Expedition for Mobula Rays & In Search of Giant Mantas

THE PREMIER TOUR OPTION
Aboard a 60' Sailing Catamaran
or
96' Triple-Deck Cruising Yacht

All Inclusive - Award Winning 

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Dive into the Ultimate Ocean Adventure

Join us for an all-inclusive Expedition for Mobula Rays, or an In Search of the Giant Mantas encounter. You can do either as an all-day activity or join with us to spend the night at anchor in a special island cove and return the next afternoon. You decide which option works best for you. Either way, you’re in for an unforgettable time cruising the crystal-clear waters of the Sea of Cortez as you seek to get up-close with legendary rays. These large but gentle rays are safe to humans and well known for their graceful presence and remarkable curiosity. Bring along your passion for the sea. These wonderful adventures provide opportunities for close encounters with some of the ocean's most magnificent creatures, the amazing air-borne mobula rays, the mysterious giant oceanic mantas, dolphins, sea turtles, tropical fish, playful sea lions and even orcas sometimes join us.

Whether you're a seasoned diver or first-time snorkeler, either of these tours is perfect for anyone who dreams of swimming with the ocean’s most elegant creatures. Spaces fill up fast during the season --- don’t miss your chance!
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All-Inclusive

An Expedition for Mobula rays, or an excursion In Search of Giant Mantas, is a perfect way to immerse yourself in the beauty and majesty of these incredible marine creatures. Both these wonderful, majestic rays are safe with humans.

Your adventure combines wildlife exploration within the comfort and privacy of a large and spacious 60' Sailing Catamaran or an even larger 96’ Cruising Yacht. You’ll be cruising to some of the best spots in the Sea of Cortez where these magnificent rays congregate. Everything is included, ground transportation, chef, hostess, meals, beverages, an open bar, kayaks, a snorkel boat with licensed guide. Activities include snorkeling with tropical fish over corals, swimming with sea lions, visiting remote island beaches, interacting with marine life, and enjoying beautiful vistas of the surrounding islands.

The Giant Manta is a mystical and illusive creature. Impressive up close, and obviously intelligent. Their fun relatives, the Mobula rays, are the ones that love to jump out of the water making a large smacking sound as they belly-flop the ocean surface. Both convey a sense of serenity as they move smoothly through ocean shallows covering large oceanic swathes filtering tropical seas for plankton and small fish.

The tour focus is determined by each season’s date, i.e. Expedition for Mobula Rays is April – July, In Search of Giant Mantas is August – November. Both ray expeditions provide an incredible and unparalleled adventure. The Sea of Cortez, often referred to as the "Aquarium of the World," is renowned for its biodiversity and rich marine life, including these magnificent creatures. 

Expedition for Mobula Rays Tour

Mobula rays, also known as Devil rays or Flying rays, do not sting. They are often seen jumping high out of the water in spectacular fashion. It is common at specific times of year to witness massive schools of Mobula rays gracefully gliding through the water, with some performing remarkable aerial leaps. Mobula rays migrate to the Baja California peninsula every year in large numbers drawn to the nutrient-rich waters. They typically arrive in La Paz, Mexico during the spring, with the peak migration occurring from mid-April through July.

La Paz and surrounding waters, including Espiritu Santo Island, serve as a major gathering point for these migrations. Mobula rays often are observed aggregating in these areas before moving further south. Mobula ray migration is driven by the need to feed on plankton and to find mates. 

Mobula rays spend a lot of time in Baja California, so chances are if you are visiting the Cabo or La Paz areas you will have a chance to see these beautiful creatures. Unlike Sting rays, Mobula rays do not have barbs, and therefore cannot sting.
Both Manta and Mobula rays belong to the same family and are often confused, but key differences exist, including their size, fins, and mouth placement. Manta rays are larger, have longer fins, and their mouth is at the front, while mobula rays are smaller, have shorter fins, and their mouth is on the belly side.

In Search of Giant Mantas Tour

Both the Giant Mantas and their fun relatives, the Mobula rays, (these are the ones that love to jump high out of the water making a large smacking sound as they belly-flop the ocean surface), convey a sense of serenity as they move smoothly through ocean shallows. In some ways, the Giant Manta is similar to a whale shark; they are both massive gentle giants that cause no harm to humans, and they both cover large oceanic distances filtering tropical seas for plankton.

For years, the only way one could hope to experience the Giant Manta in the wild, at least in the Western Hemisphere, was to do a week long liveaboard scuba cruise to the Socorro Islands, about 250 miles offshore of Cabo San Lucas, or fly to the Galapagos Islands some 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. But now, as the video above clearly demonstrates, some large Manta’s are returning to their former habitat at a seamount and reef on the inside Sea of Cortez. Here we found them last year moving through shallow waters suitable for both snorkeling or scuba. They are out of the way of our other nautical activities, so it takes a bit longer than going to Isla Espiritu Santo island. There seemed to be about a dozen of them last year. We are anxious to see what this season brings. We expect them to hang around their ancient homeland reef for about 4 ½ months.

Returning guests will already know, that we are an eco-friendly service provider. We are very careful to not harm or disturb corals, reefs, and especially endangered species. And, although we do catch fish from time to time for immediate preparation by our on-board chef. We do not fish near reefs or protected areas. What we do is very low impact on the environment. We are primarily focused on educating and observing, and when available, and not detrimental, interacting directly with sea life. We will not anchor around the sea mount and reef areas, but rather free float, so as to not take the chance of damaging anything under water.

