Swim with Orcas & Mobula Rays
Experience the World’s Aquarium – Where the Ocean Comes to Life!
Small groups. Expert captains. Unforgettable ocean encounters.
We exist for one reason — to get you in the water with orcas in the Sea of Cortez. With the most experienced team in the region, dedicated offshore scouting support, and a deep respect for the wildlife we share the water with.
Many trips deliver multiple in-water encounters. Our 90% in-water success rate is the best in the region — and it's built on experience, aerial scouting, and an unwavering commitment to ethical, respectful wildlife encounters.
✨ Why choose Orca Swims Baja
A premium, expert-led expedition that puts you in the water with orcas — not in a crowded boat watching from a distance. Here's what sets us apart from every other operator in the region.
90% in-water success rate
The highest success rate in the region. The vast majority of our tours put guests in the water with orcas — most trips deliver multiple in-water encounters.
Dedicated offshore scouting support
We're one of the only operators with dedicated scouts working the water in real time, tracking orcas and other megafauna and getting us to the action faster than anyone else.
Small groups — 5 or 6 guests
Intimate, personal, and safe. When the moment comes, there's plenty of room in the water — no jostling, no rushed rotations. Just you and the ocean.
The most experienced team in the region
We've partnered with La Ventana's top captains. Decades of local knowledge — every corner of the bay, every seasonal pattern, every orca family. They know it.
6–12 hours on the water, every day
No time limits. We stay out as long as the wildlife keeps giving. The ocean writes the script, not a tour clock.
Custom-built for long ocean days
Our boat was designed for this expedition — with marine bean bags, shade, and space to relax between encounters. Comfort, not compromise.
Wildlife-first, always
Ethical, respectful, never invasive. We follow the wildlife's lead — which is exactly why our encounters are so extraordinary and why the orcas keep returning.
Full transparency — daily sightings log
We track every species, every day, in a public log. Check it before you book to see exactly what we've been seeing. No guesswork, no marketing fluff.
"The world's aquarium"
Jacques Cousteau's words, not ours. The Sea of Cortez is one of the most biodiverse bodies of water on earth — and we've spent years learning its rhythms.
🎁 What's included in your expedition
Everything you need for the trip of a lifetime — booked, arranged, and taken care of.
✓Included
- 7 nights accommodation & 6 sea days
- 6 full days on the water (6–12 hours each)
- All boat charters aboard our custom expedition vessel
- Dedicated real-time offshore scouting support (Monday–Friday)
- Expert local captain & crew
- High-end accommodation in La Ventana
- Breakfast & lunch daily (on the boat)
- Bottled water, sodas, and refreshments
- Airport transfers
- Marine bean bags & shade on board
- Welcome briefing & daily pre-trip planning
·Not Included
- International & domestic flights
- Dinner
- Personal snorkel gear, mask, fins & wetsuit (rentals available)
- Travel insurance (required & highly recommended)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses & gratuities
- Any activities outside the scheduled expedition days
Inclusions may vary by package. Double-check your booking confirmation for the exact details of your trip.
🌊 The orcas of the Sea of Cortez
Not many people know this, but Mexico's Sea of Cortez is home to one of the most remarkable orca populations in the world.
A resident population you can swim with
There are over 200 individual orcas across an estimated 20 families documented in these waters. Warm, tropical seas, abundant prey, and a unique ecosystem make this one of very few places on earth where in-water orca encounters are safely and ethically possible.
Alongside the orcas, our guests have witnessed one of the most diverse collections of megafauna on the planet — from the largest animal ever to exist on earth to rare, deep-water species few humans ever see.
By the numbers
The Sea of Cortez, documented through our daily log.
🐋 What you can expect to see in these waters
Jacques Cousteau called the Sea of Cortez "the world's aquarium" — and for good reason. Here's the full cast of characters we regularly log on the water. Every single one of these has been photographed by our team in recent seasons.
Orca
Our reason for being. 200+ individuals, 20 families.
Blue Whales
Largest animal ever to exist on earth.
Mobula Rays
Massive fevers — thousands-strong aggregations.
Whale Sharks
Largest fish on earth. Up to 35+ ft long.
Humpback Whales
Breaching, feeding, mom-and-calf pairs.
Sperm Whales
Pods of 8–40+ deep-diving giants.
Fin Whales
Second-largest animal on earth.
Bryde's Whales
Regular visitors, including mom-and-calf pairs.
Gray Whales
Early-season migrators passing through.
Minke Whales
Occasional sightings — often hunted by orcas.
False Killer Whales
Rare super-pods of 100+ individuals.
Pilot Whales
Super-pods of 500–700+ regularly.
Baird's Beaked Whales
One of the rarest sightings anywhere.
Giant Manta Rays
Both reef and oceanic — up to 23 ft wingspan.
Bottlenose Dolphins
Curious, playful, often in large pods.
Common Dolphins
Massive mega-pods of hundreds.
Spinner Dolphins
Acrobatic, leaping and spinning through the air.
Pan-Tropical Dolphins
Fast, energetic, and camera-friendly.
Risso's Dolphins
Scarred, striking, and social.
Rough-Toothed Dolphins
Unusual, intelligent, and unforgettable.
Sea Lions
Our La Reina colony — playful and curious.
Hammerhead Sharks
Rare schools seen from above and below.
Silky & Mako Sharks
Open-ocean apex predators.
Mola Mola
Massive ocean sunfish — up to 2,000 lbs.
Sea Turtles
Often seen hunted by orca in dramatic scenes.
Marlin & Sailfish
Billfish hunting bait balls at full speed.
Cow Nose Rays
Graceful schools gliding through shallow water.
Rare Cephalopods
Including translucent Japetella octopus.
Every species above has been documented in our sightings log. See the full list and dates on our daily log page.
⛵ What a day on the water looks like
Every day is different — the wildlife writes the script — but here's the rhythm you can expect.
- Early morning launch We're on the water before the wind picks up. Coffee, briefing, and a plan built on overnight intel and the first scouting passes from above.
- Offshore scouting teams Our scouts radio in orca pods, whale sightings, bait balls, and mobula fevers so we can move to the action fast.
- Finding the animals With our eyes in the sky plus local captain knowledge, we often locate wildlife within the first hour or two. Then it's about reading behaviour and waiting for the right moment.
- In-water encounters When it's safe and the wildlife is receptive, small teams slip into the water with mask, snorkel, and fins. No scuba tanks — just quiet, respectful freediving alongside the animals.
- Multiple species, multiple moments Even on the rare day without orca, the Sea of Cortez delivers — mobula rays, whales, dolphins, sharks, mantas, sea lions. Our log shows sightings nearly every day of the season.
- Return to shore 6 to 12 hours on the water, depending on the day. You'll come back sun-kissed, salt-crusted, and changed by what you saw.
📅 When we run
Our season spans May through August, with every month bringing its own magic. See our daily log for what we've been seeing this season.
May — Peak mobula ray aggregations, the best blue whale month, and dramatic orca encounters.
June — Super-pods of pilot whales, whale sharks, and giant mantas.
July & August — Peak orca frequency, with orca days at their most reliable and the Sea of Cortez still delivering surprises.
Ready to swim with orcas?
Small groups fill up fast — book early and trust the Sea of Cortez to deliver the trip of a lifetime.
Plan Your Expedition →Orca Swims Baja · La Ventana, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Ethical, small-group expeditions led by the most experienced team in the region.
Your Tour Organizer: Nadia Aly
Our tours are managed by Nadia Aly, who is an award winning underwater photographer who leads numerous expeditions around the world throughout the year.