Ensenada Grande gallery 1

    Ensenada Grande

    The most visited cove of Espíritu Santo, on Isla Partida: boat access, park rules

    Ensenada Grande
    The most visited cove of Espíritu Santo, on Isla Partida: boat access, park rules

    About

    About Ensenada Grande

    Ensenada Grande is the cove that heads the municipality's list of the most visited places on Espíritu Santo. It sits on Isla Partida, the northern island of the complex, separated from Espíritu Santo by a narrow channel, 30 km by sea from La Paz and reachable only by boat: pangas and yachts leave from the marinas and the malecón pier, and from Playa El Tecolote, usually in under an hour. Clear water in intense blues, light sand and the rock formations of the island's northern coves are the picture; behind the beach a canyon trail climbs 3.4 km to a 140 m cliff on the east side, a three-hour hike that CONANP rates as moderate and recommends all year.

    This is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 225-peso conservation wristband is charged per person per day, you go with an authorised operator and wear their bracelet, and camping happens only in designated zones through licensed outfitters, who bring the food. There are no services on the island beyond signage and trails, no mobile signal (emergencies go by VHF channel 16), no pets, no fires with island wood, and every scrap of waste goes back to port. Most day tours combine the cove with Bahía San Gabriel, the rock arch of Isla Partida and, from 1 September to 31 May, the sea lion snorkel at Los Islotes, Mexico's largest California sea lion colony with 400 to 600 animals.

    The sheltered west-side coves are calm most of the year, but currents follow wind and tide, strongest in the San Lorenzo channel and around Los Islotes; wear the life jacket your guide hands you and stay inside the permitted zones. The northwest wind blows hardest from December to February, the best season for the park is October to December, and kayak trips run October to April. Tours were quoted at 1,200 to 2,000 pesos per person in 2025, wristband usually included.

    Sources: CONANP, hiking guide · CONANP, the marine park · CONANP, kayak and camping guide · CONANP, management programme · La Paz tourism office · Go La Paz, Espíritu Santo · POSTA BCS · Lonely Planet

    Best forBoat Tours, Photography, Relaxing, Snorkeling, Swimming
    Crowd levelDay tours and cruise ships anchor here; busiest at Christmas and March to April
    Best time to visitOctober to December; September to May for the sea lion snorkel on the way
    AccessIsland cove inside a national park, boat access only

    Highlights

    Highlights

    Blues of the north covesClear water in intense blues and light sand, with rock formations and small coves in view.
    The trail to the cliffA 3.4 km canyon walk to a 140 m cliff on the east side, about three hours, moderate.
    Two islands, one channelEspíritu Santo and Isla Partida share one protected complex, split by a narrow channel.

    FAQs

    By boat only. Authorised operators leave from the La Paz marinas, the malecón pier and Playa El Tecolote; the cove is 30 km by sea from the city, usually under an hour each way.

    The conservation wristband costs 225 pesos per person per day, with exemptions for seniors, pensioners, people with disabilities and children under 12, and discounts for students, teachers and Mexican residents. Tours usually include it.

    Only in designated zones and with a licensed outfitter, who provides the food. Park rules ban pets, waste, fires with island wood and noise, and occasional visitors may stay up to three nights with prior notice to the park.

    From 1 September to 31 May; the colony is closed to swimmers in the summer months. Most Ensenada Grande tours include the stop in season.

    Beach Conditions

    Beach Safety

    Swimming at this beach

    Depends on the day

    Sometimes swimmable, sometimes not — it depends on the surf that day. Check the flag posted on the sand, and stay out of the water where no flag is posted.

    Modeled waves today
    0.3 m max 7 sec max period · peak waves from WSW
    Modeled wind today
    23 km/h max gusts up to 28 km/h · strongest wind from W

    This rating is our editorial classification of the beach itself, not a reading of today’s water. The numbers above are modeled estimates. For today, the authority is the flag flown on the sand by ZOFEMAT Los Cabos: red means stay out, yellow means extreme caution, black means the beach is closed.

    Open-Meteo public model data · Checked

    Estimated from public data, not an official safety advisory. Always follow posted flags and lifeguard instructions.

    Data sources

    The approved editorial profile allows a model verdict; a conditional profile can never display green.

    Open-Meteo Marine: modeled wave height, period, and direction.

    Open-Meteo Weather: modeled 10 m wind and gusts.

