National park · Mexico
Guadalupe IslandIsla Guadalupe
Go only with a permit and a boat: 18 h from Ensenada, no trails, no shops, no lodging to book — most visitors see it from a liveaboard dive boat in Aug–Nov and never land.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
244 km²94 sq mi
approximate
Established
1928
Best months
Aug–Oct
UNESCO
Biosphere
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
- Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
- Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
- Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.
At a glance
- Country
- Mexico
- Area
- 244 km²94 sq mi
- About 35 km north–south and up to 9.5 km east–west; figures vary slightly by source (check).
- Established
- 1928
- Best months
- Aug–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Guadalupe Island is a volcanic island 241 km off Baja California, a biosphere reserve and pinniped sanctuary since 1975, with a fishing settlement of about 150–213 people at Campo Oeste. It has no hiking trails, no restaurants, no stores and no bookable lodging; the dirt roads are the walking routes. Almost everyone who 'visits' does so from a liveaboard cage-diving boat that anchors offshore and never goes ashore. Landing requires a Mexican government permit arranged in advance.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO Biosphere ReserveGuadalupe Island Biosphere Reserve (check the designation year).
- Special national site · 1928Nature conservancy area — one of the oldest reserves in Mexico.
- Special national site · 1975Pinniped sanctuary.
Size and age
244 km²94 sq mi · national park since 1928
About 35 km north–south and up to 9.5 km east–west; figures vary slightly by source (check).
Why go
- One of the few places on earth where great white sharks are reliably seen, which is why the dive boats come.
- Northern elephant seals and Guadalupe fur seals haul out here — the island was their last refuge from 19th-century hunting.
- Vegetation is recovering after the last feral goats were removed in 2007; the cypress woodland in the north is the ecological centre.
- A genuinely hard place to reach: 241 km of open Pacific, an 18-hour boat ride, and a permit before you leave.A genuinely hard place to reach: 150 mi of open Pacific, an 18-hour boat ride, and a permit before you leave.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprAvoid
- MayAvoid
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecAvoid
- JanWinter swells; boats do not run
- FebWinter swells; cold, wind
- MarNo dive season; rough crossings
- AprNo dive season
- MayNo dive season
- JunSeason edges in; few departures
- JulEarly season; boats fill fast
- AugDive season opens; calmest water
- SepPeak shark sightings
- OctPeak season; book months ahead
- NovSeason closes; last departures
- DecSeason over; winter swells
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great white sharksAug–Nov · The reason the dive fleet comes; sightings are the point of the season. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Northern elephant sealsAll year · Survived 19th-century hunting here and remain year-round. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Guadalupe fur sealsAll year · Nearly extinct by 1844; the island was their last refuge. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Seabirds and land birdsMar–Jun · Recovering after feral cat and dog control. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Cypress woodland and chaparralMar–May · Regrowth after the last goats were removed in 2007. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Ensenada
Liveaboard dive boat or private vessel, 18 h over open water; no scheduled passenger service.
18 h
From Baja California road trip
Drive to Ensenada or San Quintín, leave the vehicle, join a boat.
From San Quintín
Another Baja park with actual trails and day access — a realistic substitute if you cannot get a permit.
From Mexico trip planning
Where Guadalupe fits against the rest of the country.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Campo Oeste (West Camp) | The main settlement: about 50 buildings, a fishing cooperative of roughly 30 families, generators and a desalination plant. | Residents only in practice; visitors need permission and a place to stay arranged in advance. |
| Campamento Sur (South Camp) | Weather station on Melpómene Cove staffed by a Mexican Navy detachment. | Official use; no visitor facilities. |
| Campo Bosque (Forest Camp) | Cypress woodland in the north, the ecological centre of the island. | Working camp; camping here is discouraged. |
| Northern plateau and Mount Augusta | The high volcanic ridge, cliffs on both sides, the highest point at 1,298 m. | Dirt roads and traces only; extreme care needed near cliff edges. |
| Islets (Islote Afuera, Islote Adentro, Islote Negro, Islote Bernal) | Steep offshore rocks and islets, some with near-vertical walls above and below water. | No landing infrastructure; seen from boats. |
Sketch map
- 1Campo Oeste (West Camp) · Village≈28.974, -118.303Main settlement and fishing cooperative.Map ↗
- 2Campamento Sur (South Camp) · Ranger station≈28.884, -118.293Navy weather station on Melpómene Cove.Map ↗
- 3Campo Bosque (Forest Camp) · Sleep≈29.110, -118.327Cypress woodland camp in the north.Map ↗
- 4Airport Isla Guadalupe (MMGD) · Ranger station≈29.022, -118.2751,200 m dirt runway; no terminal or control tower.Map ↗
- 5Mount Augusta · Summit≈29.095, -118.311Highest point, 1,298 m.Map ↗
- 6Northeast Anchorage · Beach≈29.154, -118.285Abandoned buildings and a small beach; camping limited to the beach at low tide.Map ↗
- 7Islote Afuera (Islote Zapato) · Dive site≈28.850, -118.283Steep islet with near-vertical walls above and below water.Map ↗
- 8Islote Adentro (El Toro) · Dive site≈28.871, -118.293Barren islet near Roca del Skip and Church Rock; Tuna Alley separates the two.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biosphere reserve visitor permit | Free | person | Required for anyone landing; arranged through the operator or a Mexican government office before departure — cost not published (check). |
| Liveaboard cage-dive package from Ensenada | MXN 90,000–120,000 (≈ US$5,000–6,500) | person | 5-day trips; roughly US$3,000 and up depending on boat and cabin (check). |
| Private boat or charter | Free | boat | No published rate; you arrange fuel, crew and permit yourself (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Biosphere reserve entry permit permit or guide
Airport use (MMGD) permit or guide
Shark-dive operations permit or guide
Park rules
- Permit
- Anyone landing on the biosphere reserve needs a Mexican government permit obtained before departure.
