National park · Mexico
Bahía de Loreto National ParkParque Nacional Bahía de Loreto
Base in Loreto town and take a boat or kayak: a half-day island trip for beaches and snorkelling, or a full-day paddle to Danzante. Go Nov–Apr; summer heat and wind make it a skip.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
2,065 km² (797 sq mi)797 sq mi (2,065 km²)
approximate
Established
1996
Best months
Nov–Apr
UNESCO
World Heritage
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
- 2,065 km² (797 sq mi)797 sq mi (2,065 km²)
- Roughly 2,000 km² of sea plus five islands and a stretch of Baja shoreline; boundary figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1996
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- Permits
- For some areas
Bahía de Loreto National Park protects five desert islands and more than 2,000 km² of the Gulf of California off the coast of Baja California Sur, designated in 1996 and part of the UNESCO Gulf of California listing since 2005. The park is a marine environment rather than a trail network: there is no mainland hiking system, and almost everything you do here happens from a boat or a kayak launched at the Loreto marina. Coronados and Danzante are the short-trip islands, Carmen is the largest with reefs and a ghost town, Montserrat is mostly a fishing and dive destination, and Catalana is closed to landings. The bay holds more marine mammal species than anywhere else in Mexico, with blue, fin, humpback and gray whales passing through in winter and spring. Plan around wind and heat: mornings are calm, afternoons are not, and July to September is a skip.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2005Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California.
- Ramsar wetlandListed wetland.
Size and age
2,065 km² (797 sq mi)797 sq mi (2,065 km²) · national park since 1996
Roughly 2,000 km² of sea plus five islands and a stretch of Baja shoreline; boundary figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- Five desert islands inside one bay, each with its own beaches, cliffs and coves.
- The Gulf of California here holds more marine mammal species than anywhere else in Mexico.
- Sea kayakers can camp on uninhabited islands and paddle with dolphins and whales.
- Reefs and drop-offs close to shore make it a real snorkel and dive destination, not just a boat ride.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepAvoid
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanCool, calm, clearest water; whales present
- FebPeak whale watching; mild days
- MarWarm, calm; whale season tailing off
- AprWarm water, light wind
- MayHotter; wind picks up in the afternoon
- JunHot; afternoon wind and chop
- JulVery hot; storm and hurricane season starts
- AugHottest month; boat trips often cancelled
- SepPeak hurricane risk; operators may close
- OctHeat eases; sea still warm
- NovDry, mild, whales arriving
- DecCool and clear; whale season underway
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue, fin, humpback and gray whalesDec–Apr · Best odds in February and the first half of March; sightings are never guaranteed. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Dolphins and porpoisesAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| OrcasNov–May · Occasional, not reliable. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Sea lions and island reptilesAll year · Several island species are endemic; keep your distance. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Jumbo squid spawning in the bayApr–Jun · Seasonal and variable (check). | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Loreto town
Walk or short taxi to the marina; boats and kayak launches leave from there.
5–10 min
From Loreto airport (LTO)
Taxi to town, then the marina.
15–20 min
From La Paz
Bus to Loreto, then the marina; driving the transpeninsular highway is the alternative.
5.5 h
Open the page →
From Baja California Sur
Region hub for Loreto, La Paz, Cabo and the peninsula's parks.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Loreto Bay and the marina | The launch point, nearshore reefs, paddleboard and kayak rentals. | Open; boats hired at the marina. |
| Coronados Island | Inactive volcano, white sand beaches, a steep north trail and a beach south trail. | Open; landings on the beaches. |
| Danzante Island | Small island close to the Baja coast with cliffs and steep terrain. | Open; popular snorkel and kayak stop. |
| Carmen Island | Largest island, highest peaks, reefs for snorkelling and a ghost town on the east side. | Open; camping on some beaches. |
| Montserrat Island | Fishing near shore on the east side, deep water to the north. | Open; mostly visited by fishing and dive boats. |
| Catalana Island | Furthest from the coast; undisturbed bird and sea mammal habitat. | No landings permitted. |
Sketch map
- 1Loreto town and marina · Town≈26.011, -111.345Map ↗
- 2Loreto airport (LTO) · Ranger station≈25.989, -111.348Map ↗
- 3Danzante Island · Beach≈25.800, -111.250Map ↗
- 4Coronados Island · Summit≈26.100, -111.280Map ↗
- 5Carmen Island · Beach≈25.950, -111.180Map ↗
- 6Montserrat Island · Beach≈25.750, -111.220Map ↗
- 7Catalana Island · Beach≈25.980, -110.980Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate island and town positions for orientation only; island coordinates are approximate.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (boat or kayak day trip) | MXN 100–200 (≈ US$6–11) | person | Federal protected-area wristband, usually collected by the operator; 2026 estimate (check). |
| Half-day island boat tour | MXN 900–1,500 (≈ US$50–85) | person | Snorkel gear and park band often included; 2026 estimate (check). |
| Full-day boat tour with lunch | MXN 1,500–2,500 (≈ US$85–140) | person | 2026 estimate (check). |
| Guided sea-kayak day trip | MXN 1,800–3,000 (≈ US$100–170) | person | 2026 estimate (check). |
| Multi-day kayak and camp trip | MXN 6,000–12,000 (≈ US$350–650) | person | Per person for 3–5 days, gear and food included; 2026 estimate (check). |
| Scuba dive trip (two tanks) | MXN 2,500–4,000 (≈ US$140–250) | person | 2026 estimate (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry band permit or guide
Island camping permit or guide
Fishing permit or guide
Catalana Island landing no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- MX$100–200≈ US$6–11
- MX$900–1,500≈ US$50–85
- MX$1,500–2,500≈ US$85–140
- MX$1,800–3,000≈ US$100–170
- MX$6,000–12,000≈ US$350–650
- MX$2,500–4,000≈ US$140–250
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP) — Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto before you go.
