Snorkeling Open Ocean Wildlife Safari in Los Cabos with Photos Included

The most unusual part of this Cabo outing is the chance to snorkel in open ocean water while searching for wild dolphins, mobula rays, turtles, whales, and other passing animals. This is not a calm, guaranteed reef swim. It is a fast-moving wildlife search at the meeting point of the Pacific and Sea of Cortez.

I like the small maximum of 10 people and the included photos and videos, which let you watch the animals instead of managing a camera. I also like the mix of famous Cabo sights and serious snorkeling. The main drawback is clear: wildlife is never guaranteed, and one outing may feel more like a whale search from the boat than a close encounter in the water.

Key points before you book

• Open-ocean wildlife search: The boat heads beyond the usual sheltered snorkeling spots in search of migratory animals.
• A small group of up to 10: This gives the guides more room to manage the boat and help swimmers.
• Cabo’s classic sights come first: You pass the Arch, Lands End, Lovers Beach, and the sea lion colony.
• Two kinds of snorkeling may be possible: Open-water wildlife is the main goal, but one outing also included reef snorkeling at Chileno Bay.
• Photos and videos are included: Baja Vikings Ecoventures provides the camera footage as part of the trip.
• Good for stronger swimmers: The operator asks for moderate physical fitness, and conditions can be more demanding offshore.

What makes this Cabo safari different

Many Cabo boat trips keep close to shore, where the water is calmer and fish are easier to find. This one takes a less predictable approach. You ride out into blue water to look for animals that move through the area rather than gather at one fixed site.

That difference matters. The Sea of Cortez is often called one of the world’s richest seas, and Cabo sits where it meets the Pacific. The meeting of these waters brings seasonal movement from animals such as mobula rays, dolphins, turtles, whales, sharks, and, at times, orcas.

You should think of this as a wildlife expedition, not a guaranteed animal show. The guides can search, watch, and choose places to enter the water, but they cannot control where a whale or dolphin appears. If your top goal is simply colorful fish in clear, sheltered water, a standard reef trip may suit you better.

The reward is that the animals are wild and the day can change quickly. A successful outing may put you in the water near several dolphins or a group of rays. A less fortunate one may involve long stretches of boat travel and brief, distant sightings.

The 8:00 a.m. start at Marina de Cabo San Lucas

The tour begins at Baja Vikings Ecoventures, at Boulevard Marina in Edificio Plaza API, Modulo B-20, Marina, Cabo San Lucas. The start time is 8:00 a.m., and the trip returns to the same meeting point after about four hours.

An early departure makes good sense for a boat trip. You get out before the day feels too hot, and the schedule leaves room for a full search at sea without taking up your entire day. You should still plan enough time to reach the marina before departure, since the supplied details do not include hotel pickup.

The boat carries no more than 10 people. That is a meaningful advantage on a wildlife trip. A small group makes it easier to hear the guide, move around the boat, and get help with fins or a mask. It also reduces the chance that one large group will crowd a wildlife sighting.

This is a mobile ticket activity offered in English. Confirmation is provided when you book. Public transportation is nearby, and service animals are allowed.

Cabo’s famous sights on the way out

The listed stop is the Arch of Cabo San Lucas, but the boat ride also includes views of Lands End, Lovers Beach, and the local sea lion colony. These sights give you a useful introduction to Cabo before the boat heads farther out.

The Arch is the postcard view, where the rock formations at the tip of the peninsula meet the sea. From the water, you get the best angle, and the boat ride lets you see how quickly the sheltered marina gives way to open water.

Lovers Beach and Lands End add context to the area. You are not simply riding past random shoreline. You are seeing the point where the two bodies of water meet and where Cabo’s rugged rock formations end.

The sea lion colony is another worthwhile pass-by. The tour does not promise a swim with the sea lions, so treat this as a viewing stop rather than a water encounter. For many people, these landmarks are a welcome part of the trip, especially if this is your first boat excursion in Cabo.

The tradeoff is time. Every minute spent viewing landmarks is a minute not spent searching for animals offshore. The balance will depend on sea conditions and the guide’s choices.

Searching the open Pacific for pelagic wildlife

The word pelagic refers to animals that live or travel in the open ocean. That is the heart of this safari. Instead of heading straight to a fixed reef, the guides search for creatures that may be passing through the waters around Cabo.

Possible sightings include mobula rays, whales, turtles, dolphins, sharks, and orcas. The list is exciting, but it is also a reminder to keep expectations realistic. No specific animal is promised, and sightings can vary by season, weather, and luck.

The boat ride itself is part of the outing. You may spend time scanning the water while the guides explain the local ecosystem and watch for movement. This requires patience. If you want constant activity, the open-ocean format may feel slow between sightings.

The best moments can be exceptional. One outing included several kinds of wild dolphins, with enough time in the water to watch them rather than simply pass by. Another produced a large number of mobula rays, sometimes called flying or happy pancakes because of the way they move through the water and leap above the surface.

Whales are also possible, but you need to understand the limitation. Getting into the water near a whale does not guarantee that you will see it underwater. A whale may be too far away, below the surface, or moving in a direction that makes the view brief. One unhappy outing involved repeated attempts to enter the water near a whale, but the animal remained too distant to see well.

That is not necessarily a failure of effort. It is the basic uncertainty of wild-animal viewing. Still, you should book this tour because you accept that uncertainty, not because you expect a guaranteed close encounter.

