How to Dive and Snorkel with Sea Lions in La Paz
A complete guide to everything you need to know about ethically swimming with sea lions in La Paz, from the season to the best tours.
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Snorkelling with sea lions can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and, to some, more exciting than swimming with larger well-known species (like swimming with whale sharks in La Paz). The waters around La Paz offer some of the best snorkelling conditions in the world and also contain two locations that are home to large sea lion colonies, which use the waters to rest and breed. Swimming with sea lions in the wild is unlike any other marine experience we’ve had, so we wanted to share with you everything you need to know about taking a La Paz sea lion tour and what it’s like to be in the water with such graceful and unique creatures.
Swimming with sea lions in La Paz at a glance
More from La Paz
About La Paz’s sea lions
La Paz is home to a thriving population of California sea lions (scientific name: Zalophus californianus), making it one of the best places in the world to snorkel and interact with these playful marine mammals.
California sea lions are found all along the western coast of North America, from Alaska to Central Mexico, including in the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez).
These intelligent creatures are highly social and are known for their agility in the water. They frequently display a curious nature, displaying interactions with humans.
California sea lions live in groups called ‘colonies’ or rookeries. They gather in large numbers on beaches or rocky outcrops to rest, breed, and socialise. They can be found in several parts of the Gulf of California, including around La Paz. Here, they congregate around the rocky islands off the coast and in Isla Espíritu Santo National Park.
Sea lions vs Seals
Sea lions, seals, and walruses are pinnipeds (semi-aquatic, flippered mammals). Sea lions are characterised by external ear flaps, long flippers and the ability to ‘walk’ on land. Whereas, seals have much smaller flippers and get around by wriggling on their bellies.
Seals also lack visible ear flaps, while sea lions are generally much larger than seals.
Sea lions are notoriously noisy creatures, barking loudly, while seals make much quieter grunting noises.
Where can you swim with sea lions in La Paz?
Sea Lions can be found in several areas of the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), on the east coast of the beautiful state of Baja California Sur.
There are 2 spots in La Paz where you can swim with Sea Lions: San Rafaelito, just off the coast near Balandra Beach, and Los Islotes just off Isla Espíritu Santo.
La Paz sea lion colonies Map
We’ve pinned San Rafaelito and Los Islotes on the map below, as well as where they sit in relation to other highlights in La Paz.
Lobera San Rafaelito
‘Lobera‘ is a Spanish word meaning sea lion colony, coming from the word ‘lobo‘, which means ‘wolf‘. This is in reference to the dog-like persona sea lions have. While they might essentially be described as sea-wolves, they’re actually more like sea-puppies, displaying a gentle curiosity and playful nature.
San Rafaelito is a tiny island off the coast of Balandra Beach, just north of La Paz. It has a small coral reef and is a popular spot for sea lions, who use the island to relax and reproduce. The sea lion colony here is quite friendly and if you arrive early you could have the island all to yourself.
The visibility isn’t as clear as at Isla Espíritu Santo due to the water being really rich in nutrients (which is also what attracts whale sharks and other marine life to the waters around La Paz). But despite the sea being slightly murky, you can still see the sea lions really well.
Los Islotes
Los Islotes is a tiny island located off the northern tip of Isla Partida in Isla Espíritu Santo National Park. It is about an hour from La Paz by boat
It’s home to the largest sea lion colony in the Sea of Cortez, with over 600 on and around the island.
The island has been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 2005 and a National Park since 2007 and evidence of human presence on the island dates back 9000 years. Los Islotes is also a popular breeding ground for sea lions and there are often playful and inquisitive pups.
Sea lions are curious by nature so your chances of being approached by a curious sea lion here are much higher as there are more of them.
The visibility around Isla Espíritu Santo is incredible. The water is crystal clear and the island contains some of the best reef we’ve ever seen (and Lucy’s dived on the Great Barrier Reef, so that’s saying a lot)! Among the colourful coral, you can spot parrotfish, angelfish, trumpetfish, Moorish idols, pufferfish, and rainbow wrasse.
San Rafaelito vs Los Islotes
We’d highly recommend making time to explore both locations as they were quite different. As we’ve mentioned, Los Islotes has more sea lions and better visibility. But San Rafaelito can be a quieter spot, allowing for better encounters. We had San Rafaelito all to ourselves on our trip and there was only one other tour boat at Los Islotes when we swam there. But sometimes there can be as many as 10 boats in the same spot.
