Family Friendly Ocean Safari

SEASONS

July-November

6 Days

TYPES OF ADVENTURES

Liveaboard

PRICING (Pp. dbl occ)

$1,895 USD Adults (16+)
*Children 40% OFF*
$1,137 USD Children (5-15)

The perfect Sea of Cortez family vacation

You’re floating in crystal-clear water as sea lion pups swoop past your mask, doing barrel rolls and coming back for another look while your kids shriek with delight! A pod of dolphins races alongside the bow, everyone grinning ear to ear, surrounded by sun and turquoise water in every direction. And the best part? Tomorrow you wake up in a completely different bay with a whole new set of adventures waiting.

This is the Sea of Cortez—Jacques Cousteau’s “aquarium of the world”—and it lives up to the name. Over multiple days, you’ll encounter an astonishing parade of marine life: playful sea lions, dolphins, schools of tropical fish, with some luck, sea turtles, whales and maybe even orcas! All of this happens in the calm, shallow waters around La Paz, Espíritu Santo, and Loreto, which makes it perfect for first-time snorkelers (kids and parents alike). Summer brings bath-warm water temperatures (21-28°C) and visibility so clear you can see up to 25 meters down, meaning nothing goes unnoticed.

Your days are as packed with adventure as you want them to be. Kayak along desert coastlines, paddleboard over turquoise shallows, snorkel over reefs teeming with life, hike into the desert to discover hidden springs, or challenge the crew to beach soccer on pristine sand. Between activities, head back to your floating home—your liveaboard where you eat, sleep, and recharge. Soak in the hot tub, stretch out on the sundeck, or escape to air conditioning when the midday sun gets intense.

And here’s what really sets this apart: the schedule bends! If the kids are wiped after a big morning, we can slow down. If everyone’s buzzing with energy and wants one more snorkel before sunset, we make it happen. This isn’t a rigid itinerary—it’s an expedition that moves with your rhythm.

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Itinerary: Your Sea of Cortez family ocean safari itinerary

Day 1 – Welcome Aboard

Our Nautilus owned SeeCreatures is located near the harbour in downtown Cabo San Lucas and is your home away from home. We encourage you to fly in early and allow us to arrange for some local diving.

You are welcome to drop your bags off and check-in whenever it’s most convenient. We ask that you please check-in at SeeCreatures Cabo by 4:30pm latest for your complimentary coach transfer to La Paz, where our hosties will be waiting on the back deck for you with trays of margaritas and champagne.

This trip is predominantly focused on snorkelling and freediving, however if you would like to dive we have rental gear available at SeeCreatures before boarding, or you can bring your own gear.

Day 2-5 – Sea of Cortez & Aerial support

Our expert team is dedicated to providing the best possible wildlife experiences. With extensive knowledge of the region, our crew specializes in observing and understanding marine life, ensuring you make the most of your time on the water. They have one goal in mind: to maximize your encounters with the animals.

Mornings begin with a delicious breakfast, then it’s time to gear up for the day’s ocean safari. Our fast support boats head out to wherever the action is—a sea lion colony, a reef teeming with fish, or a calm bay perfect for first-time snorkelers. The boats stay flexible, so if someone spots whale blows on the horizon or mega pods of dolphins passing by, we can shift course and join the fun.

After lunch back on the yacht, afternoons bring more options. Head out for another snorkel session, go kayaking or paddleboarding, or join naturalist-guided nature walks to explore the desert landscape. The support boats keep running as late as anyone wants—right up until the sun starts dropping toward the horizon.

Between activities, your liveaboard is always close by. Need a break? Head back for air conditioning, grab a snack from the galley, soak in the hot tub, or stretch out on the sundeck. For or diving friends, bring your dive gear, and we will be sure to get you some splashes onq local dive sites.

Day 6- Disembark

Morning breakfast. Disembark at 8:30 am in La Paz and complimentary transfer back to either SeeCreatures Cabo San Lucas or SJD Airport.

UNESCO Isla Espiritu Santo: Ocean Safari with Mobula rays

Possible Wildlife Sightings

Mega pods of dolphins
Orcas
California sea lions
Bryde’s whales, pilot, fin, sperm, & false killer whales (ocassionally)
Enormous schools of fish
Mobula rays
Seabirds and more!

Your home at sea

Life on board

These expeditions are based on large ocean-going liveaboard vessels operated by Nautilus Adventures — your home at sea for the week. The daily action happens from smaller, fast support boats designed to get you quickly to the wildlife hotspots, while the mothership handles everything else: comfort, food, and a good night’s rest.

While you sleep, your ship repositions — so every morning you wake up somewhere new, ready for whatever lies ahead. Life on board quickly finds its own rhythm: activities, fresh meals, time to relax, more activities, and then the kind of sleep that only comes after a full day on the water.

Nautilus Adventures is the only liveaboard operator in the world with a certified ISM safety management system — audited annually to the same standards as the world’s largest cruise ships. In short, safety is taken seriously. A full briefing and practice drill on day two means you’ll always know exactly what to do — and can spend the rest of the trip focused on the water.

The Sea of Cortez: one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems

Dolphins are perhaps the most constant companions on any expedition here. Almost every day you can spot them racing the bow of the boat or leaping clear of the water just metres away.

California sea lions are curious, fast, and endlessly entertaining in the water, jumping in to snorkel with them is an easy decision.

Mobula rays form huge aggregations — sometimes numbering in the thousands — a regular sight throughout the summer. Imagine the rays leaping and flipping through the air in displays that have graced countless documentaries.

Big schools of fish — snorkeling with tornadoes of fish is another underwater spectacle. These encounters aren’t rare strokes of luck; that’s just a normal summer in the Sea of Cortez!

Orcas visit the Sea of Cortez year-round, but their numbers peak from spring through summer, offering the highest encounter rates. The Sea of Cortez is home to multiple family pods who move on their own schedule and can cover enormous distances overnight. Here one morning, gone by noon — which only adds to the electric charge of a sighting.

Whales — Bryde’s whales are a more consistent presence in the warmer season, while sperm whales and fin whales turn up occasionally throughout the year. Pilot whales and false killer whales can also make an appearance.

Giant manta rays are equally elusive — with wingspans reaching seven metres, they patrol the deeper reefs near Cerralvo Island during the warmer months. Worth hoping for, harder to predict.

Can we guarantee sightings?

Honestly? No — and with decades of experience in these waters, we’d never pretend otherwise. What we can do is put you in the right place at the right time, with guides and captains who know these waters inside out. We note animal movements, follow the conditions, and make smart calls in real time. The rest is up to nature. No feeding schedules, no glass panels, no guarantees. These are wild animals in a wild ocean.

Respectful marine life encounters

Expert naturalist guides lead all wildlife experiences and operate in full compliance with Mexican marine wildlife regulations — ensuring every encounter is safe, respectful, and deeply memorable.

Our eye in the sky

We collaborate with a year-round research plane over the Sea of Cortez, providing scientists with real-time wildlife observations to support conservation efforts.

What Is Included:

5 nights’ accommodation on a liveaboard
Scheduled group transfers
All core activities and necessary equipment (excluding scuba gear rental)
All meals and snacks
Non-alcoholic drinks
Naturalist guides and expert crew