EspĂ­ritu Santo National Park "The Islands"

The Parks Department or National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) works to protect the environment of the islands and surrounding waters in the Sea of Cortez. The Islands of the Gulf of California Protected Flora and Fauna Area was originally created in 1978 as a breeding site for marine birds, it includes 900 islands and islets of the Gulf of California, from the La Paz area north to Bahia de Los Angeles. It has 4 jurisdictions, in Baja California, Sonora, Sinaloa and Baja California Sur. You can see the areas on this map.
The Espiritu Santo Archipelago Marine National Park was created in 2007.

A pass is required to visit the areas. For more information on passes visit our Park Passes page.

The park is a feeding and refuge site for various aquatic species and a stopping place along the migratory routes of hammerhead sharks and sea turtles. The National Park is an important site for fishing, tourism and research. An example of the species you will encounter in the park includes one of the largest sea lion colonies in the Sea of Cortez, 7 different marine turtles, humpback whales, eagle rays, hammerhead sharks, dolphins, moorish idols, frigate birds, pelicans, fish eagles, blue footed boobies, and brown footed boobies. There are 38 species of plants and animals in the park that are not found anywhere else in the world.

You may notice some fishing camps on the islands. When the Government purchased the islands the purchase included enabling these fishermen to continue to use their buildings for only a certain number of days during certain periods throughout the year. No one lives on the islands.

To protect this valuable area the Parks Department has established rules for visitors. Noncompliance is punishable by fine or even the impounding of your vessel. And remember to take only photos and leave only footprints.

Approved Activities:

Activities Not Approved:

Los Islotes Rules:

You may see Park Rangers on the islands monitoring birds and turtles and rescuing entangled sea lions. If you spot an entangled sea lion or whale report it to the Park Rangers at 612-128-4141 ex 18120 or on VHF channel 16.

Environmental Crime:

Please help protect this National Park by reporting any violations of the rules or any other crimes to the environment such as feeding the sea lions, jet skis or water skiing. Take a photo of the violator and include a photo of the vessel they came from. Report this to the Park Rangers at 612-128-4141 ex 18120 or on VHF Channel 16 or email Celia Roman at celia.roman@conanp.gob.mx (English spoken).

Anchoring Is Prohibited:

Maps for Download

Click to download a PDF of the maps below provided by the Mexican Government. Bajainsider has also done a very good map showing the restricted areas at - Usage Restrictions for the Espiritu Santos Archipelago