    Jellyfish Watch

    Marine Life Watch

    Jellyfish Watch

    Elevated activity

    Recent nearby sightings suggest extra caution before entering the water.

    Estimated from public data, not an official safety advisory.

    Data sources

    Sources: iNaturalist public observations and Open-Meteo Marine - refreshed 1 second ago

    Location

    Location

    Ensenada Grande, Isla Partida, Espíritu Santo archipelago, La Paz

    Get DirectionsOpen Map

    Plan Your Visit

    Plan Your Visit

    Recommended DurationA day trip or a night's camp
    Best Time to VisitOctober to December; September to May for the sea lion snorkel on the way

    Quick Tips

    Quick Tips

    Book with an authorised operator and ask for your wristband.
    Bring a radio or make sure your guide has one; there is no signal.
    Go in October to December for the best season, and before June if you want the sea lions.

    Amenities

    Amenities

    Nothing on the islandSignage and trails only; food and shelter come with your operator.
    The wristband225 pesos per person per day, with exemptions for seniors, under-12s and people with disabilities, and discounts for students and Mexican residents.
    Camps by permitCamping only in designated zones with licensed outfitters; occasional visitors may stay up to three nights with notice.
    No signalCarry a radio; help goes through the Port Captain or the rangers on VHF channel 16.

    Things To Do

    Things To Do

    Simple beach-day activities that fit the setting and conditions.

    SnorkelClear water off the sand; most tours stop here to swim, kayak and paddle before lunch.
    Hike to Los MuellecitosThe CONANP trail from the beach: 3.4 km, 160 m of altitude, three hours in all.
    Camp with an outfitterDesignated zones only, through licensed operators who bring the food; kayak season runs October to April.
    Sea lions at Los IslotesThe snorkel with Mexico's largest colony is allowed from 1 September to 31 May.
    See the archDay tours pair the cove with Bahía San Gabriel and the rock arch of Isla Partida.

    Beach Conditions

    Beach Safety

    Swimming at this beach

    Depends on the day

    Sometimes swimmable, sometimes not — it depends on the surf that day. Check the flag posted on the sand, and stay out of the water where no flag is posted.

    Modeled waves today
    0.3 m max 7 sec max period · peak waves from WSW
    Modeled wind today
    23 km/h max gusts up to 28 km/h · strongest wind from W

    This rating is our editorial classification of the beach itself, not a reading of today’s water. The numbers above are modeled estimates. For today, the authority is the flag flown on the sand by ZOFEMAT Los Cabos: red means stay out, yellow means extreme caution, black means the beach is closed.

    Open-Meteo public model data · Checked

    Estimated from public data, not an official safety advisory. Always follow posted flags and lifeguard instructions.

    Data sources

    The approved editorial profile allows a model verdict; a conditional profile can never display green.

    Open-Meteo Marine: modeled wave height, period, and direction.

    Open-Meteo Weather: modeled 10 m wind and gusts.

    Jellyfish Watch

    Marine Life Watch

    Jellyfish Watch

    Elevated activity

    Recent nearby sightings suggest extra caution before entering the water.

    Estimated from public data, not an official safety advisory.

    Data sources

    Sources: iNaturalist public observations and Open-Meteo Marine - refreshed 1 second ago

    Safety & Conditions

    Safety & Conditions

    Quick read before you go. Conditions can change by day, so check local flags before entering the water.

    CurrentsStrongest in the San Lorenzo channel and around Los Islotes; tides average 1.5 m and reach 2 m in winter.
    Wear the life jacketFollow the guide, keep the vest on in the water and stay within the permitted zones.
    Sun and heatHat, sunglasses, biodegradable sunscreen and water; there is no shade to speak of.
    Park rulesNo pets, no waste left behind, no island wood for fires, 50 m from bird colonies.

    Location

    Location

    Ensenada Grande, Isla Partida, Espíritu Santo archipelago, La Paz

    Get DirectionsOpen Map

    Plan Your Visit

    Plan Your Visit

    Recommended DurationA day trip or a night's camp
    Best Time to VisitOctober to December; September to May for the sea lion snorkel on the way

    Nearby You'll Love

    Nearby You'll Love

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    By boat only. Authorised operators leave from the La Paz marinas, the malecón pier and Playa El Tecolote; the cove is 30 km by sea from the city, usually under an hour each way.