Join us for 4 days/3 nights in La Paz, Mexico for some amazing adventures on and in the water. La Paz is a magical place that feels more like a small Mexican seaside village, than a full-fledged city. Natural wonders and marine life abound, some right off the Malecon (beach wall path) in the Gulf of California.

We will be staying in a locally owned boutique hotel in the center of Old Town (La Paz Centro), a short 5-minute walk from the La Paz Cathedral and 10-minute walk from the Gulf of California and the beautiful malecon featuring public art all along its length and right overlooking the beach. Our hotel is rated excellent for service, rooms, and they have a beautiful modest-sized pool... if you can find a moment to go for a dip. Our daily excursions include getting up close and personal with gray whales, snorkeling with whale sharks, and swimming with sea lions off a small island before having a lunch on a beautiful remote beach. La Paz is host to many excellent restaurants that are surprisingly affordable with a fine dinner including a drink often being just $30 or so. Join the group for dinner or eat out on your own, whatever you prefer. The best restaurants in La Paz are within a few blocks of our hotel. We will be transported by luxury van between our tours, airport, and hotel. This is a very popular trip with some participants having come for all four past tours that I've lead to La Paz over the last four years.

Although you are welcome to get to La Paz however is best for you, let me recommend flying out of the Tijuana Airport by parking on the US side and utilizing Cross Border Express (CBX). These flights are cheaper and less than 2 hours to La Paz direct, where most flights from the US are at least 6 hours but often 8 or more hours.

CBX - Cross Border Express

Flying out of Tijuana costs way less and is much faster. It is about 110 minute flight versus an 8 hour or more flight to La Paz from SAN or LAX or somewhere else in the US. CBX allows you to park in the United States and walk across a pedestrian bridge into the Tijuana airport. There is a $38 fee round trip to do this that I recommend you buy when purchasing your airline ticket. You can use Uber, taxi, or park on the US side (Street parking $15/day, Economy Lot $20/day, Covered Lot $35/day). You definitely should reserve your parking well in advance and get to the airport at least 2.5 hours or more before departure time. I recommend 3 hours or more. 

Carpooling is a possibility, I will try to facilitate this closer to departure if desired. 

Here is a link to the website and a short intro video-

https://www.crossborderxpress.com/en/about 

Recommended Flights- Volaris Airlines

Friday February 14, 2025

Depart 12:36pm (non-stop) Arrive 3:29pm*

Monday February 17, 2024

Return 6:49pm (non-stop) Arrive 7:51pm

*Remember there is an hour time difference

Money and Time Saving Tips- 

1.) If you have a credit card that doesn't charge foreign exchange fees (many don't), buy your tickets in Mexican Pesos on the Volaris website and save $10+

2.) Buy your CBX ticket when you buy your flights. It's just easier. You will get one QR code for both your flight and CBX.

3.) Buy your airline tickets as soon as you know you can go: 1. Volaris Airlines tickets just increase in cost. 2. The exchange rate is excellent right now.

4.) If you think you might come with us on another Mexico trip in 2024, join the Volaris Club. It gives great discounts and will give you a carry-on bag for free. It isn't worth it if you will only go on this trip, but absolutely worth it if you fly Volaris more than once in a year.

5.) Consider buying a changeable ticket. They aren't much more expensive. This could allow you to add a day or two to your trip... which many people have ended up doing.

Add a Day or Two!

La Paz is amazing. You will want to stay longer. I will be! You can just explore La Paz more or go on an Ocean Safari in nearby La Ventana (just 20 minutes south of La Paz) or visit the artist enclave of Todos Santos (Just an hour south of La Paz). I'm always open to exploring more and am happy to facilitate additional activities and an extension of your hotel stay as well as join in for those that add a day or two. A one-day add-on will be added as an option soon.

