More Than 15 Years Exploring the Sea of Cortez

For more than fifteen years, Baja Charters has introduced guests to the extraordinary marine life, islands, beaches, and open waters of the Sea of Cortez. What began as a passion for exploring local seas has grown into one of the region's MOST experienced charter operations. Baja Charters offers both shared tours of marine-life experiences and private yacht charters for families, private groups, researchers, schools, organizations, and travelers from around the world. Baja Charters provides access to a fleet of more than 40 private charter vessels, ranging from comfortable boats to catamarans and larger luxury yachts. This allows us to match the boat and experience to the needs of each group. However, our history goes far beyond tourism.

Part of the Story of Marine Research in Baja

Baja Charters has worked alongside marine biologists and researchers studying the remarkable wildlife of the Sea of Cortez. Some of our early marine-biologist partners participated in important initial research and whale shark tagging efforts. Over the years, our boats have supported projects involving marine biologists, schools, government organizations, cancer research groups, fire departments, and conservation initiatives. Two years ago we hosted 40 United Nations scientists traveling to the islands to conduct research regarding endangered wildlife. Our work has taken us to some of the most remarkable wildlife habitats in the region, including magnificent frigate birds and blue-footed booby rookeries. important marine nurseries, and migration routes used by whales and other species.

The Sea of Cortez is home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life. Depending on the season and location, these waters can bring encounters with nine varieties of whales, giant manta rays, spectacular mobula ray gatherings, orcas, five varieties of sea turtles, and numerous species of dolphins. These aren't simply animals to check off a list. Understanding where they feed, breed, migrate, and raise their young is an important part of understanding and protecting the ecosystem itself. We have also welcomed groups whose goal was not simply to see the Sea of Cortez, but to better understand and protect it. One particularly memorable project brought 60 orphaned children and their caregivers to the islands, where they participated in a turtle-tagging project and experienced the marine environment firsthand. It was a stellar experience for everyone. Education is an important part of our mission. Each year, we host 20 local school teachers providing environmental studies and conservation knowledge with their students. For us, these experiences represent an important part of what being on the Sea of Cortez is all about: exploration, education, conservation, and connection.

Trusted by Scientists, Filmmakers and International Organizations

Over the years, Baja Charters has provided boats, crews, logistics, and local knowledge for some extraordinary projects. We have hosted production teams and journalists from organizations including National Geographic and the BBC, along with other major media organizations documenting Baja California Sur and its extraordinary wildlife. The Mexican government has entrusted Baja Charters with hosting sponsored journalists from around the world during visits to the islands. Our boats have carried researchers, filmmakers, government representatives, educators, conservationists, and other professionals into areas where local knowledge and experience are essential. Sometimes our guests are simply people who want to experience something extraordinary. Over the years, we have welcomed ambassadors, Olympic medalists, governors, Hollywood stars, famous musicians, and travelers from virtually every corner of the world.

The Sea of Cortez Is Our Office

Baja Charters has been fortunate to participate in some remarkable events on the water. For example, we hosted two Olympic free-diving world championships, bringing together dozens of international journalists as well as the gold, silver, and bronze medalists aboard our catamaran. We have supported marine research and wildlife projects, hosted educational groups, and helped organizations reach remote islands and marine environments that would otherwise be difficult to access. Our experience has taught us that every group is somewhat different. Some guests want a comfortable day exploring the islands with family. Others a private yacht and customized itinerary. Sometimes the purpose is scientific research, filming, education, conservation, or a special event. Whatever the objectives, the foundational provisions are essentially the same: experienced people, capable boats, local knowledge, and a deep respect for the Sea of Cortez.

Meet Captain Terry

A Life Built Around Adventure and the Sea

As Sales Director for Baja Charters, Terry brings extensive experience directly to guests looking for something beyond an ordinary boat trip. He can help whether you're searching for a private yacht, scheduling a nautical tour, planning a special celebration, looking for an island adventure, swimming with whale sharks, or you simply want to spend a day exploring the Sea of Cortez. The Gulf of California, known widely as the Sea of Cortez is an incredible place to visit. It is the 2nd most biologically diverse marine environment on planet earth, slightly behind the Galapagos islands. Terry’s knowledge of yachts and the region helps connect each party with the right experience. He has extensive knowledge of yachts, boating, Baja California, and the Sea of Cortez. He is the author of the Sea of Cortez Guide, reflecting his long standing connection to the region.

Some lives follow a predictable path. Terry's life has been repeatedly marked by adventure. Over the course of his life, he has traveled the world, built businesses, lived in fascinating places, met remarkable people, and found himself involved in experiences that could never have been scripted. His curiosity has taken him far beyond the world of local boating, leading him to captain yachts up and down the famous Inside Passage to Alaska and back three times. He’s explored marinas in Africa, the South Pacific, and throughout the Caribbean. Terry has also garnered more than 10,000 hours as pilot in command of various private aircraft. He has authored nine books and hundreds of articles and essays.

Terry’s interests are focused on subjects ranging from ancient civilizations and archaeology to history, economics, private aviation, remote islands, and the many mysteries of our world. That curiosity is also what has kept him on the water for more than four decades. For Terry, being on a yacht has never been simply about getting from one place to another. It is about exploration, adventure, and the freedom to reach remote islands, and discover places few people will ever see, to encounter wildlife in its natural environment, and experience the Sea of Cortez from the perspective of the water.

Bringing the Whale Shark Experience to Cabo

Baja Charters was the first operator to introduce guests from the greater Cabo region to the incredible experience of encountering whale sharks in the waters around La Paz. We were doing this before the highway between Cabo and La Paz was completely paved, when reaching La Paz from the Los Cabos area was a very different journey. Today, there is a beautiful, divided four lane highway making this trip considerably more comfortable. The whale shark encounter has become one of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences in Baja California Sur. Our goal has always been to make that experience accessible while respecting the animals, the environment, and the regulations that protect them.

Experience Matters

There are plenty of ways to get out on the water around the Baja Peninsula. What distinguishes Baja Charters is the depth of experience behind the experience, the yacht options, and the thousands of guests who return to have the experience again and again. For more than fifteen years, we have been bringing people onto the Sea of Cortez for adventure, research, conservation, education, filmmaking, special events, and unforgettable personal experiences. We have worked with scientists and children, governments and journalists, celebrities and families. We've searched for whale sharks, visited sea lion colonies, explored remote islands, supported scientific research, hosted international sporting events, and watched generations of visitors discover why the Sea of Cortez is known as one of the world's great marine environments.

And we're still exploring.

Whether you are looking for a shared wildlife adventure or a private yacht charter, we invite you to come experience Baja with a team that knows these waters from years on the water—not just from a map.

Cheers! The Baja Charters Crew

Email

chartersbaja@gmail.com

Phones

(52) 612-152-9940 (English Only)
(52) 624-128-5666 (Spanish, English, German)

Location

The Baja Charters office is at our very own Captains Sunset Bar and Restaurant a part of the Marine Waterfront Hotel, located in Marina Palmira, directly on the water - Dock 5

About Us