Open Water Swim Camp
Bespoke swim camp & safaris in Baja California's Sea of Cortez
The Sea of Cortez offers some of the most spectacular open water swimming in Mexico — warm, clear water, dramatic desert island scenery, and marine life at every turn.
These bespoke swim safaris are designed entirely around your group. Whether you’re looking to train hard in world-class conditions, build strength and confidence with daily ocean swims, or simply explore one of the most beautiful stretches of water in the Americas — we’ll shape the experience around you.
Small groups, flexible itineraries, and expert coaching every step of the way — everything you’d want from a private open water swim camp in Mexico. With three safari levels to choose from, every swimmer can find their stroke.
Your base is a pristine island in the Sea of Cortez — Isla Espíritu Santo, Cerralvo, San Francisco, or Carmen near Loreto — and the water is yours. Warm, clear, and untouched. Just your group, your guides, and the ocean.
Open Water Swim Camp
Open water swim camp: world-class conditions for every level
Your swim coach and support team are with you from the first stroke, with a safety boat on hand throughout every session. The itinerary is flexible by design — shaped around your swimmers’ goals, conditions, and marine life activity.
Some days that might mean a long training swim along a coastline of golden cliffs and volcanic rock. Others, a technique clinic in a sheltered bay, or a snorkeling session with friendly sea lions.
Find your level — three swimming safari grades
Green safaris are for those getting back into the water — perhaps after time away from training. Each day is about rediscovering the feeling of open water swimming, finishing the trip fitter and more confident than when you arrived.
Blue safaris suit swimmers in good condition who want to cover three to five kilometres a day alongside the full range of island activities on offer.
Black safaris are for serious swimmers and those in active training, with daily distances of ten kilometres or more in some of the most beautiful open water anywhere on Earth.
Beyond swimming
Kayaks, paddleboards, and snorkeling gear are available at camp whenever you want them. Guided nature walks and beach exploration are your chance to experience the island above the water — desert landscapes, seabirds, and the kind of solitude that’s increasingly hard to find. When the mood calls for it, find a quiet spot on the beach and let the Sea of Cortez do its thing.
Highlights include:
- Swimming
- Snorkeling with sea lions
- Kayaking & paddleboarding
- Guided nature walks
- Beach & island exploration
Glamping on Cerralvo, Espíritu Santo, San Francisco, or Carmen Islands
Island camps designed for comfort
Our glamping camps sit on the beach, set up fresh for your group and taken down without a trace. As a zero-footprint pop-up operation within one of Mexico’s most carefully protected areas, there are no permanent structures — which is precisely what makes the setting feel so extraordinary. Dramatic scenery, total quiet, and the sense that you have the place to yourselves.
The tents are spacious and beautifully furnished for the Baja climate — fine linens, queen or twin beds, and a private en-suite camp bathroom. A large open-air canopy provides a shaded gathering space for meals, drinks, and the slower moments of the day. Our chefs prepare fresh, seasonal food served on the beach, and the bar is well stocked for evenings under a sky full of stars. Massages are available as well — very much recommended after a long day in the water.
The camp runs on solar power, with a 50-ft mothership anchored just offshore providing hot showers, air conditioning, and everything else you need — never more than a short ride away.
- Accommodation
- Scheduled group transfers
- All core activities and necessary equipment
- All meals and snacks
- Non-alcoholic drinks
- Naturalist guides and expert crew
- Alcoholic beverages and bar
- Gift shop items
- Internet access
- Crew gratuities
- Port fee (US$ 35 pp payable in cash onboard)
Typical itinerary for 3-day open water swim camp
Arrive at 2pm for a welcome briefing, champagne, and snacks aboard the Westerly. We depart at 4pm, with time to settle in and get acquainted before your first swim at Balandra Bay — a relaxed introduction to the Sea of Cortez, with kayak support, near the famous Mushroom Rock.
Dinner is served on the passage to camp, arriving in time for a restful first night.
After an early breakfast, we head out to Los Islotes for snorkeling before making our way to the day’s swimming location — chosen that morning based on conditions, wildlife activity, and group goals.
A second swim follows in the afternoon, along with a technique clinic led by our head coach: a short theory session paired with practical in-water guidance to help you move better through the sea.
A final breakfast, one last swim at a location chosen fresh that morning, and a midday return to La Paz by 12pm.
Open Water Swim Camp
All prices are in US dollars
DEPARTURE DATES
Group charters available on request on a bespoke custom basis
Whether you’re a swimming club, a group of friends, or a corporate team, we’ll design your perfect open water adventure. Choose your dates, locations, and pace – we handle everything else.
Related Trips
Kayaking in the Sea of Cortez
Combo: Whales, Mobulas, Orcas + Whale Sharks & Remote Islands
