and where my compassion and passions mingle and thrive. I was reading some of your comments on my recent Reel about solo travel and how I put myself at great risk/in danger. But as I was telling my Tibetan friend, Sonam, tonight (yes, the new one I made last week!), I inform my decisions mostly by 1. Asking myself, “Would this make a good story?” and 2. Listening to my body and emotions. Yes, it’s risky to travel solo, to be a female in a male-dominated culture, to go out after hours with people you just met, etc. But doing that — and all the magic that followed by “allowing” — reminded me exactly of who I am at my core: Curious and open to the world, willing to get uncomfortable for the sake of finding magic and serendipity. Some of you said, “I’m too scared to do this, how do you overcome that fear of personal safety?” And to this I say, I don’t! Fear accompanies me along the journey. Living life is one big risk. It’s uncomfortable to be open, vulnerable, and unsure. But once you accept that and once you begin to let compassion and curiosity guide you rather than your fear, the real magic starts to happen in all areas of life, not just travel. I find these moments most in travel though, when I’m confronted with contrast and am left vulnerable to the world and the kindness of my fellow humans. My Reels are not meant to romanticize or gloss over very real risks/threats in life, but rather to share a real account of what’s possible (adventure, connections, love, etc) when you worry less about societal norms and what’s “safe not safe” “right not right” and allow your over-active fears to take a backseat. 
This is your reminder to trust your inner compass to guide you in writing your epic life story. ✨✨

To sum it up: 

1. Choose a life of adventure 
2. Stay curious
3. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable (otherwise said, seek discomfort)
4. Let love and light flow in and out 
5. Change is the only constant 

#solotravel #nepaltravel #solofemaletraveler #soloadventure #localtravel #trekkingnepal #adventurethatislife
The strength of women 💛 These ladies were lau The strength of women 💛 

These ladies were laughing so sweetly while filling up their water jugs at the Manga Hiti fountain in Patan. I watched them for a while and then plucked up the courage to ask if I could take their photos, which only made them giggle more. 

I've always felt that not being able to communicate in the same language makes for even more interesting encounters. Without words, we have to touch each other's humanity with eyes and gestures, and most of the time it leads to unspoken mutual understanding, acceptance, and love. We three walked away with the biggest smiles on our faces. I yelled out "Dhayabad!" (Thank you!) as they hoisted their jugs up the stairs, laughing all the way. I won't forget this shared moment between us 🙏 

Check stories for the landscape orientation for some of these photos ✨ 

#nepal #nepalnow #nepalphotography #nepaliculture #nepalisbeautiful #natgeoyourshot #patan #kathmanduvalley #lifetimeexperiences #photonepal #nepaltravel
Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swi Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swirling spirituality, its raw humanity? ✨🇳🇵❤️

#nepal #visitnepal #nepalnow #travelstories #localtravel #mindfultravel #slowtravel #natgeotravel
When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay open to the randomness of life and the kindness of strangers, really wonderful memories can be made. Thank you Lama family and my new Tibetan friends for such a fun and insightful sequence of experiences 🙏 💛

#solotravel #localtravel #nepaltravel #nepaldiaries #nepali #solofemaletravel #kathmandunepal #thamel #tibetanfood #solotraveldiaries
My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 

Being back after 7 long years away has jolted my body, brain, and spirit. At first, I felt overwhelmed with the recurring thought of, "I don't know what to do with myself." It was only when acceptance knocked on my door, and I finally decided to let it in, that things began to shift and flow.
 
In Nepal, particularly Kathmandu, everything around me swarms like a hive. I have nowhere else to go but inside myself. I've discovered through years of slow traveling (and solo travel) that peace awaits me there -- a sense of independence, power, and knowing that is still, comforting, and safe. And I can tap into it whenever I need to.

Chaos and peace reside in all of us, and Nepal has a cosmic, ancient way of reminding you of just that. 

📍 Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur

#nepaltravel #patan #durbarsquare #nepalphotography #slowtravel #nepal #solotravel #lalitpur
They ask, “Why?” I was 29 when I embarked on They ask, “Why?” 

I was 29 when I embarked on the plane on the 21st, and 30 when I disembarked on the 23rd. How fitting. I spent all of my 20s abroad (except for my two final semesters in undergrad), and moved to Nepal when I was 21. 

What better way to say goodbye to my twenties than by returning to the start? I felt the desperate urge to start my 30s this way—alone on a one-way ticket with no concrete plans. I have both feared and longed to come back all these years. You see, I had made a promise to one of my closest Nepali friends that I’d see her again, but the reality is that I no longer can. 

She, along with another dear friend, passed away from cancer a couple of years back. The thought of returning to my old life here without my friends made me, well, incredibly sad. I had thought that, upon landing in Kathmandu—or taking a bite of my first momo—after so long, I’d find myself bursting into tears of both grief and gratitude. But I didn’t. Instead, I found familiarity in the chaos and chaos in the strangeness. 

Just being here—and the decisions and actions it took to get here—has reminded me of the preciousness of this one very short life. And that, by choosing to celebrate mine—at the exciting turn of a decade no less—by coming back to Nepal on a solo trip that would force me into daring discomfort when I could instead retreat to the comforts of family or my partner, is how I want to live it.

Truth is, a couple of months ago the thought of Nepal felt out of reach. It felt risky, unattainable. But the idea itself pushed open, just a crack at first, a door that had been otherwise closed. I could have more easily ignored my “what if?” daydreams—calling them off as too hard, too uncomfortable, or too far-fetched to actually pursue—and kept it shut.
But sometime in mid-July, I decided to look at flights. And I found one (truly, just one) option that could work. And it just so happened that it would fall on my birthday, or rather bridge my birthday. The idea of getting on a plane at 29 and getting off it at 30—back in Nepal—sold me. I fell in love with the story, the adventure, the unknowingness of it all. 

So, yeah. That’s why. Or as I prefer, “Why not?”
Follow My Adventures

Footer

On the Blog

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

Info

  • Work With Me
  • My Blog Course
  • Slomad Stories Podcast
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

adventures await x

Copyright © 2023 · Bucketlist Bri | All Rights Reserved

3 shares