BajaNomad

Isla Espiritu Santu snorkeling tour

Curt63 - 11-1-2010 at 10:45 AM

Hola Nomads!

I will be in La Paz in a couple weeks and I had few questions about the Snorkeling tours out to Isla Espiritu Santu.

1. Is it better to drive out to Tecolote and catch a boat there? My wife would prefer the shortest boat ride possible.

2. What is a tour (1 -2 hours of snorkeling with gear rental and sightseeing) going to cost us?

3. Can you recommend a good Panguero/Lanchero/ Tour Operator.

4. What kind of air temps, water temps and visibilty can we expect?

5. At what time does the wind usually pick up in mid-November?

6. Anything else I need to know about these trips?

Thanks Amigos!

[Edited on 11-1-2010 by Curt63]

Sergio at Palapa Azul

frizkie - 11-1-2010 at 10:17 PM

He is the best Pangero at Tecolote. He grew up living and diving at Tecolote.
He puts on an amazing tour, and not just snorkling but the entire history of the Isla. You need to be at Tecolote at the restaurant at about 9:30am, they will fit you with snorkling gear, and take you out for a full day tour of the Isiritu Santos. They feed you lunch on the tour, you can snorkle with the sea lions, and then snorkle in the bay on the south side of the Isla while they prepare lunch. Then you return to Playa Tecolote at about 4:00pm. Total cost $50. Be sure to take your camera. This is one of the BEST deals in Baja!!!
Please tell them Barbarita from Canada sent you. ENJOY!!

snorkiling

captkw - 11-2-2010 at 04:04 AM

HOLA, I used to run out there on my cats and i year ran a 70 fter there for weeks at a time,so I know the area well, but IS not a good dive spot atall, at the very north is the seal rock and thats about it..........ck out cobo pumo and dont pay for a guide...just ask around capt "k":bounce:

Bajatripper - 11-3-2010 at 03:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
HOLA, I used to run out there on my cats and i year ran a 70 fter there for weeks at a time,so I know the area well, but IS not a good dive spot atall,

It's not? Snorkeling with the sea lions at Los Islotes (north end of Espiritu Santos) is about my favorite aquatic activity in the area.


From a diving perspective, I'd agree that Espiritu Santo leaves something to be desired when compared to Cabo Pulmo. But Curt asked about snorkeling, and for that, I'd agree with Lencho. Nothing like seeing a large sea lion come straight at you before veering off at the last instant--a good way to inadvertantly release your built-in "shark repellent," if you aren't wearing a wetsuit.
If you do go out there, and history interests you, be sure to stop by at the ruins of the CCCP (at Caleta San Gabriel on the southeastern end of Espiritu Santo). This is the site where don Gaston Vives started the (supposedly) first commercial production of madre perla oysters in the world, in the late 1800s-early 1900s.

And I think the drive out to Tecolote is worth the effort, in both time and cost. I'll get back to you on the prices. If the sun is an issue, many of the pangas that do these trips carry large portable shades so you can enjoy your ceviche out of the sun. If that sounds more your speed, be sure to check before leaving.
As for wind conditions, just hope you aren't going during a noroeste, which usually come this time and year and can bring several days of nasty, cold winds, greatly affecting whatever water activities you might have planned.
I'm clueless to say what the water temps will be, as I go by the "it's nice today" vs. "it's too damn cold." At that time of year, it's getting to the latter, but one of those cheap shorty wetsuits they sell at Walmart usually does the trick for me.
Let me know when you've arrived and we'll have you over for coffee. It'll be good to see you again.

[Edited on 11-3-2010 by Bajatripper]

MitchMan - 11-4-2010 at 08:52 AM

Regarding Tecolote. Is it safe (from car theft) to leave your vehicle parked at Tecolote beach while you are out on the 6-1/2 hour panga tour with Sergio? I have a beautiful burgundy red Tacoma 4x4.