Magdalena Bay Sardine Run – Liveaboard Expedition
Magdalena Bay
Description
Every fall, the Pacific waters off Magdalena Bay become the stage for one of Mexico's most spectacular marine wildlife events: the Sardine Run. Massive schools of sardines attract striped marlin, sea lions, sharks, seabirds, dolphins and Bryde's whales, creating fast-paced encounters filled with action.
This 7-day, 6-night expedition begins in Cabo San Lucas, sailing north along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur toward Magdalena Bay. Once there, the days are primarily dedicated to locating bait balls and entering the water by snorkeling and freediving to experience the action from within.
The expedition combines the comfort and autonomy of a liveaboard with local pangas operated by captains who know these waters intimately. Every day is shaped by the ocean, weather conditions and wildlife movements: encounters can never be guaranteed, and that unpredictability is part of what makes this expedition so extraordinary.
Reservation
Key Points
Guide language: Spanish, English
What's Included
- 6 nights of accommodation aboard the liveaboard
- All meals and snacks throughout the expedition
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Core snorkeling and freediving activities
- Wildlife searches aboard local pangas and support boats
- Naturalist guides and experienced crew
- Scheduled group transfers provided by the operator
- Complimentary use of Nautilus LifeLine, SMB and DiveAlert safety equipment
- Bed linen, towels, soap and shampoo onboard
Itinerary
Day 1 – Cabo San Lucas | The Expedition Begins
Meet at SeeCreatures Cabo. At 4:30 PM, the transfer to the liveaboard begins, followed by departure north along the spectacular Pacific coast of Baja California Sur. Our destination is the sheltered waters and outer islands of Magdalena Bay, home to the Sardine Run.
Day 2 – Arrival in Magdalena Bay
We expect to reach Magdalena Bay by late morning and begin exploring the southern end of Margarita Island. This first day is designed to settle into the rhythm of the expedition and begin searching for marine life. Activities will focus primarily on snorkeling and freediving around schooling sardines and bait balls, with opportunities to encounter sea lions.
Days 3 to 6 – Searching for the Sardine Run
These are the heart of the expedition. Each day we head out in search of activity, following the movement of the sardines and working alongside local pangas and captains to position ourselves where the action is unfolding. Striped marlin and Bryde's whales are two of the main stars, but the ecosystem may also surprise us with sea lions, sharks, turtles, dolphins and abundant seabirds. Humpback whales and orcas may occasionally make an appearance as well. When conditions allow, we'll enter the water by snorkeling or freediving to observe predators working the bait balls. Afternoons may also offer the option to scuba dive or head ashore to explore the spectacular sand dunes of Margarita Island. As with every wildlife expedition, the itinerary remains flexible. Ocean conditions, weather and wildlife movements ultimately determine each day's activities.
Day 7 – Return to Cabo San Lucas
After breakfast, we'll complete our return to Cabo San Lucas, with disembarkation scheduled for approximately 8:30 AM. Complimentary transfers can be arranged to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), La Paz or SeeCreatures Cabo. For flights departing from SJD, the operator recommends booking no earlier than 11:30 AM.
Boat Images
Where
What's Not Included
Recommendations
Requirements
Minimum age is 12 years old. Guests under 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian.
No scuba certification is required for the primary snorkeling and freediving activities.
Guests wishing to participate in the optional scuba dives must hold a valid scuba diving certification.
All guests are required to carry valid medical and evacuation insurance.
Guests participating in scuba diving must also carry dedicated dive insurance.
International travelers must hold a passport valid for at least six months upon entry into Mexico and comply with any applicable immigration requirements based on nationality.
Guests must follow all safety instructions provided by the crew and guides, particularly during wildlife encounters.
Cancellation Policy
Payments
A 25% deposit is required within 7 days of booking to confirm the reservation. An additional 25% payment is due 4 months prior to departure, with the remaining balance due 60 days before departure.
Cancellations
If a guest cancels their reservation, the following cancellation penalties apply to the total trip price:
- More than 12 months prior to departure: an original booking may be refunded less a US$100 administrative fee per guest, or transferred once to a new booking without an administrative fee.
- 12 to 9 months prior to departure: 15% cancellation penalty.
- 9 to 4 months prior to departure: 25% cancellation penalty.
- 4 months to 60 days prior to departure: 50% cancellation penalty.
- 60 days or less prior to departure: 100% cancellation penalty.
Bookings that have previously been transferred to a later departure date are non-refundable.
I booked the whale shark tour with Gluup and it was an unforgettable experience. Everything was very well organized, and they provided a delicious breakfast and lunch. We were incredibly lucky to see around 50 whale sharks, which made the trip absolutely breathtaking. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area!
DiamondH Diego
August 2026
I booked the whale shark tour with Gluup and it was an unforgettable experience. Everything was very well organized, and they provided a delicious breakfast and lunch. We were incredibly lucky to see around 50 whale sharks, which made the trip absolutely breathtaking. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area!
DiamondH Diego
August 2026
It was a unique and incredible experience, I hope to have more like it. We swam with pilot whales and it was unparalleled, thank you ☺️✨
Andrea Cejudo
August 2026