Isla Cedros

If you head northwest from Punta Eugenia [1] by boat for 22 kilometers, you’ll reach Isla Cedros (Island of Cedars). At 38 kilometers long, it’s one of Mexico’s largest islands, with a population of 1,350 as of 2005.

Fishing and transporting salt from Guerrero Negro [2] sustain the island’s economy, but travelers also find the California juniper and Isla Cedros pine trees (mistaken long ago for cedars) of interest.

The trees grow between the island’s two 1,200-meter peaks. Aside from the unusual flora, there are a few beaches to explore, including Punta Prieta, at the southwest end of the island. Look for waves at Playa Elefante, also at this end of the island.

If you travel by air, you’ll arrive at the saltworks town of Punta Morro Redondo at the southern tip of the island. The largest town on the island, Puebla Cedros, is located on the southeast side, facing the peninsula. Services include a port captain’s office, CONASUPO, fish cannery, post office, church, bank, and a few eateries and guesthouses.

You can reach Isla Cedros by chartered boat from Punta Eugenia [1] or Bahía Tortugas [3], or more easily by plane from Guerrero Negro [2] via Aereo Servicio Guerrero (tel. 615/157-0137, toll-free 800/823-3153, www.aereoserviciosguerrero.com.mx [4]). A one-way ticket for the 30-minute flight runs US$65, and planes make the trip four times a week. Once you arrive, taxis are available for the short ride into town.

Note: Isla Cedros is part of the Ensenada municipality and lies above the 28th parallel, in the same time zone as Baja California (Norte). Set your watch back an hour if you arrive via Punta Eugenia or elsewhere in Baja California Sur.

Bilingual marine biologist Jose Sanchez-Pacheco offers a variety of guided trips through Cedros Outdoor Adventures (tel. 646/154-3085, cell tel. 646/193-2031, U.S. tel. 619/793-5419, www.cedrosoutdooradventures.com [5]), which is based in San Ysidro, California. Package trips include ecotours to Isla Cedros and Islas San Benito [6] (four days/three nights US$980) and sportfishing trips to Islas Cedros, San Benito, and Natividad [7] (four days/three nights US$1,350). Prices include transportation from San Ysidro, California, as well as accommodations and meals.