Great forum with great info! First time posting here, first-time visit to BCS planned (have traveled a fair amount around mainland Mexico).
We are planning a fairly fast-paced (I know, I know) car trip down the peninsula in in June. We will be visiting both Loreto and La Paz, but will only
have time to do an island visit/snorkel/etc. day trip from one of those cities. Any thoughts on the pros and cons of doing the Espiritu Santo/Los
Islotes thing from La Paz vs. Isla Coronado or Carmen or Danzante from Loreto?
As I mentioned, this will be in June (so some kind of shade canopy on the boat would be welcome) and we will be traveling with kids aged 11 and 13.
We do plan to do some shore-based snorkeling in Cabo Pulmo, so hopefully this won't be our only shot at checking out marine life.
La Paz or Cabo Pulmo .Fast paced ? whats that mean . I'm in Portland Or and and know both destinations well. Truck and boat live in La Paz and have
driven the peninsula many times.
I suppose I am prejudiced but I think you can't beat La Paz for the trip out to Isla Espiritu Santo. There are a good number of pangas with shade
covers for rent downtown and out at Tecolote to take you there and beaches and bays on the island are gorgeous.
At night you can safely walk the malecon with all the other families. There are bike rentals, lots of "kid-friendly" restaurants, ice cream parlours
and even a skateboard park along the malecon.
Oh, to clarify - by "fast-paced" I don't mean speeding, but rather not spending as much time at each destination as we would like (and skipping some
places we would like to visit entirely).
I Have freedived both and the are both very good . The boat rides are the same to islas . They will have the same fish and sights, I would pick based
on your travel schedule
Is the boat ramp at Puerto Escondido closed for good ?? from their out to the island is very,,very short run and a good dive at times.....ive been to
isprito santos well over 50 times and only found halfway good diveing on the east (wind) side and the "normal" side has been dismo for me....
You'll be treated to a lovely day in the water by the locally owned and operated English-speaking guides. They'll give you an experience of the area's
marine life that's fun, educational and always sensitively aware and respectful of the environment.
There's a lot to be said for snorkeling at Los Isolotes at the sea lion colony there. Stay off the rocks, and respect the males that come by to let
you know you've come close enough. Memories that last a lifetime - and probably pretty perfect for 11 and 13 year-olds.
Really.
I've found it the most productive use of time and funds to hire a panga at Playa Tecolote instead of from town. Leave early, and return ahead of the
Coromuels:
Good points DOUG... I ran many boats out to I/S island with guest's/tourist.and and set the hook in "partida" for many a night...I found,that the
dive/ snorkel was better on the other side if not blown out !! also Isle San Jose has a NICE sweeping beach on one side.......reminds me of a "Three
hr tour" heh,heh....now your supposed to secure (buy) a biosphere permit (wrist band) to go to Isprito.....agenda 21 is coming in !! and your call on
leaving Early is on the money...Staight up.....cerrovlo channel and island is the also very overlooked in the LA PAZ area ..and has GREAT
diving/snorkeling/fishing area if you get the chance!!!! K&T:
If we opt for the La Paz/Tecolote approach, is this the kind of deal where you just approach a likely panga on the beach and negotiate a day out
(which I probably have enough Spanish to accomplish, barely), or are there boats obviously decked out for hire? And (here's where I show my real
naivete) do most of these guys have life jackets or do you bring your own?
I went with Carey Diving; not sure if they are still around. They were fine - we went with the sea lions, then to a small coral reef for snorkeling,
then they fed us lunch on the beach, and I think we went somewhere else, too. I would reserve in advance - they might give you a discount if you do.
They had all the equipment you would need. Generally you don't use life jackets. You use BCDs and weights.
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