7-night Baja California and the Sea of Cortez: Among the Great Whales Cruise

Los Islotes includes a wetland preserve, as well as an estuary visited by monkeys and other wildlife.  Behind the community lies a range of green and rugged mountains, including Cerro Hoya, the highest peak on the Azuero Peninsula.  Los Islotes is a haven for active outdoor lovers, with trails for hiking through the lush landscape, riding horseback from our stables into the surrounding hills, or mountain biking to nearby Cerro Hoya National Park.

Cabo Pulmo National Park is Baja Mexico’s National Marine Park and is approximately 60 miles north of Cabo San Lucas. On June 5, 1995, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo introduced Cabo Pulmo National Park to the rest of the world and declared to conserve the national resources and its marine ecosystem. The National Marine Park runs parallel to the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. Surrounded by unspoiled deserts and immaculate mountain ranges, the National Marine Park cradles one of only 3 living coral reefs in North America. During the first decade since it opened, the area has seen over 400% increase in total biomass due to the healthy condition of the reefs. On water, visitors come to Cabo Pulmo to whale watch, surf, snorkel and dive with the diverse marine life that live there.  On land, visitors can mountain bike, hike mountains, or just enjoy the tranquility of Old Mexico.

A few miles off the coast of San Jose Del Cabo lie the world-famous Gorda banks, a pair of seamounts that are an excellent spot for marlin and wahoo fishing. Aside from its impressive marine life, the area also features a 110 foot rise from the ocean floor and an impressive display of gorgonian corals. Guided scuba excursions are an splendid way to explore the ecology of the coast.

The great Bahía Magdalena is the gate entrance to the Pacific. It is a unique place and, as a natural reserve of gray whales that arrive to its waters to fulfill their biological cycle during the months of January to March, a great location for whale watching. The islands of Magdalena and Margarita contribute with the counter coastline that protects it from the strong waves which characterize the Pacific Ocean. The elongated form and low altitude of the islands, shaped almost totally by white sand dunes, permits visitors to simultaneously enjoy the inside and outside ocean view from some of its points. A very beautiful coastline offers plenty of beaches, inlets, marshes and mangrove swamps that are the sanctuary of resident and migratory sea birds and its waters are rich in species for commercial and sports fishing.

Located on the Sea of Cortez, the lovely Mexican resort community of San Carlos offers something for everyone. For water sports enthusiasts, there are beautiful sand beaches, spectacular diving and snorkeling, kayaking, and offshore fishing.

Located on the Sea of Cortez, the lovely Mexican resort community of San Carlos offers something for everyone. For water sports enthusiasts, there are beautiful sand beaches, spectacular diving and snorkeling, kayaking, and offshore fishing.