Early Bird Pricing until November 30!

Join your GAF friends for 4 days/3 nights (with optional add-on day) in La Paz, Mexico for some amazing adventures including swimming with whale sharks and (hopefully) petting gray whales. La Paz is a magical place that feels more like a small Mexican seaside village than a city. Natural wonders and marine life abound right off the beach walk, aka Malecon, on the Gulf of California.

Temperatures typically range between 80F to 85F.

Water Temperature is usually right around 70F.

If you are from SoCal, this will be like jumping into the height of summer. Everywhere is casual and shorts, t-shirt, and flip flops are acceptable. Packing tips will be sent closer to the trip.

Mask, snorkels, fins, and wetsuits are included on tours as needed.

There is absolutely no getting in the water with gray whales in Magdalena Bay. It is against Mexican and International Law. I know, I know. But, I get asked a couple of times every year.

We will be staying in the locally owned boutique hotel, 7 Crowns Centro, in the center of Old Town, a short 5-minute walk from the Gulf of California and the Malecon. Our hotel is rated excellent for service and rooms. It also has a beautiful modest-sized pool... if you can find time in our schedule to enjoy it.

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 lunch on one of the world's most beautiful and remote beaches. La Paz is host to many excellent restaurants that are surprisingly affordable with a fine dinner often being just $30 or less and beers typically costing just $2!

Join our fun group dinners and happy hours or set out on your own, whatever you prefer. The best restaurants in La Paz are within a few blocks of our hotel, easy walking distance.  We will be transported by luxury van between the airport, the hotel, and our tours. This is a very popular trip with some participants having come on three or more of these tours over the last six years.

CBX - Cross Border Express

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.

TIP- Buy your CBX pass directly from CBX and save!

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

Volaris has started adding surcharges of $30 or more to the CBX pass! So, buy it separately and directly from CBX.

Flying out of Tijuana costs less (currently under $300 including fees) and is much faster no matter where you live in SoCal (although I recommend people near LAX research this for themselves). And, this years flights are excellent!

It is about a 110 minute flight from TIJ to LAP. CBX allows you to park in the United States and walk across the border on a pedestrian bridge completely inside the Tijuana airport. There is a $50 fee (round trip) for CBX. You can use Uber, taxi, or park on the US side (Economy Lot $25/day, Covered Lot $37/day). Reserve your parking well in advance (one year some friends almost missed the plane because the lots were all sold-out!) and get to the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure time. I recommend 3 hours before. Try to carpool! We will facilitate carpools closer to departure. Here is a link to the website and a short intro video-

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

Recommended Flights- Volaris Airlines

Friday February 12, 2027

Depart 9:47am (non-stop) Arrive 12:45pm*

Monday February 15, 2024

Return 8:14pm (non-stop) Arrive 9:10pm

Note- One hour time difference between Tijuana/San Diego & La Paz

*This late return flight opens the awesome opportunity to go on an Ocean Safari (more info below) without the expense of having to stay another day, as was needed in past years. I highly recommend this awesome experience! But... If you need to get back earlier, there are two earlier return flights. I will make sure you get a ride to the airport. I recommend the 4:25pm, if you want to return earlier.

Money and Time Saving Tips- 

1.) If you have a credit card that doesn't charge foreign exchange fees (most don't), select your flights, seats, luggage etc. Right before you hit "buy", change currency from US$ to Mexican Pesos on the Volaris website and save $15+.

2.) Buy your CBX ticket directly from CBX and not through Volaris to save $25-$75. https://www.crossborderxpress.com/en

3.) Buy your airline tickets as soon as possible! Currently flights are under $300 plus CBX cost (CBX is currently $50).

Volaris flights only increase with time.

4.) Consider buying a changeable ticket! It only costs $12 more and allows unlimited changes. This could allow you to add a day or two to your trip etc., if you want. Although the change is free, you will be charged the new flight cost at the time you make the change.

SPECIAL IN 2027 - Ocean Safari Add-On Opportunity! $135

Volaris is offering a late direct flight back to Tijuana this year. This late flight will allow us to take an Ocean Safari in La Ventana on Monday of our return and be back in time for our flight. La Ventana is almost an hour drive from La Paz, but it is worlds away. In past years, participants had to stay another night to go on the Ocean Safari. On past Ocean Safaris, we have seen (and for those that wanted) snorkeled with Orcas, large fevers (aka schools) of mobula rays, and sea lions. In addition, we have seen Humpback whales, Sperm Whales, Reese's dolphins, False killer whales, Spinner dolphins, and much more. Every trip is different and you never know what you are going to see! At $135, in past years you would pay that for the hotel to be able to go on this Ocean Safari in past years.

Add a Day! ...or Two!

La Paz is amazing. You will want to stay longer. I will be! There is lot to explore in La Paz and great day trips as well including a visit to 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 for you.

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 boat captains and other 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 and/or visiting an artist enclave an hour from La Paz. 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, 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.

One year, everyone swam with whale sharks to their heart's content, even one very senior citizen. She wasn't sure she would be able to, but with the assistance of the captain and myself she did it. She said it was "the experience of a lifetime!" 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. Knowing whales the way I do, I've changed our tour to increase the likelihood of the encounters with gray whales. Regardless of being able to touch a gray whale, you will see whales very close up.. Close enough to get what we call a "whale shower" from water blown into the air when they surface to breath.

In 2023, everyone had multiple chances during multiple encounters with numerous whales to pet and even kiss a number of gray whales. Also 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 were 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. In 2025, I lead two tours, two weeks in a row. On the first tour, the port was closed. So, we went South to my secret spot and did a day boat trip with a local captain and swam with huge schools of mobula rays, saw numerous humpback whales close-up, and much more. So, it's Baja! I have tons of tricks up my sleeve and I promise you will have amazing adventures. I'm just not sure which adventures they will be for sure. Hopefully, it will be our currently planned whale shark snorkeling and gray whale petting trips.

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 if you can find a replacement with prior notice (as soon as possible) to Jeffrey Lehmann. We will also help to try and fill your spot, if you can't come. We often have a waiting list. 

I hereby grant permission to Jeffrey Lehmann, Kiss-a-Whale Tours, 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. 

We primarily need these images to help promote future trips. If this is going to prevent you from going on this trip, please contact me. We can possibly work out something that will be acceptable and allow you still to go.

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. The recommended flight is early. So, an additional included activity may be planned. Sunset and drinks at a spectacular bar TBA. Group Dinner Restaurant to follow TBA.

Morning- snorkel with whale sharks. Afternoon- lunch on Balandra Beach and snorkel with sea lions. This itinerary may be switched. Entering the whale shark area is controlled by the Mexican Government and our tour must follow their instructions.

Morning- drive to Magdalena Bay to see gray whales on a special extended 3 hour tour. Afternoon- relax and/or explore La Paz.  Evening- Dinner restaurant TBA.

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

Travel to La Ventana for an Ocean Safari. La Ventana is one of the richest marine environments in the world. Nothing is assured on this trip, but inevitably something will happen. We might encounter Orcas, Humpback Whales, Reese's Dolphin (Rare), Fever (aka school) of Mobula Rays, Dolphins, Sea Lions, Sperm Whales, and much more. Every trip is uniquely unforgettable! Cost $135