Courtesy of SwimTrek, a SwimSwam partner.
“The water’s fine, come on in!” It’s a calling heard around the world from waterborne swimmers. It might’ve taken a while for travellers on dry land to be convinced. Now, it seems more of us are taking that first step into a new life aquatic.
SwimTrek’s founder, Simon Murie, spoke to the New York Times on where he thinks this wave of enthusiasm comes from:
“When you swim in open water, every experience is different, whether that’s the state of the sea, the tides or the wildlife,” said Simon. “That’s the beauty – the unpredictability.”
Nearly a third of SwimTrek’s clients are from the United States, where the company runs adventures to destinations like Hawaii’s Big Island and Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Explore their 2025 calendar and roam a curated selection of the world’s 50 best swimming locations. Trips cater for all abilities and daily distances range from 2 to over 8 kilometres.
Reflecting on SwimTrek’s Baja trip, the Sydney Morning Herald had this to say about their seven-day tour on Isla Espiritu Santo, offshore from La Paz:
“Each day involves about six kilometres of swimming in these bays,” wrote the SMH, “Past frigate-bird breeding grounds, among curious sea lions and over abandoned pearl farms beneath Espiritu Santo’s pink sandstone cliffs.”
Of course, every trip offers something unique. Eager to learn more, SwimSwam asked the swim vacation experts SwimTrek.com to share three trips that best evoke their love of water and the global rise of swim vacations.
courtesy of SwimTrek / Jess Dowse
This trip takes swimmers to the warm waters of the Baja peninsula. Daily swims are shared with playful sea lions and an incredible variety of reef fish and other marine life.
Guests camp in a UNESCO protected area, which doubles as a birder’s paradise – home to blue-footed booby, frigate, cormorant, pelican, red tailed hawks, hummingbirds and more.
Quiet beaches and coves are found on the uninhabited island of Espiritu Santo. There’s also no light pollution, so stargazing is always on the cards!
courtesy of SwimTrek / Jess Dowse
This trip is a truly unique adventure that uncovers the fjords of the Musandam Peninsula. Between strokes, swimmers can take in the dramatic setting as cliffs plunge sheer into deep waters.
Lunches are taken onboard a traditional dhow and guests can enjoy panoramic views from the isthmus, which divides the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman.
Finally, SwimTrek guided us to their new pioneer departures in the far-out paradise of Fiji’s Yasawa Islands.
Out there, swimmers can explore an archipelago of 330 islands, edged by colourful coral gardens. You’ll also stay at a self-sufficient island resort, which serves an enviable menu of local produce.
This is everything that comes to mind when you dream of a swimming vacation. Think golden beaches, palm trees and clear seawater – home to manta rays, dolphins and tropical fish!
courtesy of SwimTrek / Jess Dowse
ABOUT SWIMTREK:
Run by swimmers for 20 years, SwimTrek are the world’s pioneer of open water swimming vacations. Their portfolio of award-winning trips spans 23 countries and more than 50 locations around the world, from the Galapagos Islands to Vietnam.
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