The Sea of Cortez holds roughly 900 species of fish, about one in ten found nowhere else, and its protected islands are home to 39% of the world's marine mammal species. You won't meet them all in a day. Here are the animals our guests swim with, watch from the boat, see on the rocks and catch on the line, with the season and the tour for each.
Keep your eyes open for
- A wide, spotted back at the surface in La Paz Bay: a whale shark feeding.
- Rays leaping clear of the water and slapping back down: mobulas.
- A tall black fin cutting the surface in the Cerralvo Channel: orcas.
- Bright blue feet on the rocks near Balandra and the islands: blue-footed boobies.
- Birds diving into one patch of water: something is feeding below. Tell your guide.
- A spout on the horizon in winter: a humpback or gray whale.
Swim With Them
These are the animals you get in the water with, always at their pace, never chasing.
Whale Shark
The world’s largest fish feeds on plankton in La Paz Bay every season. Swimming opens once CONANP’s count reaches seven sharks. On the Whale Shark Experience and the Grand Slam.
California Sea Lion
About a thousand live at Los Islotes, at the north end of Isla Espíritu Santo. The pups are curious and often swim right up to snorkelers. On the Isla Espíritu Santo, Balandra and Grand Slam tours.
Mobula Rays
Mobulas gather in huge schools and jump clear of the water. Giant mantas belong to the same family and are on the Safari list too. On Sea Safari Norte, Sea Safari Sur and The Hook Mobula Expedition.
Sea Turtles and Reef Fish
Green and hawksbill turtles live in the waters around Isla Espíritu Santo, and the reefs hold angelfish, parrotfish, sergeant majors and puffers. Bring a mask on any island stop.
Around the Whale Sharks
A whale shark is never alone. Look around it while you swim, and look up when you get back on the boat.
Remoras
These hitchhikers ride on the shark’s skin and under its belly, and drop off to grab scraps.
Sardines and Bait Fish
Huge schools of sardines and other small fish feed in the same plankton-rich water, sometimes right under the shark.
Fish Feeding Below
Bigger fish follow the bait schools, so the water under a feeding shark is often busy.
Seabirds Overhead
Pelicans, frigatebirds, cormorants and gulls work the same bait from above. A crowd of diving birds is a good sign there’s food, and maybe a shark.
Watch From the Boat
Some animals you watch from the deck. Have your camera ready on the run out and back.
Orcas
Orcas pass through the Cerralvo Channel and the Sea Safari routes. A sighting is a bonus, never a promise.
Dolphins
Pods sometimes ride the bow on the way to the islands.
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks spend the winter in the Sea of Cortez. Watch for spouts and tail flukes on the way out.
Gray Whales
Gray whales come to Magdalena Bay to give birth. At Puerto Chale, mothers and calves can come right up to the pangas. On the Gray Whale tour.
On the Rocks and in the Air
The islands around La Paz are breeding grounds for seabirds, and the rocks of Gallo and Gallina are a favorite roost.
Blue-Footed Booby
The famous blue feet. They nest on the islands and dive straight into the water for fish.
Brown Booby
The blue-footed booby’s cousin, often on the same rocks.
Magnificent Frigatebird
Long black wings that hardly move. Researchers have counted 700 adults and 600 chicks on Isla Espíritu Santo, and in breeding season the males puff out a red throat pouch.
Brown Pelican
Watch them fold their wings and crash into the water along the Malecón and the beaches.
Cormorants
Dark divers that swim underwater after fish, then sit on the rocks with their wings spread to dry.
Heermann’s Gull
A gray gull with a bright red bill, often stealing fish from the pelicans.
On the Line
Our fishing trips leave from Ensenada de Muertos, near Isla Cerralvo. All roosterfish are released.
Roosterfish
The comb on its back gives it away. The dream fish of the Sea of Cortez on the fly.
Dorado
Fast, bright green and gold.
Yellowtail
A hard-pulling winter fish.
Tuna
Yellowfin, when the schools come through.
Marlin
Striped, black and blue marlin all swim these waters.
Wahoo and Sailfish
Two of the fastest fish in the sea.
The Full List: Life in the Sea of Cortez
The Sea of Cortez is young, formed about five million years ago as the Baja peninsula pulled away from the mainland. Today it holds roughly 900 species of fish. La Paz Bay alone has 533 on record, including 66 sharks and rays. In 1940, John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts spent six weeks collecting animals here for The Log from the Sea of Cortez, and the angler and writer Ray Cannon called it “a painted ocean.”
Below are 246 animals from those waters, grouped so you can find what you saw. Tap a group to open it.
Sharks 24 species
Every fish in this group is on the La Paz Bay fish checklist (533 species).
