Baja Peninsula Travel Guide and Adventure Blog | Explorando Baja DESTINATIONS Sea of Cortez

Sea of Cortez

The Sea of Cortez (or commonly known as the Gulf of California) is a large sea that separates the Baja California Peninsula from mainland Mexico. The Sea of Cortez is bordered by multiple states which include, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa with an estimated 4,000 km (or 2,500 mi) of beautiful coastline.

Rich with marine life, there is said to be an astounding 900 different species of fish, making it to be one of the most diverse seas on the planet. It’s also very sheltered with an elongated outline so the water is fairly calm, making it ideal for scuba, freediving, and snorkeling due to better visibility.

One of the most attractive reasons for travelers to frequent the Sea of Cortez (and the Baja Peninsula in general) is the year-round warm weather in the southern parts. Sunny skies are the norm just about all year long, making beach days that much sweeter.

The northern parts of Baja seem to be aligned with the weather in Southern California – Winters are cooler and tend to rain, have long periods of wind and foggy conditions until the summer months.

If you’re one who loves to dive, then the Sea of Cortez is the place for you. The temperature of the water during the summer months is usually an average of 72 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (or 21 to 24 degrees Celsius), and only about 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16º C) in the winter.

One thing to keep a keen eye out for is the tide swings. In some parts of Baja Peninsula, the tides can range from 12 to 16 feet. Which, needless to say, can cause some problems for boaters out diving, people collecting clams, and even just playing around the shoreline.

You might be interested:  Cuatro Cuatros Ensenada

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.