At the southern tip of Baja Mexico is the peninsula’s gem, La Paz. The translation of La Paz is “peace” and this seaside destination offers an abundance of tranquility and beauty. The crystal clear aqua waters provide great snorkeling opportunities, but if you are looking for a truly memorable La Paz snorkeling experience, head out to the protected waters of Isla Epiritu Santo Island, just off the coast.

What better way to start a seafaring adventure than boarding a boat with local Captain Juan to zoom off and explore the horizon! Regaling us with humorous stories and antidotes to pass the time, we finally reached our destination – a craggy outcrop where a colony of sea lions live and breed. Let me emphasize that this is not one of those aquatic petting zoos — these sea lions are free, uncontained, and thriving in their natural habitat.

As the crew steered the boat closer to the rocks, I could hear the low growling of the males and the sight of dozens of sea lions sunning themselves on the jagged ledges. We anchored, and I excitedly squeezed myself into my wetsuit as quickly as I could manage, slipped on snorkel and fins, I hopped overboard into the chilly water.

“Make sure you go into that cave,” shouted Captain Juan, pointing from the deck. “That’s where the females hang out, waiting for a “dating opportunity!” he added with a bellowing laugh that echoed across the surf.

After taking a few minutes to observe the sea lions in my general vicinity, I cautiously approached the cave. It looked a little dark and ominous at the mouth, but once inside my eyes quickly adjusted. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an enormous dark form whizzed by, just a few feet below me! A male sea lion can weigh up to 880 pounds, and this one looked every bit that size! I could not have stopped the scream that erupted out of the top of my snorkel if my life had depended on it.

I sheepishly popped my head out of the water. “Yay! There’s no one else around to hear me,” I said, though the female sea lions seemed unaffected.

Photo courtesy of La Paz Tourism

Relieved that my scaredy-cat, knee-jerk reaction would remain a secret (until now!), I returned to the swim to quieter waters where the curious pups have been known to swim right up to humans and face them with their huge, soft eyes. Sure enough, within minutes, two playful baby sea lions began to swim in circles around me. One pup softly bumped my side, the sleek coat brushing my hand. Does La Paz snorkeling get any better than that? I think not.

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After climbing back on board, Captain Juan set sail for El Morito, a deserted beach with crystal-aqua water juxtaposed against rugged cliffs. The multi-talented captain doubled as our guide as we hiked to the top of the cliffs. In keeping with the natural, wilderness theme of the day, there isn’t a footpath, so there was a bit of tricky, hand-over-fist and find-a-foothold climbing. But once we reached the summit, the panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez from the top were well worth that sweaty struggle.

Back at the beach, I snagged a kayak and my friend Lisa Somme and I pushed it out into the glassy bay for a peaceful paddle while we waited for our late afternoon lunch. Freshly caught fish cooked over an open fire and homemade tortillas and rice, prepared by our crew and served on real plates, silverware and tablecloths, awaited us on our return.

If there is a better way to spend a day than at the beach and snorkel La Paz, I haven’t found it yet.

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Disclosure: The author was honored to be the guest of La Paz Tourism and CostaBaja Resort during her stay in La Paz, but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own.

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About the Author

Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials.”  Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal.  She has traveled six continents looking for fabulous places and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer (and Gen X!) tribe.