Isla Espiritu Santo, (Holy Spirit Island), located just off the coast of La Paz, BCS, Mexico, is a stunning destination that draws visitors from all over the world. With its crystal-clear waters, pristine beaches, and abundant wildlife, the island offers a unique and unforgettable experience. Snorkeling, kayaking, and scuba are great ways to explore this remarkable island and to get up close to the incredible creatures that live there.
The island is safe for families. This assumes you are with a licensed yacht charter operator with permits for the various island activities. A licensed operator must also have a licensed island guide on board.
Espiritu Santo Island has been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 2005 and a national park since 2007. It is the central island of the Espiritu Santo Archipelago.
This area is the 2nd most biologically diverse marine environment in the world. There is an abundance of wildlife on and around the island.
The island is home to 22 species of dolphin, 9 species of whale, 5 species of turtles, and a diverse array of marine life, including colorful fish, giant mantas, mobula rays, and whale sharks.
The legal way is to board a shared tour with a licensed operator who has the permits required to take guests to the island. In the case of Baja Charters, they provide both private charters to the island in addition to shared tours.
Departing one of the several marinas inside the city limits of La Paz, the cruising time to the island is about two hours. The island is long with 21 different beaches, bays, and coves. One cannot really experience the entire island in a single visit, but a full day private charter or a shared catamaran tour is the best way to go. During the crossing and upon arrival, it is common to see dolphins, whales, mobula rays, sea lions, sea turtles, and tropical fish.
Yes, a permit is required. Isla Espiritu Santo, and the surrounding area, is a national park which requires permission to visit. A licensed private charter, or shared tour company, will have the permits in their possession and on board. Typically, the park entrance fee is included with the cruise activity.
There are several hiking trails on the island that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding sea and rugged cliffs. And for those interested in wildlife, Isla Espiritu Santo is home to several unique species, including four mammals found nowhere else in the world.
The island is a breeding ground for sea lions, and visitors can often see these playful animals basking in the sun or playing in the water. There are numerous bird species that can be seen on the island, including pelicans, frigatebirds, and blue-footed boobies.
For a shared eco-tour to this island and other smaller islands close by, from a 60’ sailing catamaran, go to: www.BajaEspirituSanto.com. Kayaks are on board, and this is a great way to explore the coastline and take in the island's stunning natural beauty. Private charters are also available, see www.BajaCharters.com.
The island is a wonderful experience virtually any time of year, but you might want to avoid December through February as there are frequent winds and swells in the channel crossing to the island in the winter months.
There are whale sharks around the island, but not predictably so. Whale Sharks frequently spend the night around the island, then cross the channel and feed in the El Mogote area of the Bay of La Paz during the months of October through April.
Around and upon Isla Espíritu Santo, you can spot a variety of magnificent birds. Both the Blue-footed Booby and the Red-footed Booby nest on a nearby island in route to Espiritu Santo. The incredible Frigate bird, which has a distinctive forked tail and large wingspan has a nesting community on the ruins of an old pearl operation in San Gabriel Bay at the south end of the island. Gulls and the Royal Tern are common, as are the Brown Pelican, Blue Heron, and Snowy Egret.
There are no hotels, or services of any kind on any of the islands in the Isla Espiritu Santo archipelago. Make sure that you are with a proper licensed operator when you visit the island. They will have everything you need on board.
The Sea of Cortez is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to over 900 species of fish and more than 30 species of marine mammals. The warm waters and abundant marine life make La Paz a prime location for diving, including wreck diving. There are several wreck sites near La Paz that are accessible to divers of varying skill levels. Unlike many other wreck dive sites, these locations are not crowded. One such wreck site is: The Salvatierra, is a cargo ship that sank in 1976. Another significant wreck site is the Fang Ming, just off the coast of Isla Espiritu Santo. It was a large Chinese commercial fishing vessel that was intentionally sunk by the Mexican navy in 1999. The wreck is now home to schools of fish, rays, and even sea lions. The C-59 is a former Mexican Navy gunboat that was intentionally sunk in 2000 to create an artificial reef and dive site. The C-59 is 155-foot-long (47-meter) ship that sits upright on the sandy bottom at a depth of around 80 feet (24 meters). The wreck is now home to a diverse array of marine life, including schools of fish, octopuses, and various species of rays.
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