Bahia Agua Verde

Located about 80 km south of Loreto, tranquil Bahía Agua Verde is nestled in the Sea of Cortés. With vibrant turquoise-blue glassy waters, the small and quiet bay is surrounded by the dramatic Sierra de La Giganta range. A land of contrasts in color, the blue-green sea is all the more vibrant against the backdrop of soft-hued red rock, with striking pops of green from long-armed cacti dotting the landscape.

Sitting sentinel at the mouth of the horseshoe-shaped bay sits Roca Solitaria, which offers a protected area ideal for snorkeling, swimming, and hiking. In addition to many marine creatures, Bahia Agua Verde is also home to a small fishing village, Puerto Agua Verde, with a church, a small market and a couple shops.

Bahia de La Paz

Nestled between Baja California Sur, Isla Espiritu Santo, and the city of La Paz, gorgeous, deep blue Bahía de La Paz is the gathering place for many marine and bird species, including the impressive, gentle giant whale sharks. The largest extant fish species, these white-spotted filter feeders can measure over 40 feet in length!

Bahia Magdalena

Sheltered from the Pacific Ocean by two long slivers of land, Isla Magdalena and Isla Santa Margarita, Bahía Magdalena is a 31-mile long circular cove full of wonderful biodiversity. On the western coast of Baja California Sur, the bay is at an unusual confluence of currents where the cool California current system that originates in Alaska and the warmer South American current meet. These special circumstances have created a rich marine landscape that supports a phenomenal, diverse variety of sea life. Some of Magdalena’s most celebrated itinerants, California Gray Whales, come to this protected bay from Alaska to spend the winter calving each year.

Baja California Sur

The southern state of the Baja Peninsula is a unique world of contrasts and incredible diversity, where the desert meets the sea. The topography includes deserts and bays, mangroves and lagoons, jagged mountain peaks, and remote islands.

Only recently “discovered” and considered to be the Last Frontier of Mexico, the state of Baja California Sur was created in 1974 after the Transpeninsular Highway was built to provide access along the entire length of the peninsula from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas. The state capital and largest city by far is the port of La Paz.

With its unique offerings of desert, sea, and sunshine, Baja California Sur has become a favorite tourist destination for mainland Mexicans, Americans, and Canadians. Visitors are drawn to Baja for the world-class diving, sport fishing, golfing, kayaking, hiking, snorkeling, and sailing. The Los Cabos corridor along the southern cape offers an array of exclusive resorts. Many other smaller, remote communities retain a traditional, tranquil atmosphere, while still offering all the necessary amenities. Enjoy rich cultural history, traditional charm, and easy access to the natural wonders of the Baja region.

Ensenada Grande

Located on Isla Partida, Ensenada Grande is part of a protected UNESCO biosphere reserve that also includes Isla Espiritu Santo. With picture-perfect turquoise water, white sand beaches, and wildlife-rich waters, it is no wonder why the beach at Ensenada Grande was voted the most beautiful in Mexico by Travel Magazine in 2011 and is ranked in the top 12 beaches in the world.

Isla Coronado

Find abundant life including dolphins, sea turtles, sea lions, osprey, boobies, and many different fish on untouched, ruggedly beautiful Isla Coronado and in its surrounding clear, crystal blue water. Ancient fossils litter the rock cliffs from a time long ago when the Sea of Cortés was formed. Empty river beds give refuge for trees and cactus to grow and soft sandy paths for guests to follow.

The island's geological history dates back thousands of years ago to a 1,500-foot extinct volcano that lies at the northern end of the island. Evidence of its molten past can be seen in the large volcanic boulders that cover the craggy hills. The flatter southeastern portion of the island plays host to sea turtles who visit the sand dunes to lay their eggs during various seasons. Isla Coronado is also home to sea lions, manta rays, many unique bird species, and plentiful fish.

Only six miles north east of Loreto, Isla Coronado is an ideal spot for snorkeling and swimming, and enjoying tranquil, slow walks on the white sand beaches.

