Turquoise waters, sandy beaches, beautiful seascapes and landscapes. These are some of the things that come to mind when we think of Espiritu Santo and its sister islands. The island is home to endemic species such as the blue-footed booby, the black-tailed jackrabbit, the round-tailed squirrel, and the ring-tailed cat or babisuri. You are likely to see frigate birds perched on the branches of mangroves and you may hear the distant bleating of resident goats that were introduced to the island many years ago.

The Sea of Cortez was hailed as the world’s aquarium by famous SCUBA diver-explorer Jacques Cousteau for its biodiversity, and the waters around Espiritu Santo Island are especially teeming with life. Aside from the resident California sea lions at Los Islotes, snappers, groupers, sergeant majors, goatfish, scads, and many different kinds of tropical fish abound in its waters. There is a chance to see big schools of sardines and, if you’re lucky, you might happen upon mobula rays swimming by. Watch out for cormorants diving from above to grab a piece of the action in the water.

Things to do at the island

The sea lion colony at Los Islotes is one of the highlights of an excursion to Espiritu Santo Island. Snorkelers and SCUBA divers from all over the world come here for a memorable encounter with these nimble swimmers. (In-water experiences are possible from September to May.) A lesser-known fact is that some locals possess a special permit that allows them to participate in managing the goat population on the island, as well as in monitoring resident sea turtles in its bays. Please get in touch with us if you’d like to be part of this year-round activity.