Comparison of the Giant Manta and Mobula Rays:

Giant Manta

Size: Larger than Mobula Rays, with some species reaching up to 25 feet in width. 

Fins: Have long, prominent, and distinct cephalic fins. 

Mouth Placement: Mouth is located at the front of the body. 

Diet: Primarily feed on planktonic organisms like euphausiids, copepods, mysids, decapod larvae, and shrimp, but some studies have noted their consumption of small and moderately sized fish as well.

Habitat: Found in tropical and subtropical regions, often in open ocean away from reefs. 

Other: They are known for their graceful gliding and can reach speeds of up to 22 mph. 

Mobula Rays

Size: Smaller than Giant Mantas, with some species reaching up to 4.3 feet wide.

Fins: Have shorter, less distinct cephalic fins.

Mouth Placement: Mouth is located on the ventral (belly) side of the body.

Diet: Primarily feed on tiny fish and small sea creatures called zooplankton, scooping prey into their mouths with the floppy lobes that hang from either side of their heads.

Habitat: Found in tropical and warm, temperate seas worldwide.

Other: Known for their ability to breach the water surface, sometimes in a spectacular manner, and gather in large groups called "fevers". 

The Season

The season for the Espiritu Santo Island Tour in La Paz normally runs year round. Baja Charters has successfully operated the premier tour for ten years with a perfect track record, subject to weather closures and governmental regulations. It is important to note that we are operating in the open sea and subject to shifting rules by governmental agencies.

60' Sailing Catamaran
Boat Info

Typically, guests are picked up directly from the lobby entrance of their hotel or resort, but not always. Depending on a number of factors, guests may be requested to meet ground transport in a central location.

  • Large and spacious sailing catamaran
  • Full galley-kitchen
  • Inside air conditioning
  • Full array of safety equipment
  • Powered snorkel boats with stainless ladders
  • Portable seats, layout cushions, and pillows
  • Comfortable indoor and outdoor seating and lay-out areas
  • 2 complete bathrooms with showers
  • Swim steps and stainless ladder for easy access to water
  • Inside/Outside bluetooth speaker system for music

Photos

96' Triple-Deck Cruising Yacht
Boat Info

Typically, guests are picked up directly from the lobby entrance of their hotel or resort, but not always. Depending on a number of factors, guests may be requested to meet ground transport in a central location.

  • Captain, engineer, hostess, chef, additional crew as needed
  • Snorkel-dive boat included with captain and guide
  • Wi-Fi available via Starlink
  • Licensed for 50 daytime guests
  • Sleeps 9, or more, in 4 guest sleeping salons
  • Master Salon, VIP Salon, Double bunk cabin, Triple bunk cabin
  • Additional sleeping arrangements available
  • Four complete bathrooms with showers
  • Chef prepared meals
  • An array of beverages
  • Open bar
  • Comfortable indoor and outdoor seating and lay-out areas
  • Air conditioning
  • Full galley-kitchen
  • Full array of safety equipment
  • Kayaks
  • Wetsuits in various sizes
  • Snorkel gear
  • Portable seats, layout cushions, outdoor pillows
  • Three freezers
  • Three electrical generators
  • Beach awning, chairs, ice chests, etc.
  • Swim steps and stainless ladder for easy access to water
  • Water maker, ice, purified water
  • Beach towels
  • Crew sleeping quarters and toilet area

Photos

Master, VIP, Double & Triple, Sleeping Salons with Bathrooms

Pricing

INCLUDES:
Nine hour all inclusive tour on a 60' Sailing Catamaran or a 96' Cruising Yacht, for either an Expedition for Mobula Rays, April through July, or In Search of Giant Mantas, August through November. Ground transportation is included, along with captain and crew, chef, certified guide, meals, snacks, etc. Typically included is a marine biologist as hostess and guide, plus snorkel gear, bottled water, sodas, beer, an open bar, beach towels, national park bracelets, a separate snorkel boat with captain and guide, reef-friendly sunscreen.

Expedition for Mobula Rays
Full Day

One Guest - All Inclusive
Snorkel Cruise

Aboard 60' Sailing Catamaran,
or 96' Cruising Yacht
plus tax

$395 USD
*Plus Tax

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In Search of Giant Mantas
Two Day, Overnight

One Guest - All Inclusive
Snorkel Cruise

Aboard 60' Sailing Catamaran,
or 96' Cruising Yacht
plus tax

$795 USD
*Plus Tax

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Age Requirements
Minimum age is six years old. Children must be accompanied by parent or guardian.

Fitness Considerations
Strong swimming ability is normally NOT required. However, only guests that are reasonably fit and healthy with good balance, should enter the water at the reef. If you are not strong enough to manage your weight getting into and out of the water on a stainless-steel boat ladder, it is best to stay in the boat and simply watch from there.

Scuba
To scuba at La Reina Reef you must be Open Water certified.

Scuba Equipment Rental
There is a $189.50 charge per diver for equipment rental, tanks, and separate dive boat with Dive Master and certified captain. Four divers minimum. 

Why we are The Premier Option

Exclusive private yacht Not a tour boat​

Private Bathrooms

Fresh-water Showers

Marine Biologist as teacher, hostess and guide

Bring your own Cameras

Attendant dive boat for easy access

Educated, professional, english-speaking crew

Many areas for relaxation

Chef on board

Personal Service

Fresh Fruits & Vegetables

Chef Prepared Meals

Soft Drinks and Beer

Open Bar

Fresh water showers

Wetsuits & Reef Friendly Sunscreen

Freshly laundered towels

Ground Transportation

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Become a co-owner and take advantage of perks and discounts.

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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

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