Getting in the water with wild animals

The guides aim to enter the water safely and respectfully with marine life. You receive snorkeling equipment, and the crew handles the practical side of getting ready.

The open-ocean part is intended for more advanced snorkelers. You should be comfortable wearing a mask and breathing through a snorkel in moving water. The operator lists moderate physical fitness as a requirement, which is important because conditions offshore may require more effort than a quiet beach swim.

This is not the best place to relearn basic snorkeling skills for the first time. If you are rusty, tell the guide before entering the water. A guide such as D has helped make people feel comfortable when they had not snorkeled for a long time, but comfort levels still vary from person to person.

The animals should remain wild and in control of the encounter. You may see them close by, or you may see only a short glimpse. The experience is strongest when you treat the water as the animals’ space rather than expecting them to perform.

The possible reef stop at Chileno Bay

Although the main plan focuses on open-ocean wildlife, one successful outing also included snorkeling at Chileno Bay. This added a second style of water experience: a reef setting with smaller fish and a more predictable place to look around.

At Chileno Bay, the same outing produced many fish and a turtle. That kind of stop can balance the uncertainty of the offshore search. If the larger animals stay distant, a reef swim may still give you something active to see underwater.

You should not assume that every departure will include the exact same stop or wildlife combination. The supplied details describe the safari’s purpose as searching open water, while the Chileno Bay visit appears as part of one reported itinerary. Conditions and animal locations can shape the day.

This possible reef component is especially useful for families or mixed groups. Strong swimmers can enjoy the offshore search, while a calmer snorkeling setting may be more comfortable for someone who prefers a fixed area.

Photos, snacks, and what you need to bring

Photos and videos are included. The crew uses a GoPro during the water encounters, so you can keep both hands free for swimming and watching the animals. This is one of the better practical features of the tour, especially when a close dolphin or ray sighting lasts only a short time.

You should confirm how and when the files will be delivered before leaving the marina. One outing had trouble receiving the promised pictures, so do not treat the photo service as automatic until you know the delivery method.

The trip includes snorkeling equipment, snacks, drinking water served in reusable cups, and juice boxes. These extras matter on a four-hour boat ride, when you may not want to carry much of your own food or a disposable bottle.

Sunscreen and towels are not included. Bring both, along with anything else you need for comfort on a boat. Use sunscreen that is appropriate for marine areas, and apply it before departure so you are not scrambling while the group prepares to enter the water.

Is $145 a fair price?

At $145 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Cabo from the water. The price makes more sense if you value a small group, a speedboat outing, included equipment, onboard snacks and drinks, and photos or videos.

You are also paying for the search itself. A standard snorkeling trip may cost less because it takes you to a known site and spends more time in one place. This safari uses time and fuel to look for moving animals, which creates a higher chance of something unusual but also a greater chance of an ordinary day.

The value depends on your priorities. If you want a polished morning with several well-known Cabo sights and a chance at dolphins, rays, turtles, or whales, the price can be reasonable. If you mainly want a guaranteed reef swim, you may get more for your money elsewhere.

The included footage adds real value when it works as expected. You do not need to buy or manage an underwater camera, and the pictures can preserve a sight that is hard to describe later. Still, I would see the footage as a bonus, not the main reason to book.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this for an active visitor who already knows how to snorkel and likes the idea of searching for wildlife rather than following a fixed route. The small group and local guides make it a good choice for people who want more personal attention than a large catamaran can provide.

It can also work for a family group. One outing included a grandmother over 70 and teenagers aged 12 and 15, and everyone enjoyed the combination of boat sightseeing and snorkeling. That does not mean every person of every age will find the offshore water easy. Fitness, swimming ability, and comfort in open water still matter.

I would hesitate to book it for anyone who strongly dislikes boat motion, needs guaranteed calm water, or would be disappointed by a distant whale sighting. The tour’s greatest strength, its wild and changing nature, is also its main risk.

Booking, cancellations, and weather

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the 8:00 a.m. start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

The tour depends on good weather. If poor weather cancels the outing, you can receive a different date or a full refund. The operator also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation for that reason comes with the same choice of another date or experience, or a full refund.

Book ahead if your dates are fixed. This tour averages booking about 30 days in advance, and the small boat can hold only 10 people.

Should you book the open-ocean safari?

Book it if your idea of a great morning is a fast boat, Cabo’s famous rock formations, and a real chance to see wild rays, dolphins, turtles, or whales in their own environment. The strongest parts are the small group, skilled local guidance, included camera footage, and the possibility of getting in the water near animals that standard reef trips rarely encounter.

Skip it if you need predictable snorkeling, guaranteed close views, or a quiet trip that stays near shore. The honest choice comes down to your tolerance for uncertainty. At $145, this is a worthwhile gamble for strong snorkelers who value wild encounters, but not the safest choice for someone seeking a simple, guaranteed fish-viewing excursion.

FAQ

Where does the snorkeling safari begin?

It begins at Baja Vikings Ecoventures, Boulevard Marina, Edificio Plaza API Modulo B-20, Marina, Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 8:00 a.m. and lasts about four hours.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in the marina.

How many people can join the boat?

The maximum group size is 10 people.

What animals might I see?

Possible wildlife includes mobula rays, whales, turtles, dolphins, sharks, and orcas. Specific sightings are not guaranteed.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with snacks, drinking water in reusable cups, juice boxes, and photos and videos.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You can choose another date or receive a full refund if the tour is canceled because of poor weather. The same options apply if the minimum number of participants is not met.