- Whale shark Rhincodon typus
- Scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini
- Great hammerhead Sphyrna mokarran
- Smooth hammerhead Sphyrna zygaena
- Bonnethead Sphyrna tiburo
- Great white shark Carcharodon carcharias
- Shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus
- Tiger shark Galeocerdo cuvier
- Bull shark Carcharhinus leucas
- Blacktip shark Carcharhinus limbatus
- Silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis
- Oceanic whitetip Carcharhinus longimanus
- Blue shark Prionace glauca
- Pacific sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon longurio
- Lemon shark Negaprion brevirostris
- Pelagic thresher Alopias pelagicus
- Bigeye thresher Alopias superciliosus
- Common thresher Alopias vulpinus
- Pacific angelshark Squatina californica
- Mexican hornshark Heterodontus mexicanus
- Horn shark Heterodontus francisci
- Swell shark Cephaloscyllium ventriosum
- Leopard shark Triakis semifasciata
- Brown smoothhound Mustelus henlei
Rays, Mantas and Guitarfish 18 species
Every fish in this group is on the La Paz Bay fish checklist (533 species).
- Oceanic manta Mobula birostris
- Munk's pygmy devil ray Mobula munkiana
- Spinetail devil ray Mobula japanica
- Smoothtail devil ray Mobula thurstoni
- Sicklefin devil ray Mobula tarapacana
- Pacific spotted eagle ray Aetobatus laticeps
- Bat ray Myliobatis californica
- Golden cownose ray Rhinoptera steindachneri
- Diamond stingray Hypanus dipterurus
- Longtail stingray Hypanus longus
- California butterfly ray Gymnura marmorata
- Cortez round stingray Urobatis maculatus
- Round stingray Urobatis halleri
- Banded guitarfish Zapteryx exasperata
- Shovelnose guitarfish Pseudobatos productus
- Thornback ray Platyrhinoidis triseriata
- Bullseye electric ray Diplobatis ommata
- Giant electric ray Narcine entemedor
Reef Fish 76 species
Every fish in this group is on the La Paz Bay fish checklist (533 species).
- King angelfish Holacanthus passer
- Cortez angelfish Pomacanthus zonipectus
- Clarion angelfish Holacanthus clarionensis
- Barberfish Johnrandallia nigrirostris
- Threebanded butterflyfish Chaetodon humeralis
- Longnose butterflyfish Forcipiger flavissimus
- Moorish idol Zanclus cornutus
- Panamic sergeant major Abudefduf troschelii
- Cortez damselfish Stegastes rectifraenum
- Beaubrummel Stegastes flavilatus
- Giant damselfish Microspathodon dorsalis
- Bumphead damselfish Microspathodon bairdii
- Scissortail chromis Chromis atrilobata
- Cortez rainbow wrasse Thalassoma lucasanum
- Sunset wrasse Thalassoma grammaticum
- Mexican hogfish Bodianus diplotaenia
- Chameleon wrasse Halichoeres dispilus
- Spinster wrasse Halichoeres nicholsi
- Rockmover wrasse Novaculichthys taeniourus
- California sheephead Semicossyphus pulcher
- Bumphead parrotfish Scarus perrico
- Bluechin parrotfish Scarus ghobban
- Azure parrotfish Scarus compressus
- Loosetooth parrotfish Nicholsina denticulata
- Coral hawkfish Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
- Giant hawkfish Cirrhitus rivulatus
- Longnose hawkfish Oxycirrhites typus
- Panamic soldierfish Myripristis leiognathus
- Tinsel squirrelfish Sargocentron suborbitale
- Barspot cardinalfish Apogon retrosella
- Pacific creolefish Paranthias colonus
- Leopard grouper Mycteroperca rosacea
- Gulf grouper Mycteroperca jordani
- Starry grouper Epinephelus labriformis
- Panama graysby Cephalopholis panamensis
- Cortez soapfish Rypticus bicolor
- Barred serrano Serranus psittacinus
- Bluespotted jawfish Opistognathus rosenblatti
- Yellow snapper Lutjanus argentiventris
- Pacific dog snapper Lutjanus novemfasciatus
- Blue-and-gold snapper Lutjanus viridis
- Spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus
- Barred pargo Hoplopagrus guentherii
- Mexican goatfish Mulloidichthys dentatus
- Cortez sea chub Kyphosus elegans
- Pacific spadefish Chaetodipterus zonatus
- Panamic fanged blenny Ophioblennius steindachneri
- Browncheek blenny Acanthemblemaria crockeri
- Redhead goby Elacatinus puncticulatus
- Jewel moray Muraena lentiginosa
- Zebra moray Gymnomuraena zebra
- Panamic green moray Gymnothorax castaneus
- Cortez garden eel Heteroconger digueti
- Roughjaw frogfish Fowlerichthys avalonis
- Pacific seahorse Hippocampus ingens
- Reef cornetfish Fistularia commersonii
- Chinese trumpetfish Aulostomus chinensis
- Stone scorpionfish Scorpaena mystes
- Finescale triggerfish Balistes polylepis
- Orangeside triggerfish Sufflamen verres
