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There’s no getting around it; Baja is the place to be for eco-tours. The peninsula is blessed with hugely contrasting landscapes all packed closely together. You can be by the beach sipping on a cold pina colada one minute, then swimming with whale sharks the next. Sounds like my idea of a vacation.
The Sea of Cortez alone is home to 39% of the world’s marine mammal species! Plus, San Ignacio Lagoon is the only place where you can touch gray whales. There really is some special encounters to have in the ocean here.
So without further ado, let’s get into the BEST Eco Baja tours so you can dive right into Baja’s waters with all its ocean friends.
Photo: Audy Scala
The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more.
Best Eco Baja Tours
When I started planning my trip to Baja, I knew I wanted it to be wildlife and nature-themed, so I got started searching for eco Baja tours. Hundreds of options flashed on my laptop screen, and it wasn’t long before I felt pretty overwhelmed. How would I know which were the best tours?
Lucky for you, I’m out the other end of my search and I’ve found all the best options, so you won’t need to spend your free time reading endless tour descriptions.
Multi-day tours wouldn’t usually be my preferred travel style, but seeing as most of the coolest experiences in Baja require a guide anyway, it just makes sense.
Get ready to dive head-first into the best tours in Baja, for your epic trip to Mexico.
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1. Among the Great Whales – Best Eco Baja Tour Overall
Trip Details
- Days: 8 days
- Price: $6,623
- Group Size: Max 100 people
- Fitness Required: Average. You should be comfortable going on light hikes and doing activities like kayaking.
- Accommodations: You’ll stay in a private cabin onboard the expedition ship.
- Meals Included: All your meals are included.
- Service Level: Luxury. The epic National Geographic-Lindblad fleet is fit for a queen!
When I found out that National Geographic ran tours in Baja, I did a double-take. One of the most famous expedition companies was taking people out to explore Baja, and I could join them – I’d struck gold!
This amazing great whale tour covers a fair bit of distance over the 8 days, so you’ll get to see the best of Baja. Start your expedition in Bahia Concepcion, known for its striking beaches and mangrove forests (which you can kayak through!). Sail alongside grey whales and their calves in the Gulf of California and then again in Puerto Lopez Mateos, where you’ll venture into the lagoon with local fishermen. From there, you’ll spend time hiking and exploring some of the coolest islands in Baja, like the Isla Espiritu Santo!
One of the coolest things, which you won’t get with other tour companies, is the ship’s hydrophone. It picks up the whale’s song as they sing to one another underwater, and you get to listen on the boat.
Who is this tour best for?
Anyone who has a keen sense of adventure, naturalist, wildlife fanatics, and families will all love this tour! It’s also a great option for adventurous couples.
Cons:
- As amazing as it is, this tour is on the pricier side.
- You won’t spend any time in popular towns like Los Cabos and La Paz.
2. Baja California Discovery: Exploring Mexico’s Gulf of California – Best For Culture and Wildlife
Trip Details
- Days: 11 days
- Price: $9,930
- Group Size: max 100 people
- Fitness Required: Average. Be ready to paddle a kayak and go on hikes.
- Accommodations: You’ll be staying aboard their luxury expedition ship.
- Meals Included: All your meals are included.
- Service Level: Luxury, just wait until you see the National Geographic-Lindblad fleet.
Get ready to dive underwater with seals, hike alongside spiny-tailed iguanas, and get up close with sperm whales! There’s some really unusual wildlife on this tour, like Bryde’s whales and fin whales, so it’s a level up from the usual grey whale tours.
Most tours in Baja are wildlife-themed, so it’s no surprise that this epic 11-day Baja eco-tour is too. The thing that makes this tour stand out from other tours is that there’s some culture thrown in the mix, too. You’ll get to go to the old mining town of Santa Rosalia, where you’ll learn about the town’s history and the steel church.
Who is this tour best for?