We are going into nature to experience some of the most remarkable mega fauna on the planet. There is no guarantee that you will actually be able to pet (or even more remarkably kiss) a gray whale or snorkel with a whale shark or for that matter even swim with a sea lion. Sometimes winds in the Gulf of California pick-up and cause the Port of La Paz to be closed for days. It's possible that a storm could blow in from the Pacific Ocean as well. Cold water could cause the whale sharks to move to warmer waters in places unknown. As your trip organizer, I will be watching the weather closely and be in constant contact with local experts on what is going on with the wildlife that we are going to La Paz to see. I will be managing our trip every moment both before we leave and while we are in Baja. It's possible if not probable that everything will go exactly as planned. It happens this way most of the time. It's also possible that we may change our schedule due to changing conditions. So, the schedule might change so we flip the days that we swim with whale sharks with the day we see gray whales. If one of these tours must be cancelled due to weather or lack of animals, I have a few excellent Plan B's up my sleeve that may include seeing and even swimming with wild orcas or riding horses on the beach and afterwards enjoying an afternoon relaxing day around a beautiful pool on a remote rancho. If one or more of the activities included in this trip must be substituted for whatever reason, a replacement activity will be organized but there will not be a refund, partial or full. This is an adventure and nature and life is... well.... unpredictable. No matter what happens, it is my goal to make your trip to La Paz amazing and unforgettable so that you (like many that have gone on past trips) return with me again and again.

In 2024, everyone swam with whale sharks to their heart's content, even one very senior citizen that initially wasn't sure she could was able to after the assistance of the captain, guide, and myself (she said it was "the experience of a lifetime!"). But, only about half of the participants in our first trip were able to actually pet gray whales and only a couple pet gray whales on the second trip. Still, gray whales were extremely close to the boat on both trips. Close enough to get what we call a "whale shower" from water blown into the air when breathing. In 2023, everyone had multiple chances during multiple encounters with numerous whales to pet and even kiss a number of gray whales. In 2023, unfortunately, the La Paz Port was closed due to wind and the whale sharks disappeared for the first time in recorded history due to the cold water these winds brought. So, we instead enjoyed a beautiful day riding horses on a remote beach and exploring the artists enclave of Todo Santos. In 2022, almost everyone had a chance to pet gray whales but only some where able to actually kiss a whale. Trips in 2021 and 2022 went exactly to plan and the weather was perfect. Everyone that wanted to pet the gray whales could and a good number even kissed the whales. In these years, everyone that wanted to swam with whale sharks as well. Just FYI- gray whales are found on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja Peninsula while whale sharks are found in the Gulf of California right off the coast from La Paz. Despite just being 60 miles apart, the weather is often completely different between the two coasts.

By registering for this event online, you agree that this reservation is non-refundable. I suggest purchasing travel insurance. If you do need to cancel after payment of your initial deposit or final payment, the trip is transferable with prior notice (as soon as possible) to Jeffrey Lehmann. We will also help to try and fill your spot. 

By registering for this event online, you understand and realize that participation in the event and activities held could include actions or tasks which might be dangerous to you. You agree to the fact that participation can cause possible harm including serious injury and even death to you. You release Jeffrey Lehmann, any additional organizers, or fellow participants from all liability, costs, and damages which could arise from participation in these events and activities. You agree to accept financial responsibility for the costs related to any and all emergency treatments etc. when registering. Again, I highly recommend you seriously consider travel insurance. If you do not agree to this release, please do not register for this tour. In addition, some of our tours will also require that you sign a release of liability for them. 

With that said, we have not had any injuries to speak of. The only one that I am aware of is someone who stepped on a wood hole cover on the sidewalk that collapsed and scrapped his leg. Please do not step on hole covers including manhole covers no matter how solid they may look. Walk around them for your own safety. 

I hereby grant permission to Jeffrey Lehmann and Barnstormer Productions any and all of the foregoing to use any photograph, video, or other record of my image for any purpose whatsoever, including (but not limited to) telecasts, universal electronic mediums (ie. streaming services, mobile devices, and the internet), printed material and the press.

I have read this agreement and by signing up for this tour fully understanding its terms and that I have given up substantial rights by agreeing to this and have agreed to it freely and without inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law. I also agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect. 

Airport pick-up & Hotel check-in. Sunset and drinks at the Catedral Hotel. Group Dinner Restaurant TBA.

Morning- snorkel with whale sharks. Afternoon- lunch on Balandra Beach and snorkel with sea lions. 

Morning- drive to Magdalena Bay to see gray whales on extended 3 hour tour. Afternoon/Evening relax & explore city.  

Fun free day: sleep in, explore La Paz, meet for lunch, or lay by pool... until transfer to the airport.