- Trails
- There are no hiking trails; walking is on dirt roads and faint traces. Do not cut across country near cliffs.
- Fishing
- A marine reserve with no fishing has been agreed alongside the desalination plant; the exact boundaries are not published (check).
- Wildlife
- Pinniped sanctuary since 1975 — no approaching, touching or feeding seals and sea lions.
- Camping
- Flat ground is scarce; the plateau near the runway is the flattest option and is several miles from the coast. Campo Bosque residents discourage camping in the woodland.
- Litter and fires
- There is no waste collection and no store; carry out everything you bring and light no fires.
Where to stay
In the park
Campo Oeste residents' huts
The only realistic lodging: a room from a resident, arranged privately in advance. Small huts, densely built.
In the park
Camping near the runway plateau
Flattest ground on the island, about 610 m elevation, several miles by road from the coast. Bring all water and food.
Near the park
Liveaboard boat
Where nearly all visitors sleep; anchored offshore, no landing.
Near the park
Ensenada
Mainland base before and after the crossing, with hotels at every level.
Safety
Cliff edges on the high plateau high
Open-ocean crossing high
Great white sharks medium
No services medium
Winter cold and swell medium
Rough airstrip high
Accessibility
- There are no paved paths, no railings and no visitor facilities; the dirt roads are rough and steep in places.
- Getting ashore at all requires a boat and a permit, so the island is not accessible for most travellers with limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Do not book any operator that promises touching or feeding seals; the island is a pinniped sanctuary.
- Support the vegetation recovery: stay on the roads, do not collect plants, and report any remaining feral cats or dogs.
- Carry out all rubbish — there is no collection on the island.
- Respect the no-take marine reserve and the fishing cooperative's rules at Campo Oeste.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Guadalupe Island?
There is no published entry fee. Landing requires a Mexican government permit for the biosphere reserve, arranged before departure through the federal environment authority or your operator; the cost is not published (check). In practice the real cost is the boat: a 5-day liveaboard cage-diving package from Ensenada starts around US$3,000 per person, and a private charter is more.
What are the best hikes in Guadalupe Island?
There are no official hiking trails. The walking routes are the dirt roads: the northbound road to Campo Bosque climbs above 1,200 m and drops to Northeast Anchorage beach, and the westbound road runs from the runway junction to Campo Oeste. Both are long, exposed and rough, with cliff edges close to the road in the north.
When is the best time to visit Guadalupe Island?
August to November for the shark-diving season, with September and October the peak. Outside that window the liveaboards do not run and winter swells make the crossing and the west anchorage difficult. Winter temperatures at the weather station can reach freezing.
Can I stay on Guadalupe Island?
Only if a resident rents you a room at Campo Oeste, arranged privately in advance — there are no hotels. Camping is possible on the plateau near the runway, which is the flattest ground but several miles from the coast. Most visitors sleep on the boat offshore.
Do I need a permit for Guadalupe Island?
Yes. Anyone landing on the biosphere reserve needs a Mexican government permit obtained before departure. Dive boats that stay offshore operate under their own licensed arrangements and do not land.
Is Guadalupe Island the same as Guadeloupe?
No. Guadeloupe is a French overseas department in the Caribbean. Guadalupe Island is a Mexican volcanic island in the Pacific, 241 km off Baja California.
How do I get to Guadalupe Island?
By boat from Ensenada — about 18 hours over open water — or by private plane to the 1,200 m dirt runway (MMGD), which has no terminal, no control tower, no hangar and no car rental. There is no scheduled passenger service.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go