If you’re animal-crazy but you’d also like to see more of Baja than just the ocean, this is the tour for you. Culture-lovers, hiking maniacs, and groups of friends will love this tour.
Cons:
- Because the tour is so wildlife-focused, it doesn’t run year-round.
- There will be a lot of you on the ship, so it’s not the most intimate tour.
3. 7-Day Gray Whale Trip – Best For Independent Travellers
Trip Details
- Days: You can choose how long you stay.
- Price: $4,300
- Group Size: Come as a solo traveler or bring the family! You’ll have a private lodge and occasionally join others at the camp for tours.
- Fitness Required: Average.
- Accommodations: 4 nights in cozy but comfy off-grid wooden cabins at Campo Cortez and 2 nights at La Mision luxury hotel.
- Meals Included: All included.
- Service Level: Basic.
The main reason the San Ignacio Lagoon is such a special place to see grey whales is that the resident whales are super friendly. They’ll come right by your boat and even let you give them a little scratch and pet! They don’t do this anywhere else in the world, so it’s a really magical experience.
When you’re not out looking for grey whales, relax at camp and enjoy soaking in the scenery and look out for the coolest birds, or go on light hikes. You can rent kayaks, too, and paddle across the lagoon!
I think this is one of the best eco tours in Baja because the cabins are all off-grid, so you’ll leave a minimal footprint on this amazing place.
Who is this tour best for?
Eco-conscious travelers, families, couples, naturalists, and travelers who prefer to have more autonomy over their schedule.
Cons:
- The facilities are more basic than on other tours.
- You’ll need to think more about what you want to do with your free time.
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Get Yours Here Read Our Review4. Camp Cuevas Conservation Adventure – Best For Conservation Enthusiasts
Trip Details
- Days: 4 days
- Price: $1,525
- Group Size: Max 12 people
- Fitness Required: Average
- Accommodations: You’ll stay in dome tents kitted out with proper beds
- Meals Included: All included
- Service Level: Basic – even though the tents are super cozy, they aren’t a hotel!
This conservation tour in Baja is like nothing else I’ve come across. The Cuevas brothers are 4th-generation shark hunters who have changed the family business on its head and now use their tracking skills to run their wildlife protection program.
Follow Juan and Felipe into the Sea of Cortez, where you’ll meet hammerhead sharks, swim with sea lions, meet Eastern Pacific Hawksbill Turtles, and swim through bioluminescent plankton!
You’ll also get to join them in their day-to-day errands, like making tortillas!
Who is this tour best for?
Adventurous souls who don’t mind giving up some of their comforts for an epic adventure, couples who love the outdoors, families with teens, and solo travelers who want to meet like-minded people.
Cons:
- You might not see whales on this tour.
- The dome tents can get pretty warm during the hottest hours of the day.
5. Baja Ocean Safari – The Longest Eco Baja Wildlife Tour
Trip Details
- Days: 11 days
- Price: The price depends on the size of the group, so you’ll need to reach out to the tour company.
- Group Size: minimum 4 guests
- Fitness Required: Average
- Accommodations: You’ll stay in a mix of camps and hotels.
- Meals Included: All your meals are included.
- Service Level: Standard.
This epic 11-day adventure hits all the top destinations on the Baja checklist. From the island of Isla Espiritu Santo to the quirky town of Todos Santos, you’ll get a well-rounded look at the Baja Peninsula.
Travel from one gorgeous beach to another, and between breathtaking desert islands surrounded by pristine blue ocean that you can dive right into!
Wondering what wildlife you’ll see on your trip? What won’t you see?! Blue whales, whale sharks, sea lions, sharks, mobula rays, and sea turtles are all part of the lineup here. Get ready for a lifetime of experiences packed into less than two weeks.
Did I mention they don’t use single-use plastics? It really is the perfect eco Baja tour.
Who is this tour best for?
Naturalists, outdoorsy couples, and groups of friends who want a guide to themselves!