- Blunthead triggerfish Pseudobalistes naufragium
- Scrawled filefish Aluterus scriptus
- Barred filefish Cantherhines dumerilii
- Yellowtail surgeonfish Prionurus punctatus
- Razor surgeonfish Prionurus laticlavius
- Achilles tang Acanthurus achilles
- Convict surgeonfish Acanthurus triostegus
- Goldrim surgeonfish Acanthurus nigricans
- Yellowfin surgeonfish Acanthurus xanthopterus
- Guineafowl puffer Arothron meleagris
- Bullseye puffer Sphoeroides annulatus
- Spotted sharpnose puffer Canthigaster punctatissima
- Balloonfish Diodon holocanthus
- Spotted porcupinefish Diodon hystrix
- Spotted burrfish Chilomycterus reticulatus
- Spotted boxfish Ostracion meleagris
Open Water and Game Fish 41 species
Every fish in this group is on the La Paz Bay fish checklist (533 species).
- Roosterfish Nematistius pectoralis
- Dorado (mahi-mahi) Coryphaena hippurus
- Yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares
- Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis
- Skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis
- Black skipjack Euthynnus lineatus
- Wahoo Acanthocybium solandri
- Pacific sierra Scomberomorus sierra
- Striped marlin Kajikia audax
- Black marlin Istiompax indica
- Blue marlin Makaira nigricans
- Sailfish Istiophorus platypterus
- Yellowtail amberjack Seriola lalandi
- Almaco jack Seriola rivoliana
- Pacific crevalle jack Caranx caninus
- Bigeye trevally Caranx sexfasciatus
- Bluefin trevally Caranx melampygus
- Black jack Caranx lugubris
- Green jack Caranx caballus
- Golden trevally Gnathanodon speciosus
- African pompano Alectis ciliaris
- Gafftopsail pompano Trachinotus rhodopus
- Rainbow runner Elagatis bipinnulata
- Pilotfish Naucrates ductor
- White suckerfish (remora) Remora albescens
- Spearfish remora Remora brachyptera
- Mexican barracuda Sphyraena ensis
- Giant sea bass Stereolepis gigas
- Ocean whitefish Caulolatilus princeps
- White snook Centropomus viridis
- Opah Lampris guttatus
- Oarfish Regalecus russelii
- Slender sunfish Ranzania laevis
- Sharptail mola Mola lanceolata
- Pacific sardine Sardinops sagax
- Pacific thread herring Opisthonema libertate
- Milkfish Chanos chanos
- Striped mullet Mugil cephalus
- Sharpchin flyingfish Fodiator acutus
- Pacific leopard flounder Bothus leopardinus
- Cortez halibut Paralichthys aestuarius
Marine Mammals 15 species
Recorded in the Sea of Cortez; sightings depend on the season.
- California sea lion Zalophus californianus
- Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus
- Common dolphin Delphinus delphis
- Spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris
- Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus
- Orca Orcinus orca
- False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens
- Short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
- Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae
- Gray whale Eschrichtius robustus
- Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus
- Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus
- Bryde's whale Balaenoptera edeni
- Minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata
- Sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus
Sea Turtles 5 species
Recorded in the Sea of Cortez; green and hawksbill turtles live around Isla Espíritu Santo.
- Green (black) sea turtle Chelonia mydas
- Hawksbill sea turtle Eretmochelys imbricata
- Loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta
- Leatherback sea turtle Dermochelys coriacea
- Olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea
Seabirds and Shorebirds 18 species
Recorded around La Paz and the islands of the Gulf.
- Blue-footed booby Sula nebouxii
- Brown booby Sula leucogaster
- Magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens
- Brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
- Double-crested cormorant Nannopterum auritum
- Brandt's cormorant Urile penicillatus
- Heermann's gull Larus heermanni
- Yellow-footed gull Larus livens
- Elegant tern Thalasseus elegans
- Royal tern Thalasseus maximus
- Red-billed tropicbird Phaethon aethereus
- Black-vented shearwater Puffinus opisthomelas
- Craveri's murrelet Synthliboramphus craveri
- Osprey Pandion haliaetus
- Great blue heron Ardea herodias
- Reddish egret Egretta rufescens
- Yellow-crowned night heron Nyctanassa violacea
- American oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus
Sea Stars, Urchins and Cucumbers 12 species
Recorded on the reefs and shores of the Sea of Cortez.
