If you do one boat trip in Loreto, this is it. Isla Coronado is the volcanic cone you see from the malecón, and its sheltered side hides the best beach in the national marine park. This is how we run the day, what you will see and how to get the most out of it.
Where It Is and How Long It Takes
Coronado lies about 11 km north of Loreto, a 20 to 25 minute run on Loreto Star. That short crossing is why it works so well as a four-hour trip: you spend the hours on the island, not getting to it. The island is uninhabited, has no services and no shade of its own, so everything — shade tent, chairs, cooler, water, ice — comes with us.
The Beach
The beach faces south-west, into the lee of the island, so the water is usually calm and glassy. It is white sand with a gentle slope into shallow turquoise water — you can wade out a long way — and the view back is the wall of the Sierra de la Giganta across the bay. It is the safest, easiest beach in the park for small children and for anyone who is not a strong swimmer.
The Sea Lions
A colony of California sea lions lives on the rocks at the north end. We anchor off the ledges, you slip in with a mask and snorkel, and within a minute or two the juveniles are circling you, blowing bubbles and copying your movements. The bulls stay on the rocks; we keep our distance from them and they keep theirs. Twenty minutes in the water with the sea lions is, for most people, the memory of the trip.
Snorkeling
The rocky shore between the beach and the colony is an easy, shallow reef: angelfish, wrasse, parrotfish, sergeant majors, rays over the sand and the occasional turtle. Visibility is usually the best in the park. Bring your own mask if you have one; if not, tell us when you book and we will arrange gear.
Birds and Other Wildlife
Blue-footed boobies nest on the cliffs and are easy to see from the boat. Frigatebirds, pelicans and ospreys are everywhere. Dolphins are common on the crossing, and from January to March there is a good chance of a blue whale in the channel before you even reach the island.
How Long to Book
- 4 hours — crossing, sea lions, a solid two hours on the beach. The classic.
- 5–6 hours — the same, without hurrying, plus a second snorkel spot or an hour of trolling on the way out.
- Winter combo — whale watching at dawn, then Coronado for a swim and lunch. Six hours.
- Summer combo — fish the morning for dorado, then the beach in the afternoon. Six to seven hours.
What to Bring
Swimwear, towel, reef-safe sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water shoes for the rocks, your own lunch (we keep it cold) and a mask if you own one. Cash for the park bracelet, which is a small daily fee per person that we collect for CONANP.
Read more about Isla Coronado, or compare it with Isla Danzante and Isla del Carmen on our islands pages.
