It's Only Natural: Eco-Friendly Activities in Los Cabos

Exploring Los Cabos' ecological playground

By Nick Honachefsky

The term “green” almost seems out of character in a place as arid as Baja California Sur. But Los Cabos shines ultra green. On land, the 50,000-acre Cabo Real Ecological Preserve, anchored by the ancient Sierra de la Laguna mountains, is home to wildflowers, waterfalls and colorful native birds. Under the water, the Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park — a 20,000-year-old coral reef that spans 45.75 square miles — is filled with blue whales, multicolored fish and loggerhead sea turtles. It’s time to discover Baja’s natural beauty.

Secluded. Tranquil. Sublime. The Baja Peninsula is the front line for Mexico’s ecological magnificence. This area overflows with natural beauty and wonder. This expansive playground is an ecotourist’s dream and  the “green” initiative abounds in the Baja Peninsula. Become a part of something special and enjoy the splendor of Baja’s natural beauty!  

Take a Hike
Your first stop is Desert Park, the gateway to the 50,000-acre Cabo Real Ecological Preserve, with cliffside waterfalls, boisterous cactus wrens, ruby-red hummingbirds along with the strange elephant tree, rose-red dragon fruit tree and dazzling plumeria blooms. Take your hike to new heights by climbing El Picacho, a 6,507-foot peak of the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, which overlooks the namesake La Laguna, a 1.5-mile meadow located at 5,600 feet glimmering with emerald pools, massive red rock formations and untamed desert scenery. Autumn’s cool breezes make it the prime season for outdoor activity. Hikes should be scheduled in the dawn hours between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. to avoid Baja’s oppressive mid-afternoon heat. Outfitters such as Meliá Cabo Real offer horseback tours along the saguaro cactus–lined trails, as well as tours through the pristine sands of the Pacific beachfront. A hiking trip to La Paz, Baja’s capital, is a must, as it is home to the uninhabited island and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Espíritu Santo. Often referred to as The Galapagos of the North, Espíritu Santo hosts 235 species of plants, 271 fish species, 32 reptiles, 98 birds and 31 marine mammals (eleven species are endemic). The northern end of the island features Los Islotes, a rocky site that has a resident sea lion colony. It’s a hike you’ll most certainly remember.

Go Whale Watching
Thousands of gray, humpback, finback and Bryde’s whales travel 6,000 miles from the bone-chilling, rough waters of the Chukchi and Bering seas in Alaska to the warm, tranquil waters of Magdelena Bay off the Baja Peninsula. The cycle of life begins anew as females give birth, nurse their young calves, teach them to swim and prepare them for the long journey back to the frigid waters of the north. Whales fatten up on the multitude of plankton schools brought together by the blending of three major ocean currents: the California current, Panamic current and North Equatorial countercurrent. January through March offers the best shot at observing the massive mammals raising their calves and breaching and splashing around. See these gentle giants up close with Cabo Experience, SunRider Tours and Gray Line Tours, which offer half-day jaunts to the whale grounds.

Kayak Tours
Biological diversity is unparalleled in Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, where over 300 species of tropical fish and 2,000 invertebrates call the placid waters home. Kayakers glide silently through the gin-clear waters of the San José Estuary, with snorkeling stops highlighted by encounters with brilliant butterflyfish, neon sponges and polka-dotted crabs. Cabo Experience offers glass-bottom kayak tours over the stunning shallow reef system at Los Arbolitos or through the placid waters of Los Chopitos, a magnificent coral ecosystem teeming with aquatic life. Kayak outfitters such as Gray Line Tours offer a 3.5-hour paddle tour of kayaking hot spots Twin Dolphin Beach, Santa María Bay and Chileno Bay.

Adopt A Turtle
Each year, between the months of June and December, thousands of loggerhead, black, leatherback, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles return to their Los Cabos birthplace to deposit their eggs in the soft sands along the Sea of Cortés. On moonlit nights, the tiny adventurers break through their shells and awkwardly race to the ocean to begin their life’s journey. Travelers can now participate in a voluntourism conservation effort led by Baja Outback by “adopting” a baby sea turtle from the nursery camp and encouraging the little guy into the ocean. Baja Wild offers a similar Adopt a Turtle program, where participants can watch as the baby turtles start their new life in the wild and assist in protecting one of nature’s most endangered species. Other environmentally friendly resorts, such as Casa del Mar Golf Resort & Spa, have been governmentally designated as protected sea turtle hatching grounds. July to January is the best time to see olive ridley turtles or leatherback turtles, while May to June is your best bet for viewing black, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles.

Explore the Depths
There is quite possibly more life under the water than there is above it in Cabo, and scuba diving puts you face to face with the mysterious inhabitants of Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park. Though shallow reef systems teem with marine life, go deeper to enter a realm of silent beauty. Assorted shipwrecks house peculiar moray eels and curious lobster, while magnificent striped marlin and speedy yellowfin tuna patrol the surrounding area. Tropical Tours runs scuba jaunts to Pelican Rock to explore depths from 25 to 100 feet that are home to parrotfish, boxfish and pufferfish; Sand Falls, with its unique rolling sand mountains that appear like flowing waterfalls; Neptune’s Finger off of El Arco, a rocky substrate with depths from 30 to 100 feet dotted with vibrant sponges and hawksbill turtles; and the more advanced Pinnacle, harboring stronger currents and depths of 50 to 80 feet.

Dance with Dolphins
Have you ever fantasized of one day swimming with dolphins? Now’s your chance to make it a reality as Cabo Dolphins offers up a one-hour experience that is sure to leave you breathless. Seven amicable bottlenosed dolphins headline the show. At a cost up to $165, take a 30-minute Kids Tour, complete with fin shakes and dolphin kisses. A more involved 45-minute Swim with Dolphins Tour features fin shakes and dolphin rides, or opt for the Trainer for a Day program, where you can experience the dolphins’ boundless enthusiasm while learning techniques from the trainer. Digital photos and streaming video of your experience with the wonderful creatures are available. Whatever program you choose, you are assured to make friends for life with our distant mammalian cousins.

Ecotourism and the “green” initiative abound in the Baja Peninsula. Become a part of something special while enjoying the splendor of Baja’s natural beauty.

Why is Cabo so much fun? There is so much to do! Click here for a list of dive, watersports, fishing and tour operators. You'll also find links to Cabo's world class golf courses, spas, adventure tours, horseback riding, wedding coordinators and cruises.