- Panamic cushion star Pentaceraster cumingi
- Sun star Heliaster kubiniji
- Pyramid sea star Pharia pyramidata
- Tan bat star Phataria unifascialis
- Bradley's sea star Mithrodia bradleyi
- Brittle stars Ophiocoma spp.
- Crown sea urchin Diadema mexicanum
- Slate pencil urchin Eucidaris thouarsii
- Burrowing urchin Echinometra vanbrunti
- Flower urchin Toxopneustes roseus
- White sea urchin Tripneustes depressus
- Giant sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus
Octopus, Squid and Shells 15 species
Recorded on the reefs and shores of the Sea of Cortez.
- Hubbs' octopus Octopus hubbsorum
- Humboldt squid Dosidicus gigas
- La Paz pearl oyster Pinctada mazatlanica
- Rainbow-lipped pearl oyster Pteria sterna
- Chocolate clam Megapitaria squalida
- Pen shell Atrina maura
- Pacific thorny oyster Spondylus limbatus
- Giant conch Lobatus galeatus
- Black murex Hexaplex nigritus
- Princely cone Conus princeps
- Sea hare Dolabella auricularia
- Spanish shawl nudibranch Flabellinopsis iodinea
- Agassiz's nudibranch Felimare agassizii
- Norris's nudibranch Felimida norrisi
- Tambja nudibranch Tambja abdere
Crabs, Shrimp and Lobsters 10 species
Recorded on the reefs and shores of the Sea of Cortez.
- Sally Lightfoot crab Grapsus grapsus
- Panamic arrow crab Stenorhynchus debilis
- Blue spiny lobster Panulirus inflatus
- Green spiny lobster Panulirus gracilis
- Warrior swimming crab Callinectes bellicosus
- Hermit crab Calcinus californiensis
- Fiddler crabs Leptuca spp.
- Banded coral shrimp Stenopus hispidus
- Harlequin shrimp Hymenocera picta
- Mantis shrimp Stomatopoda
Corals, Sea Fans and Jellies 12 species
The reefs around Isla Espíritu Santo are built mainly by Pocillopora, Porites and Pavona corals.
- Cauliflower coral Pocillopora verrucosa
- Rasp coral Pocillopora meandrina
- Finger coral Porites panamensis
- Giant pavona coral Pavona gigantea
- Lettuce coral Pavona varians
- Psammocora coral Psammocora spp.
- Orange cup coral Tubastraea coccinea
- Sea fans Pacifigorgia spp.
- Sea whips Muricea spp.
- Black coral Antipathes galapagensis
- Cannonball jellyfish Stomolophus meleagris
- Sea anemones Actiniaria
Questions About La Paz Wildlife
How many fish species live in the Sea of Cortez?
About 900. La Paz Bay alone has 533 fish species on record, including 66 sharks and rays, from whale sharks and mobulas to angelfish, parrotfish, seahorses and garden eels.
What animals can you see on a boat tour in La Paz?
Depending on the season and the tour: whale sharks, California sea lions, mobula rays, dolphins, orcas, humpback and gray whales, sea turtles, reef fish, and seabirds like blue-footed boobies, brown boobies, frigatebirds, pelicans, cormorants and Heermann's gulls. Around the whale sharks you'll also see remoras and huge schools of sardines. Fishing trips target roosterfish, dorado, yellowtail, tuna, marlin, wahoo and sailfish.
When can you swim with whale sharks in La Paz?
From mid-November through April. Swimming opens once CONANP's count of sharks in the bay reaches seven.
When can you swim with sea lions at Los Islotes?
From September through May. Swimming at Los Islotes closes June 1 to August 31 for the breeding season. The San Rafaelito colony near Balandra can be visited all year.
When do mobula rays gather near La Paz?
The big mobula aggregations come in May through early July, on the Sea Safaris and The Hook Mobula Expedition.
Sources
- La Paz Bay fish checklist: Diversidad y conservación de los peces de la bahía de La Paz (533 species)
- Fish assemblages around Isla Espíritu Santo (161 species)
- Coral reefs of Isla Espíritu Santo (Hidrobiológica, 2023)
- Important Shark and Ray Area: Bahía de La Paz
- UNESCO: Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California
- CONANP: Zona Marina del Archipiélago de Espíritu Santo
Every animal on this page is wild. What you see depends on the season, the weather and the day. Your guide reads the water and goes where the life is.