We visited this world heritage site over a period of 8 days. One recommendation (based on your own resources), spend a bit more with established tour companies to get a more full experience of the major components that make this enormous natural WHS unique. We primarily used "Cabo Adventures" and they are professional and offer basics like sunset tours to more serious excursions to places like Cabo Pulmo National Park. It is also possible to rent your own vehicle, but it's not an absolute requirement, since there is a bus system that connects Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Loretto, and pretty much the whole Baja Peninsula for reasonable prices. I will return to other components of this WHS in the future, it's so expansive and vast that it will be rewarding to return.

Cabo Pulmo - "The coral reef at Cabo Pulmo is one of the most important in the Gulf of California and in the eastern Pacific." UNESCO Description

In our experience Cabo Pulmo National Park was exceptional and worth the time and effort to get there. In fact, from Cabo San Lucas or La Paz it's about 2.5 hours by chartered van. The last 10 kilometers (approximate) of the journey is on a dirt road that is pretty bumpy and passenger cars are sometimes known to have issues passing this final stretch. The small village of a couple hundred people has no running water or electricity, everything they might have is via generator, solar panels, or large water containers brought in. Some bungalows are present and a very small selection of food establishments dot the main dirt road leading to the ocean. No large boats are allowed in the National Park, so expect a small motorized boat to access the specific snorkeling/diving sites.

Since we chose a Snorkeling Expedition through "Cabo Adventures" we had transportation included, all gear provided, and lunch. We had 4 locations to explore the diversity of marine sites at Cabo Pulmo. Broken down by 1) Coral Reef (shallow water) access to the reef offers a wide diversity of fish species on display 2) Deeper Water (40-60 feet) where we witnessed a "Tornado of Fish" or in other words a type of jack fish swarming in a large circular motion. 3) Sea Lion Colony (shallow water) quiet easy experience to view and swim with sea lions up close. 4) Sea Turtle Habitat (shallow to mid-range water depth) longest dive as we covered a large swath of coastline looking for sea turtles and other species of fish.

Islands of the Gulf of California (Isla del Espiritu Santo)

Accessible via tour from La Paz, the Isla del Espiritu Santo is a highlight for many visitors in the region. My only qualm about visiting the island is that its huge and most of the tours offered could not and did not offer a more comprehensive tour of this large island and its marine environment. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to reach the island, and that's by larger watercraft (Catamaran). Our boat cruised along the Western portion of the island and we did get into the water to see the marine life, which was great, but it's generally not considered as exceptional as Cabo Pulmo National Park by scuba divers and snorkelers. The rock formations and rugged coast offer an abundance of Sonoran Desert cacti visible from your boat and an abundance of birds that can best be appreciated with binoculars.

Cabo San Lucas - This reserve includes a submarine canyon and its location within the subtropical North Equatorial current provides "an exceptional flow of plankton that conditions the presence of abundant marine life." - Advisory Body Evaluation

Just off the coast of Cabo San Lucas is a marine reserve, which includes a small portion of a rugged landscape known as Land's End (and the famous tourist spot "Arch Rock" just past Mt. Solmar). While a relatively minor component of this massive world heritage site (about 4,000 ha), The reserve in Cabo San Lucas can be appreciated via land and water. Whales are often spotted within the core portion of the reserve, which occurred multiple times while we were on a sailboat. There is a hike (research online) that allows you a bird's eye view of the reserve from the top of Mt. Solmar. At Cabo San Lucas Marina, there are countless boats that offer a quick tick of this sight. However, I would suggest (if you okay to spend a bit more than 250 pesos) a more thorough experience via sailboat will be more memorable and enjoyable.

Balandra Zone of Ecological Conservation and Community Interest - "The area functions as a nursery for juveniles of a number of important fish species. Balandra is also a nesting site for endangered resident and migratory bird populations." - Advisory Body Evaluation

Added to the World Heritage Site as a "minor boundary modification" in 2011 Balandra is a place of exceptional beauty and because of this, the beach can become busy and tourism here is monitored and access can be limited. It is a very accessible site from La Paz. In fact, a taxi from the Malecon will cost you a couple hundred pesos (a reasonable price) and the taxi will come pick you back up at a set time of your choice for another couple hundred pesos. Since Balandra has no internet or cell service, this is an established mode of visiting. Balandra can both be explored by a rewarding hike and by water. The hike which is located just before the main parking lot, extends a couple kilometers over areas with full views of the nominated property, the bay itself, a rich desert landscape, the restored mangroves, and Isla del Espiritu Santo in the distance. I thoroughly enjoyed this hike and the sun being partially obscured by clouds, the weather was very pleasant, but the downside, my pictures did not do this site justice. I also explored the outer portions of the bay by snorkeling, which also provided a fantastic experience to witness more marine life.