Sea Safari Norte · Mobulas · Orcas · Dolphins · Year-Round Reserve →
La Paz Malecón · Isla Gaviota · Balandra · Isla Cerralvo

Sea Safari Norte · La PazSwim inthe World's Aquarium.

Orcas Mobula Rays Humpback & Sperm Whales Dolphins 8:00am Departure Max 6 Guests + Balandra Stop
Book Safari Norte → What To Expect
Price
From $3,200
MXN (≈$191 USD)
Departs
8:00 AM
Duration
8 Hours
Group Size
Max 6
Difficulty
Moderate
Lunch
On the Beach
Departure
La Paz Malecón
Safari Norte

The North Point
of Isla Cerralvo.

Sea Safari Norte leaves from the Malecón aboard The Hook's own boat, with a guide beside you in the water. We head north through the Bay of La Paz, past Isla Gaviota, Balandra and El Hongo, to the northern Cerralvo Channel around La Reina and El Saltito. Prefer the south point of the island? See Sea Safari Sur.

Orca pod surfacing in the Cerralvo Channel, La Paz
01

Open Sea — La Reina to El Saltito

Orca pods, Mobula rays, Humpback and Sperm whales, dolphins, Sea Lions, giant mantas. Your guide reads the water and decides where to search.

Coral reef along the Sea Safari Norte route, La Paz
02

Six Guests, One Guide

Strict max of 6 on board — small enough that everyone's in the water for every encounter, no waiting your turn. Your guide is right beside you the entire way.

School of Mobula rays, Sea of Cortez
03

Mobula Rays

Mobulas (Munk's devil rays) gather in schools in the Sea of Cortez and are known for leaping clear of the water. When we find a school, you slip in and swim with them. Peak season is March through June and November through January.

Book Safari Norte →
Full refund 10+ days out or if we cancel for weather
Questions first? WhatsApp us →
1

8:00am — Meet at The Hook

Check in at The Hook on the Malecón. Equipment fitting, safety briefing, early departure ahead of any other boats. The sea is calmest at first light.

2

Isla Gaviota — Blue-footed Boobies

First stop heading north — the island locals call "Boobie Island." Most people fly to the Galapagos for this.

3

Balandra — El Hongo

A 15-minute stop at Mexico's most beautiful beach. Early morning — no crowds, no other boats. Then the open sea awaits.

4

Open Sea — La Reina to El Saltito

Searching the northern Cerralvo Channel for wildlife.

5

Beach Lunch

Fresh ceviche on a secluded beach. The Sea of Cortez in every direction. No other boats. Just your group and the wild ocean.

6

Return to La Paz

Back to the Malecón by early afternoon. Walk into The Hook Bar & Mercado Turistico. They won't believe you.

TripAdvisor Reviews

What Guests Say About Safari Norte

★★★★★
Sea Safari · TripAdvisor
Snorkeling Safari of a Lifetime
"Our snorkeling safari led us to the bay of Muertos. We saw a blue whale closely surface several times. We swam with Sea Lions and schools of fish — thousands. We were surrounded by manta rays and watched them swim all around us, then watched them fly through the air from the boat. Our expert captain always seemed to be one step ahead of the marine life. Evan and the crew left us with several memories to last a lifetime."
TripAdvisor Guest
★★★★★
Sea Safari Sur · La Ventana / Isla Cerralvo
The Best
"10/10 from the guides and the boat to the different areas you go — away from all of the other over visited tour spots. Highly recommend booking a tour with The Hook!"
TripAdvisor Guest
Read All Reviews on TripAdvisor
Isla Cerralvo · Sea of Cortez

Every Season.
A Different Ocean.

Orca pod surfacing near Isla Cerralvo, La Paz
Winter
Dec – Feb
Humpback Whales
Sperm Whales
Gray Whales (Pacific)
Common Dolphins
Sea Lions
Blue-footed Boobies
Mobula Rays
Spring
Mar – May
Orca Pods
Mobula Ray Schools
Humpback Whales
Bottlenose Dolphins
Sea Lions
Giant Mantas
Summer
Jun – Aug
Giant Mantas at La Reina
Mobula Rays
Sea Lions
Dolphins
Sea Turtles
Tropical Fish
Autumn
Sep – Nov
Orca Encounters
Whale Sharks (arriving)
Mobula Rays
Dolphins
Giant Mantas
Sea Turtles

Present Year-Round

Sea Lions · La Reina Colony Common Dolphins Blue-footed Boobies at Isla Gaviota Mobula Rays Tropical Fish & Reef Life Frigatebirds & Seabirds

Every Safari Norte is different. We search from La Reina to El Saltito and go where the wildlife is that day.