Isla San Francisco

Tiny Isla San Francisco boasts one of the most stunning crescent shaped bays with a long sandy beach lining its shore. Rocky cliffs on the island give shelter to birds and offer perches for pelicans to sit along the water’s edge to keep watch of kayakers going by, most importantly for small tropical fish swimming under the water's surface. Striking, long-armed cacti dot the desert landscape and bloom into bright crimson during the season. Along the island's rocky coastline, octopus, eels, rays, and unique fish linger and find protection.

Isla San Jose

Located approximately 50 miles north of La Paz, beautiful Isla San José has a peak elevation of 2,300 feet and is the sixth largest island in Mexico. The island is primarily comprised of volcanic rock, hilly arroyos, and precipitous red cliffs that dive steeply into crystal clear, turquoise water. Today the island is uninhabited but in earlier days, it was a resource for sailors who would store water, meat, and salt here for later resupply.

Unique desert vegetation and brightly colored flowers dot the landscape of Isla San José that stretches out to cliffs and crescent white sandy coves along the shoreline. Off the south end of the island, a mangrove estuary offers channels to explore. Isla San José also contains fresh water springs that support populations of wildlife including deer, coyote, and ringtail.

Los Islotes

Los Islotes is a large rock outcropping that rises sharply out of the sea off the tip of Espíritu Santo Island. At first glance they appear as gnarled, rugged guana-covered cliffs, but as you approach, you'll soon spot a rookery with hundreds of sea lions lazing on its ledges and sea birds perch on the ledges. Around Los Islotes, the water is full of brightly colored and plentiful fish, making this a wonderful place to study marine life.

San José del Cabo

Rain is a rarity in San José del Cabo, and with over 350 days of sunshine annually, it’s no surprise the atmosphere here is friendly and welcoming. About 17 miles east of the popular resort town of Cabo San Lucas, this low-key community at the tip of the Baja Peninsula is home to a population of nearly 70,000.

Quaint and charming, San José del Cabo is full of beautiful historic buildings including the lovely Iglesia San José del Cabo that overlooks the zocolo, or town square. Complementing the prevailing old customs and traditions, the city also has a vibrant modern art district and a healthy tourism industry that attributes to an unemployment rate of nearly zero percent. While incredibly laid back, the hustle and bustle of a thriving industry has resulted in a very low crime rate and a high quality of living.

With an arid climate, San José del Cabo is typically dry, warm and sunny with a year-round average temperature between 66 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit. A beautiful arcing beach of white sand fronts the city and is a wonderful spot for swimmers, surfers, and sunbathers alike. An estuary at the southeastern end of town is inhabited by over 200 types of birds and offers gentle, short trails for active travelers to explore.

Sea of Cortés

The Sea of Cortés, also known as the Gulf of California, is thought to be one of the most diverse seas on our planet. Geologic evidence indicates that around 5.3 million years ago, tectonic forces separated the Baja Peninsula from the mainland creating the sea between them. In 2005 the islands and protected areas of the gulf were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for their natural beauty, diversity of terrestrial and marine life, and by ranking higher than any other marine and insular World Heritage site for the unique examples of "bridge islands" within a very short distance.

Powerful tidal action, strong ocean currents, fluctuating water temperatures, and a nutrient-rich estuarine mix of fresh water from the Colorado River contribute to heavy plankton blooms in the Sea of Cortés which are unequalled in seas of similar size. It is a place author John Steinbeck found "ferocious with life" and Jacques Cousteau once proclaimed the abundant biodiversity of the Sea of Cortés as the “Aquarium of the World.” The east and west coasts of the peninsula are home to over 800 species of fish. Unusual whale sharks and manta rays ply the plankton-rich waters, while hundreds of intertidal creatures live along the zone that bridges the desert and sea. Over 20 species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoise) have been identified in the Sea of Cortés from giant blue whales to the near-extinct vaquita, the smallest porpoise known to man.