Snorkeling from shore
At Los Arbolitos you can walk into the water and snorkel over rocky reef with schools of fish, and a coastal trail leads to Playa La Sirenita. Stay close in: currents can get strong if you drift far from shore. The best reef sites are offshore and visited by boat with licensed local operators, which is how CONANP intends visitors to see the reef. Never stand on or touch the coral.
Los Frailes, just south of the park, is a sheltered bay that often stays usable when the afternoon wind blows out other spots, with snorkeling along its rocky north point.
Fees and rules
Cabo Pulmo is a federal national park, and CONANP requires a daily conservation wristband, listed at MXN 125 per person, with exemptions for children under 6, people with disabilities and permanent residents with ID. Tour operators collect it and hand you the wristband. CONANP lists visiting hours as 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fishing is banned throughout the park.
For the story of the reef's recovery and the village itself, see our Cabo Pulmo area guide.
Getting to Cabo Pulmo Beaches from Villa 1
About 131 km from Villa 1. Take Highway 1 north past the airport and through Santiago to the La Ribera turnoff, then head east and south to Cabo Pulmo. Recent reports describe the road from La Ribera as paved, though older guides mention rough dirt near the end, so check before you go. Bring cash: there are no ATMs and little cell signal. Most of our guests go on a guided Cabo Pulmo day trip.
What to bring
- Cash in pesos (no ATMs)
- Your own snorkel gear
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Food and plenty of water