Isla de Cedros

Isla de Cedros Review

A trip to the nearby Isla de Cedros, approximately 72 km (43 mi) northwest of Guerrero Negro, will take you to an even more isolated community with even fewer obvious attractions for visitors. In fact, many travel agents and tour guides in Guerrero Negro have never even ventured to Isla de Cedros themselves. They say it's an island that is only of interest to the Exportadora de Sal workers who are stationed there. Adventure travelers enjoy the mountains of this desert island, taking in the local fauna—including sea lions—and spending time on the beach. There are a few guesthouses on the island, where rooms go for $10 to $15 a night, but note that electricity and hot water on the island are inconsistent, and at times you might go without both. Planes with Aereoservicio Guerrero (615/157-0137)fly to the small airstrip here (CDI) from Guerrero Negro every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. A taxi ride from town costs about $5, and the flight itself is $55, which is paid at the time of boarding. Note that these flights are not always on time. It is best to arrive early to make sure that the plane doesn't leave without you, but also be prepared for the plane to arrive a bit late.

Gray-whale-watching is hands down the principal reason to visit Guerrero Negro. Distinct among other families of marine mammals, gray whales flock to the shallow waters of Baja's lagoons for mating and calving. During whale-watching season (December through April), individual sightings are common as far north as Ensenada. Still, nothing rivals the experience of whale-watching from a panga (small, motorized skiff) on Scammon's Lagoon, where tourists can observe the friendly, even ostentatious, giants up close and in great numbers.