Also, it’s important to remember that sea lions are wild animals and therefore don’t perform on request. By taking two trips you double your chances of meeting a curious pup or witnessing playful behaviour.
But, if you can only take one trip, we would highly recommend it be Los Islotes, where visibility and reef are better and there are more sea lions so you’re more likely to meet a friendly one.
When to swim with sea lions in La Paz
The season for swimming with sea lions in La Paz runs from October to April each year. At this time, water visibility is at its peak and juveniles are particularly playful.
Breeding season runs in the summer months of June, July and August and it’s illegal to swim with sea lions during this time, so as not to disturb the pregnant females and pups. The males also compete ferociously for the females so it wouldn’t be safe to be in the water with them.
The shoulder months of May and September are transition periods.
December and February are excellent months to swim with sea lions in La Paz, but the water may be a little colder due to it being peak winter. This period also coincides with Baja’s whale watching season, so there are plenty of other opportunities to encounter marine animals at this time.
If you’d rather swim in warmer water, October to November and March to April are probably best for you.
How to swim with sea lions in La Paz
The easiest way to snorkel with sea lions is to book onto a tour. This means you have a professional guide who will keep you safe as well as ensure the sea lions are respected and unstressed by your presence.
You can join a swim with sea lions tour in La Paz with a local company for the best experience. Tours are also bookable from Los Cabos, which include round-trip transportation to La Paz, but they usually include other activities like swimming with whale sharks too.
We’ve done a lot of research into eco-friendly companies and have listed some of the recommended operators below. We’ve deliberately excluded certain tour companies we’ve seen recommended elsewhere (mainly those that operate day trips from Cabo) as they sell tours we personally think are unethical (like swimming with captive dolphins) or because we personally saw them harassing humpback whales in Cabo.
The best La Paz sea lion tours
Here are the best tour operators for swimming with sea lions in La Paz. Each company offers tours to both sea lion colonies so you can choose which one you’d prefer to visit:
Salty Life in Baja – A small, locally-owned operator of small-group tours with a maximum of 6 people. Tours include all your equipment and free photos. Private tours can be booked for groups of 9 or more.
Baja Sur Tours – Offers tours conducted by local people with more than 30 years of experience with groups of up to 8 people. Tours include equipment, lunch, and snacks.
Hakuna Matata Baja Tours – A small company that specialises in private tours for a more personalized experience. They offer both snorkelling and SCUBA diving at Los Islotes.
UP Dive – Also called Under Pressure Diving, this dive company offers SCUBA diving, snorkelling, and swimming with sea lions, as well as other ocean experiences in the region.
La Paz VIP Tours – We went with La Paz VIP Tours and had the most amazing time (we actually did a couple of different tours with them during our time in La Paz). An eco-conscious company with excellent captains and super knowledgeable marine biologist guides. They keep their groups small at only 6 people for a more intimate experience. They also take photos throughout the trip which you can keep for free!
Combination tours
Combination tours are a great way to see more of the beautiful Baja California peninsula, taking in the highlights around La Paz in one day. Some of the other attractions combined tours usually include are:
We did the All Islands Tour with La Paz VIP Tours, which included swimming with sea lions at Los Islotes, lunch on Isla Espíritu Santo, another snorkel spot (which can be switched for a hike on the island), and seeing the Bahia San Gabriela frigatebird colony. We also took another trip with them, the Sea of Cortez Wonders Tour, which included snorkelling with the sea lions at San Rafaelito, swimming with whale sharks, and lunch on Balandra Beach. This way, we got to experience both sea lion colonies, as well as the highlights of La Paz.
Here are some of the best combined tours that include swimming with sea lions in La Paz:
SCUBA diving with sea lions in La Paz
Those who are SCUBA-certified can take things to the next level by diving with sea lions in La Paz. This option primarily operates at Los Islotes, which is a stunning dive site in itself. Not only can you enjoy the vibrant reef and a host of marine life, but you can also encounter playful sea lions underwater. While you can also dive at San Rafaelito, the visibility and currents are worse and the dive is less interesting.
