Balandra & Tecolote: hike, kayak and snorkel in paradise

Great way to explore the area with guided assistance. Didn't know there was an actual coral reef in the bay. Guides were sincerely nice individuals and enjoyed what they do making this a great experience.

This experience was so much fun and definitely worth it! The view from the hike was incredible and the beach was absolutely breathtaking. From hiking, to kayaking, to snorkeling —everything was amazing. The guides were knowledgeable about the area and were very kind. Highly recommend booking this experience!!

A fantastic way to experience Balandra Bay! Danny and Alejandro were outstanding guides. An active, interesting and beautiful day!

It was a lovely day. I really enjoyed the hike along the coast to tecolete beach. Daniel was very informative on the hike explaining about the rocks, plants and animals. The kayaking and snorkel were also fun.

We booked an explore Balandra excursion through MTA. Their instructions on where to meet were easy to follow. The guides were enjoyable, spoke English well and were knowledgeable about the area. My husband and I shared a kayak. We kayaked through the mangroves first we have some kayak experience, although not advanced. Some areas are narrow but we were able to negotiate the turns without running into the vegetation. We then kayaked to a reef and snorkeled around the reef. You will need to have the upper body strength to be able to get yourself back into the kayak from the water. The guides did help hold the kayak steady. I would also suggest wearing a long sleeve swim shirt. I received jellyfish like stings on both arms and on my ankle. They were uncomfortable but were not as bad as a bee sting. After the kayaking and snorkeling we hiked up a hill to overlook the ocean, hiked back down around the waterline to look at the famous mushroom rock. Then hiked up over another hill which lead to neighboring Tecolote beach. I wore my keen sandals for the whole adventure and they were fine. The ceviche at the end was wonderful. My husband and I do not enjoy fish that much. The ceviche was not fishy tasting and we both had seconds. Alex, Estevan and Johnathon were great guides! I would book through MTA again.

Other than some transportation issues the experience was great. Great guides with lots of info and passionate about their work.

Awesome instructors! Qualified! Kind! It was a very good experience, the views are amazing and at this time of the year the weather also was great

Such a fun and long day definitely a good way to see Balandra and Tecolote for its true beauty. However I would not recommend if you’re out of shape or someone who wants to sit back and relax, the kayaking is very fun you go through the mangroves which are beautiful but it can be physically demanding if you dont know how to kayak and the hike is longggg but super fun and beautiful, me and my boyfriend went and loved it the guides are very nice and smart and we loved the adventure. Would go again! Also the guides are bilingual so english or spanish is not a problem

This was an amazing experience!!!!!!!!!!!! 100 out of 10!! Estevan and Alex were our tour guides and were so helpful and informative. The kayaking and snorkeling was so beautiful and Estevan made it very easy to keep up with him, he was very calm and never rushed us. Alex took us on the hike and he was so good at talking about the landscape and the area’s history, we also never felt rushed in any way. It was a dream, the most beautiful place on earth, and at the end of the day the tour guides felt more like friends. The ceviche on the beach was so delicious! It was such an amazing day that I will cherish forever. I also plan on bringing more people on this excursion as well. Thank you for such an amazing experience!!

Great tour if you're looking for a little bit of adventure and physical activities. Never a dull moment! We started out with kayaking from Balandra main beach into the mangrove lagoon, where our marine biologist Danny explained to us the ecology and spotted the nearby seabirds, then snorkeled on our way back - the water was fairly calm, and Danny showed me a sea urchin! After getting back to the beach, I went with Alex to hike along the water front, then up the hill to come over to Tecolote beach where lunch awaited. The hiking stretch was a little bit physically challenging as we needed to be careful walking in the rocky intertidal zones, and up the rocky desert hills, but Alex was kind and patient and making sure that I felt comfortable and safe going at my own pace. I never felt pressured or rushed - we took breaks as needed (the landscapes from up top were amazing too!) and took dips in the clear, refreshing ocean along and after the hike, which felt so rewarding! The tour was not only fun, but both Danny and Alex were very knowledgeable. It was not just a simple trip to a famous beach but I learned a lot and feel more appreciative of the local conservation efforts. Highly recommended - definitely bring along some water shoes and some bandana and long-sleeved for sun coverage!