Park rules
- Sunscreen
- Chemical sunblock is banned in most Mexican marine protected areas; wear a rash guard and use reef-safe product only where allowed.
- Wildlife distance
- Do not chase, touch or swim after whales, dolphins or sea lions; let the operator keep the legal distance.
- Catalana Island
- No boat landings; it is a refuge island.
- Fishing
- Licence required; protected species and closed zones are enforced.
- Camping
- Only on permitted beaches and islands, with leave-no-trace practice; check current zones before you go.check
- Shells and coral
- Do not take shells, coral or any marine life; several shellfish species here are protected.
Where to stay
Near the park
Loreto town
Hotels, hostels and posadas of every level, minutes from the marina.
In the park
Island beach camping
Permitted beaches on some islands, arranged through a Loreto outfitter; no facilities.
Safety
Heat and sun high
Wind and chop on open crossings medium
Hurricanes medium
Remote islands medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Boat tours from the Loreto marina suit most mobility levels; boarding needs a short step down into the boat.
- The island trails on Coronados and the kayak crossings are rough and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Use reef-safe sunscreen or none at all; chemicals damage the reefs.
- Book operators who keep the legal distance from whales and do not chase dolphins.
- Carry out all rubbish from island beaches, including food scraps.
- Do not buy shells, dried sea life or coral souvenirs.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Bahía de Loreto?
The federal park band is roughly MXN 100–200 per person (2026 estimate), usually collected by your boat or kayak operator. The trip itself is the real cost: a half-day island boat tour runs about MXN 900–1,500 per person, a full day with lunch MXN 1,500–2,500, and a guided kayak day MXN 1,800–3,000. Confirm current prices with the operator before you pay.
What are the best hikes in Bahía de Loreto?
There is no mainland trail network — walking here means island trails and beach landings. On Coronados Island the north trail climbs over steep cliffs and lava formations, while the south trail follows white sand beaches with swimming stops. Both take 1–2 hours and are reached by boat. The other islands are mostly explored by kayak, snorkel or on foot along the shore.
When is the best time to visit Bahía de Loreto?
November to April. December to February is cool and calm with the best whale watching, and February plus the first half of March is when whales, including mothers with calves, are most often seen. July to September is very hot with hurricane risk and many trips cancelled; October and November are a good shoulder season.
Can I see whales without a tour?
Rarely. The whales are mostly offshore around the islands, so a boat or kayak trip is the practical way. Sightings are never guaranteed, but blue, fin, humpback and gray whales pass through the bay in winter and spring.
Do I need a guide to kayak to the islands?
Not legally for a day paddle, but the crossings are open water with wind and no shelter, so a guided trip or a rental with a proper briefing is the sensible choice. Multi-day camping trips on the islands should be arranged through a Loreto outfitter.
Is there anything to do in Loreto itself?
Yes — the town is the base for the park, with the marina, dive shops, kayak outfitters and restaurants. Most visitors stay in Loreto and go out to the islands by day.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialComisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP) — Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto
- officialUNESCO World Heritage Centre — Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California
- officialRamsar Sites Information Service — Bahía de Loreto
- secondaryWikivoyage: Bahia de Loreto, revision 5244979 (CC BY-SA 4.0)