Cons:
- The price varies depending on your group size.
- As always, sightings of whale sharks can never be guaranteed.
6. Camp Cecil de la Isla – Best For Beach Lovers
Trip Details
- Days: The minimum stay is 2 nights, but you can stay for as long as you want!
- Price: $395 per person
- Group Size: You’ll share the camp with other people, but have a private space to yourselves!
- Fitness Required: Average – there will be hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling on the cards.
- Accommodations: You’ll stay in a glamorous dome tent with a real bed in it.
- Meals Included: All meals are included.
- Service Level: Standard.
Camp on a luxurious white sand beach on the shores of the Sea of Cortez on the Isla de Espiritu Santo. Known for its stunning Espiritu Santo National Park, the island is covered in hiking trails that will take you through the coastal desert landscape, weaving through cactus plants with sea views in every direction.
Ready to cool down? Then jump in and go snorkeling with the sea lions, sea turtles, and tropical fish! You can’t leave without going on a boat trip (or two) to hunt for the island’s coolest residents – whales and sharks.
Not sure if the more adventurous activities are for you? Then leave everyone else to it and relax on the beach with a cocktail instead – every day is happy hour on the island.
Who is this tour best for?
This tour is great for all kinds of travelers. You can choose to pack your day full of activities, or (if you’re anything like me) laze about on the beach instead. Couples, families, and solo travelers are all welcome.
Cons:
- You won’t be able to see as much as Baja because you’ll be restricted to the one island on this tour.
- The whales aren’t as friendly here as in the San Ignacio Lagoon, so you won’t be able to get as close to them.
Best Day Tours from La Paz
I get it, committing to a multi-day trip is a lot. Not just time-wise, your bank account will also take a hit. Or maybe you’re already in Bajas and you feel like you’ve missed your shot because you didn’t plan ahead… But don’t panic – I’ve got your back.
These awesome day trips are a great way to cut costs and have more independence as to what you do, and when you do it.
1. Isla Espiritu Santo Day Trip
You don’t have to go all out and book a week-long ship expedition to see the best of Baja, and this day tour proves it. Seeing sea lions has always been on my bucket list, mainly because I think they’re absolutely adorable!
On one of my trips to Baja, I couldn’t afford a multi-day tour, so I flew into La Paz and went on lots of day tours from the city.
After a lot of searching, I found this awesome day trip to Isla Espiritu Santo, where I got to swim through coral reefs and enjoy time watching the sea lions from the comfort of a beach towel!
2. Guided La Paz Street Food Tour
You don’t have to be crazy about the outdoors to have fun in La Paz! This vibrant city has more to offer than marine life for travelers who’d rather keep their feet on the ground.
Once I started to feel seasick from all my boat trips, I decided to join this street food tour and, oh boy, am I glad I did!
I’d forgotten how delicious Mexican food is, but one bite of a fish taco and I was ready to go. The best thing about going with a guide was that he knew all the best local spots, which saved me loads of time and possibly a dodgy tummy too.
3. Whale Shark Snorkelling Tour
Swimming with whale sharks is one of the most iconic things you can do in La Paz. These gentle giants can seem scary from above, but once you dive into the water and get up close to them, you’ll quickly realize how calm and unbothered they are by you.
It was especially good going with a team of marine biologists who knew all about the area and local wildlife.
4. Ocean Safari in La Ventana With Mobula Rays and Orcas
There’s nothing quite as insane as watching mobula rays jumping out of the water all around your boat. The energy was ecstatic, and I couldn’t take my eyes off them! We were able to get in the water, too, which was an experience I’ll never forget.
But that wasn’t all, we found dolphins and humpback whales too! Just as I thought the day couldn’t get better, we found a pod of orcas that followed us as we sailed along the coast.
We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.
Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on OspreyQuick Guide to Visiting Baja
Not sure what to bring along? Worried about missing the whale season? I’ve got you covered. It can be a nightmare trying to coordinate a trip, and there always seems to be more research you haven’t tackled yet.
No, save you time, I’ve put together this handy guide to visiting Baja, a sort of traveling cheat-sheet – you’re welcome!
Best Time to Visit Baja
Baja has very specific seasons for different wildlife. That means that most tours don’t operate year-round, which can be a bit annoying. On the plus side, it does mean it’s different every time you go, so you can keep going back!
The one season I try to avoid in Baja is summer because it gets uncomfortably hot, which makes it harder to paddle your kayak and enjoy going on long hikes. Unfortunately, it’s pretty much scorching from June through to September.
There is one appeal to visiting in summer, though, and that’s the fact that it’s mobula season! The rays come to Baja to breed between late April and July, so they’re abundant in numbers over the summer. Not up for fighting with the heat? Don’t worry, they come back in November and early January.
Photo: Audy Scala
The plus side? Baja is the perfect place to escape when you need to get away from the gruelling winter cold. The La Paz whale shark season is from October through to April, too, so you’ll be able to go swimming with these gentle giants on your winter escape.
If you ask me, December is the best time to come. It’s when all the humpbacks and grey whales are in Baja and the temperatures are sunny and warm, but not unbearably hot.
Already committed to Christmas dinner at Mom’s? Don’t worry, whale season runs from December through to April, so you’ve got plenty of time to get to Baja and see them.
Travel Insurance for your Trip to Baja
Okay, you’ve booked that trip, packed your finns and wetsuit…but have you booked your travel insurance?
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
What to Pack for Baja
Baja is hot year-round, which is great if you’re like me and you love packing light. The one thing you have to prepare for is keeping the sun off you because it’s no fun having your holiday ruined by a nasty sunburn.
Leave your heavy winter gear at home and save on your luggage for this eco Baja tour. If you ask me, that just means more cocktails on the beach!
From swimming gear to less sun protection, here’s a handy list of everything you should add to your backpack:
- Lightweight hiking trousers for cliffside hikes. Ideally, get ones that unzip into shorts too!
- Swimwear. To save extra space, see if you can find swim trunks that double up as hiking shorts too.
- Sun cream. Remember – Baja is hot, hot, hot!
- Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the blaring sun when you’re out on boat trips.
- Your best camera.
- A lightweight, quick-drying travel towel for the beach.
- Some thin pajamas that won’t make you sweat at night.
- A dry bag that you can put your phone and important documents in when you’re out on the open water.
- Hiking sandals, like a pair of Tevas or Keens.
- Bring along a transparent waterproof phone case if you want to take underwater pictures.
- Got some snorkeling kit at home? Bring it along! That way, you can save some money and do some solo snorkeling.
- Pack a daypack that you can take on hikes.
- Bring a reusable water bottle. Baja is hot and arid, so it’s a good idea to always have water on you!
Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.
Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!
Buy on REIFinal Thoughts on the Best Eco Baja Tours
Baja is a peninsula full of surprises. I spent my days there getting up close with the incredible marine mammals, like sea lions and grey whales, and it was so surreal that it still feels like it was all a dream.
If you’re still confused about which tour is for you after reading this, then the ABSOLUTE best option on the cards has to be National Geographic’s Among the Great Whales tour. Sadly, it is a little on the pricier side – but it’s money well spent!
Hoping to get a taste of what the longer tours are like, but not ready to commit to a multi-day expedition? Then book yourself onto the Isla Espiritu Santo day trip and find out what Baja is all about.
I hope you’re as buzzing about Baja as I am. Catch you out there!
Photo: Audy Scala
- Check out our ultimate guide to backpacking around Mexico.
- Check out where to stay in Mexico for some dope accommodation
- Figured out where you wanna stay? Now it’s time to pick the perfect hostel in Mexico.
- Swing by our super epic backpacking packing list to prep for your trip.
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