LA PAZ GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Inside the Maelstrom: Six Days on Magdalena Island for the Sardine Run
A 6-day, sea‑based expedition from Magdalena Island that places you in the middle of synchronized sardine hunts and broad daylight marine predator encounters — this guide explains what to expect and how to prepare.
Inside the Maelstrom: Six Days on Magdalena Island for the Sardine Run.
For six days you live off the sea around Magdalena Island, waking before dawn to board daily sea safaris in search of tightly packed sardine bait balls and the predators that hunt them. The trip is based in the small fishing village on Magdalena Island and centers on long days at sea guided by an experienced team and accompanied by a dedicated photographer.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Sardine Hunts and Their Hunters
The Pacific side of Magdalena Island plays host to synchronized sardine hunts where marlins, dolphins, sea lions, mobulas, seabirds and sometimes orcas converge — the defining spectacle of the expedition.
Full-Day Sea Safaris with Guides and a Photographer
Each day is a sea safari: long hours on the water, ready to enter the ocean at a moment’s notice, accompanied by two guides and a dedicated photographer who document the encounters.
Village Life on Magdalena Island
The expedition is based in the tiny fishing village of Magdalena Island, where guests return each evening for meals and lodgings between days on the water.
What the day feels like
What the days feel like
Expect early mornings and full days at sea centered on spotting and, when conditions allow, entering the water to witness the coordinated hunts. The program runs as a continuous ocean-focused expedition with consistent guide support and photographic documentation throughout.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this trip suits — and who might think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The expedition runs 6 days and 5 nights.
Sardines and the associated predator aggregations occur on the Pacific side of Magdalena Island from October to December.
Be prepared to spend full days on the ocean and to enter the water when safe and appropriate; the program is accompanied by two guides and a photographer who document the experience.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Magdalena Sardine Run expedition?
The trip is 6 days and 5 nights.
When does the sardine run season occur here?
Sardines and their predators gather on the Pacific side of Magdalena Island from October to December.
What is the minimum age to join?
Participants must be 18 years of age or older.
Will there be guides and a photographer?
Yes — the expedition is accompanied by two guides and a dedicated photographer who travel with guests on the boats.
Where is the trip based?
The operation is based in the small fishing village on Magdalena Island, which serves as the nightly base for the sea safaris.