What’s Included
We provide a large and spacious sailing catamaran for this activity. If needed, we redirect guests to our 96’ Cruising Yacht, or another licensed yacht as needed. Each yacht comes with a licensed, certified snorkel boat, licensed captain, a marine biologist or certified guide, and a certified snorkel boat.
Ground transportation is included, as are wetsuits, snorkel gear, snorkel vests, towels, private bathrooms, private fresh-water showers, and reef-friendly sunscreen. Life jackets are always available.
An onboard chef prepares meals which are included. We provide an array of beverages, including beer, snacks, and an open bar. There are excellent areas to lie out on board and enjoy your cruise. A trip to the Sea Lion colony of San Rafaelito is also included. For service quality reasons, we self-restrict guest count to below our licensed capacity unless, weather or government regulators cancel a tour that requires us to include those guests that were previously delayed. In any event, we do not exceed our licensed capacity.
Success Rate
Baja Charters has successfully operated the PREMIER whale shark encounter for twelve years with an almost 100% track record, with only a single one-day exception, PROVIDING the port was open and government regulators did not prevent access to the whale shark feeding zone.
Whale Shark Activity
Swimming with whale sharks is one of life’s great outdoor experiences. However, four federal agencies have overlapping jurisdiction regarding whale shark activities and entry to the whale shark park. Without notice, any one of them can interrupt this outstanding snorkel experience. The impact of fluctuating federal requirements may affect park entry, and whether guests are allowed to swim with a whale shark. If this happens, affected guests receive a 2 for 1 benefit. Each affected guest receives a whale shark certificate to go out at a future date when the whale shark park is reopened, AND we still depart the dock as normal. We scan outside the park for whale sharks, and visit two or three remote beaches, where we snorkel with tropical fish over corals, explore quiet beaches, bays and coves, and put out kayaks, paddleboards, etc. Also included is a visit to the sea lion colony of San Rafaelito, along with an onboard chef, meals, beverages, beer, and an open bar. We provide private bathrooms and showers, towels, snorkel equipment, a separate snorkel boat with guide, and reef-friendly sunscreen
Season & Regulation
The legal whale shark season is October 1st through April 30th. Semarnat, the environmental agency of Mexico, and Conanp, the National Park Service, restrict the number of swimmers in the water with a single whale shark to five at one time, plus a certified guide. The whale shark feeding area became a national park in 2019. It is tightly regulated. Time in the whale shark park is limited to three hours early morning, or two hours later in the day. Licensed snorkel boats are allowed one entry per day.
Ecological Update
There is an immense amount of negative news regarding the world’s oceans, a reduction in sea life, human pollution, etc., AND YET, our firsthand observation tells us that many aspects of our local sea life appear to be improving. For thirteen years we have been on the water almost daily. We are constantly interactive with sea life, noting varieties and the numbers of animals, and the good news is there is simply more sea life in our cruising grounds than a decade ago. This is true of dolphins, whale sharks, mobula rays, giant mantas, whales, frigates, boobies, and sea lions.
Crew Tips
Crew tips are normally a choice made by guests relative to the quality of services provided. Crew tips go directly to the captain and are split evenly after guests depart the boat. Crew tips are normally paid in cash in either pesos or dollars directly to the captain, however a credit card may be used if necessary.
When booking private groups of 20 guests or more. A minimum crew tip of 12% will be added to our standard rates unless adequate assurances are provided as to crew gratuities.
Overnight and extended day and night charters require a crew tip minimum of 12%.
Fitness Considerations
Children under seven are NOT allowed to swim with a whale shark. Strong swimming ability is NOT normally required. However, only guests that are reasonably fit and healthy, with good balance, should enter the water with a whale shark. If you are not strong enough to manage your weight getting into and out of the water on a stainless-steel snorkel boat ladder, it is best to stay in the boat and simply watch the whale sharks up close. This activity is NOT suitable for guests with heart problems, pregnant women over five months along, or guests with mobility issues.
Covid Compliance
The greater Cabo area was the first tourist destination in the world to be fully certified as a Health Secure Destination. Baja Charters complies with all the sanitary and security standards and regulations to operate safely.
Photography
Conanp restrictions on access to the whale shark feeding zone no longer permit us to allocate space to photographers on shared tours. We encourage you to bring your own camera and take all the photos you wish. Subject to safety restrictions and availability, crew members may assist you. Drones are not legal in the whale shark park.
Weather
Winds and waves in the Cabo area are not a good indication of winds and waves in La Paz. The sea around the whale shark area is usually swimmable. We are careful to examine forecasts daily, but wave heights and wind forecasts can be wrong. We must reschedule the Whale Shark encounter two to three times each month for winds and wave action. Temperature, rain, or overcast, do not restrict this activity. We provide shorty wetsuits in adult sizes. We have some children’s sizes. On board, we have private bathrooms with hot water showers and fresh clean towels.
Cancellations and Rescheduling
You may cancel your private charter 30 days or more prior to your activity date and reschedule anytime within a 3-year period. You may reschedule shared tours 5 days prior.
Refund Policy
If maintenance issues, or anything within the normal control of Baja Charters, prevent you from enjoying your booked cruise date, we will provide you with an alternative date that works within your travel plans, or refund your money completely. Baja Charters is NOT responsible for the Port Captain closing the Port, government edict, or changes in bureaucratic regulations without adequate notice. However, in these situations, we will provide an alternative date that works within guest travel plans, or issue an assignable, three-year cash equivalent certificate that may be used for the same or any future activities aboard Baja Cat, and/or other of our owned yachts.
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