Sea lions love the bubbles produced by SCUBA mouthpieces and are quite curious about divers. If you’re looking for a really intimate encounter, diving with sea lions is a great choice.
Several dive shops in La Paz offer diving with sea lions, including La Paz Divers and Sea Lions Dive Center.
What to expect when swimming with sea lions
Sea lions are strong swimmers and can reach speeds of nearly 20 miles per hour in the water. Although they appear bulky and clumsy on land, in the water they’re in their element and zip around quite gracefully.
Sea lions hunt in areas away from where they rest, to ensure predators don’t follow them back to the colony. So they can be found resting during the day, often lazing about on the top of the water to cool off.
You’ll likely see hundreds sunning themselves on the rocks, but there will be plenty cooling off in the sea all around you too. As you approach on the boat, you’ll see them lazing on the rocket outcrops or zipping about on the surface.
Swimming with sea lions is a simpler process than with other marine species. You don’t need to swim to keep up with them, you can simply float on the surface and observe them as they swim by.
You don’t need to stick as a tight-knit group, which allows you to swim off a little and experience your own encounters with sea lions – there are so many in the colonies that there’s little chance of them feeling harrassed by multiple swimmers. However, you doo need to stay with your guide and in sight of your boat at all times. It’s not recommended to just swim off on your own for safety reasons and to ensure the activity is well-managed by operators.
You need to a wear life jacket in Los Islotes as it is within the protected Isla Espíritu Santo National Park. This stops visitors from being able to duck dive (dive under the water), reducing damage to the reef.
Sea lions are curious by nature and explore with their mouths due to their lack of hands. This means they’ll often nibble on snorkels, flippers and other swimming equipment.
It’s important to remember they have very strong jaws, so don’t stick your hand out or try to touch them as a bite could seriously hurt. It’s a general rule not to touch wildlife anyway, as it can stress them out or transfer harmful bacteria. But, as explained previously, it is ok to closely observe them.
If you’re lucky enough to have a friendly, interested sea lion, remain calm and allow it to display its natural behaviours around you.
Sea lions love playing with bubbles (like from divers’ breathing equipment), as well as other snorkel equipment, so let them explore without interference and enjoy the experience of being able to witness these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat.
How much does it cost to swim with sea lions in La Paz?
Swimming with sea lions in La Paz usually costs about $120–$150 USD per person. These tours typically last a full day and take in other attractions in the region too.
Combination tours usually cost between $120 and $200 USD per person, adding on swimming with whale sharks and extra stops at stunning beaches and remote islands.
SCUBA diving with sea lions in La Paz costs around $175 USD per person. Equipment rental is an additional $35 USD
Private tours can also be arranged and cost around $500 to $600 USD per group.
If you’re looking to save money, choosing a tour with a larger group size is usually more budget-friendly (although we’d suggest spending more for a smaller group size if you can).
If your tour includes Isla Espíritu Santo, your entry permit is usually included in the price of the tour. This is a paper bracelet you need to wear in the national park. They cost 150 pesos (~$7 USD) a day.
Is it ethical to swim with sea lions?
The sea lions at Los Islotes have no reason to be afraid of humans. They reside in a highly protected area and are well-respected by local tour companies.
There’s a limit on the number of visitors per day, only licensed tour operators can run ‘snorkel with sea lion’ tours, and all guides are expertly trained. You’re not allowed to touch the sea lions or do anything else that might stress them out or disturb them, like swimming after them. But, if one chooses to approach you on its own terms, it’s ok to observe its playful behaviour at a close distance.
When booking any wildlife tourism activity, it’s good to always choose an ethical company with a focus on sustainable practices. We’d recommend reading reviews and looking out for indications that the company respects the sea lions. Often, a company will also display their values on their website, so you can get a feel for its priorities.
And if you book with an established and well-practised company like La Paz VIP Tours, they’ll be able to time your visit so there are far fewer boats and you can have the colony nearly all to yourself (which was our experience with them in both destinations)!
What to pack to swim with sea lions in La Paz
Here’s a list of useful items to pack for your tour:
Read next:
How to Ethically Swim with Whale Sharks in La Paz
How to Visit Isla Espíritu Santo from La Paz
The 28 Best Things to Do in La Paz
A Complete Guide to Visiting Balandra Beach
The 16 Best Restaurants in La Paz
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