ECOTOURISM
In La Paz?s environs
you?ll find areas where you
can observe an abundance of flora and fauna, proving once again that this destination
offers much more than it beaches.
Serpentario de La Paz ? Located
very close to downtown La Paz.
At this unique
place you can observe typical
species that inhabit the Baja California Peninsula region, such as snakes, arachnids and reptiles, among others.
Isla Cerralvo ? Lies 65 km (40 mi) east of La Paz. This island is 30 km (19 mi) long and
as wide as 9 km (5.5 mi) on the southern end.
Known for its gorgeous blue waters, this is one of the largest islands
on the Sea
of Cortez.
At this place you can see interesting wildlife like sea lions and countless
bird species, including booby birds, pelicans, seagulls and cormorants. You also can
observe a wide variety of plant life,
particularly cacti species such as the saguaro and
the cardon.
Isla Espiritu
Santo ? Located 30 km (19 mi) north of La Paz
from the port
of Pichilingue.
This is one of the
most visited islands on the
Sea of Cortez. It
is surrounded by a group of small islands, including Isla
Partida, Los Islotes, La Ballena,
El Gallo and La Gallina. Among the incredible fauna
you?ll see here are colonies of sea lions, especially near the Isla Partida. The rock formations
on the island?s
west coast serve as breeding grounds for marine birds such as seagulls,
frigate birds, pelicans and cormorants.
Sierra de La Laguna Biosphere Reserve ? Located 125 km (77 mi) southeast
of La
Paz, off
Highway 9. This reserve covers an area of 112,437 hectares
(277,719
acres) and has the only coniferous forest
in the state of Baja California Sur. This reserve has abundant
forest and lowland jungle vegetation, as well as semidesert areas where you can observe mostly pine and oak trees. You?ll
also see small mammal species,
birds and reptiles.
San Carlos ? Located at Bahia
Magdalena, 271 km
(168 mi)
northwest of La
Paz, off
Highway 1. This is one of
the region?s most important areas for whale-watching. From January through March, these cetaceans
migrate to the warm waters
of the Pacific
coast and the Sea of Cortez
to reproduce. Among the species you
can observe are orcas, humpbacks, pilot
whales, gray whales and the
blue whale, the largest mammal on earth.