Tour Details

What's Included

Included

Full Snorkel EquipmentMask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit — a wetsuit or lifejacket is required by CONANP
Certified Marine GuideExpert guide in the water with you for every encounter
The Hook's Own Boat & CaptainOur vessel, our crew, our standards
Fresh Ceviche Beach LunchServed on a secluded beach — no other boats, just your group. Vegetarian, vegan, and allergy-friendly options available, just let us know.
Passenger InsuranceAll guests covered throughout
La Paz Malecón DepartureNo transport needed — departs right from The Hook

Good To Know

8:00am Early DepartureFirst light on the water — calmer seas, better wildlife encounters
Confident Swimmers OnlyOpen ocean conditions — must be comfortable swimming in the sea
What To WearSwimsuit, reef-safe sunscreen, hat, towel, light jacket for the morning
Bring a GoProYou will want underwater footage — this is that kind of day
Wildlife is WildEvery safari is different. The sea decides what it shows you.
Groups Larger Than 6Can be accommodated on a larger vessel — contact us to arrange

Not Included

Gratuities · Alcoholic beverages · Hotel pickup

Want the Boat to Yourselves?

Shared departures are always capped at 6 guests — that's the point of Safari Norte. Private charters can flex up to 8 guests on The Hook's own boat. Pick your own departure time, no sharing the deck with strangers. From $18,000 MXN (≈$1,070 USD) per boat.

Book a Private Charter →
Our Commitment

Conservation First. Always.

The Northern Cerralvo Channel — Where We Operate

Safari Norte explores the waters of the northern Isla Cerralvo area — from La Reina to El Saltito. This stretch of the Cerralvo Channel is one of the most biologically rich corridors in the entire Sea of Cortez. A massive underwater canyon drops to over 600 meters within a mile — pushing nutrient-rich cold water to the surface and drawing in every species of marine megafauna in the region.

The Hook Experiences follows all official SEMARNAT regulations for every wildlife encounter on Safari Norte.

Certified Guides

Every Hook guide is fully certified in marine wildlife interaction. We never chase animals. We position respectfully and let the wildlife decide every encounter.

Mobula Ray Protection

Mexico banned Mobula ray fishing in 2007. Schools have since grown from hundreds to tens of thousands. We never disrupt feeding or schooling behavior.

La Reina Sea Lion Colony

La Reina — the rocky islet at the northern tip of Cerralvo — hosts a resident California Sea Lion colony. We approach slowly, enter calmly. No chasing, no touching.

UNESCO World Heritage Waters

Isla Cerralvo and the Gulf of California islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every Safari Norte operates within these protections.

Our Standards on Every Safari Norte

No chasing wildlifeNo touching marine animalsNo feedingRespectful approach distancesReef-safe sunscreen onlyNo single-use plasticsAll SEMARNAT regulations followedMax 6 guests — always
The Hook Experiences follows all official SEMARNAT regulations for every wildlife encounter on Safari Norte.
Safari Norte FAQ

Your Questions Answered

Mobulas (Munk's Devil Rays — Mobula munkiana) are acrobatic rays that gather in schools of tens of thousands in the Sea of Cortez. When we find them you go in — swimming inside a school of thousands of Mobulas is one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters on earth. Peak season is March through June and November through January, but Mobulas are encountered year-round on Safari Norte.
Every season offers something extraordinary. March through June brings peak Mobula aggregations in the thousands and orca sightings. Winter brings Humpback and Sperm whales. Summer brings giant mantas to La Reina.
Safari Norte is rated moderate. You must be a confident swimmer comfortable in open ocean conditions. This is an 8-hour active day on the water. If you are unsure contact us and we will be honest about whether it's a good fit.
Baja's weather is reliable most of the season, but if conditions turn unsafe for the crossing, we'll reach out to reschedule or refund before you head to the Malecón. Keep the phone number or email you booked with active during your stay in La Paz — that's how we'll reach you if plans change.
Reserve Your Spot

Ready for
Baja's Wildest Ocean Encounters?

From La Reina to El Saltito. The sea decides the rest.

8:00am Departure Max 6 Guests 8 Hours Beach Lunch Included La Paz Malecón
4.9★ on TripAdvisor
Book Safari Norte →

Prefer the boat to yourselves? Private charter for your group, up to 8 guests, $18,000 MXN (≈$1,070 USD).

Full refund if you cancel more than 10 days before your tour, or if we cancel for weather.
Questions first? WhatsApp us →
Group larger than 6? Email thehookexperiences@gmail.com
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