Balandra Beach: why it's protected, how to visit and the easiest way to see it
Balandra Beach is a Flora and Fauna Protection Area decreed on November 30, 2012, covering about 2,513 hectares [1], and since 2011 it has been part of the World Heritage Site Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California [2]. That's why access is controlled: in 2025 entry was reported to require a wristband, with time slots and limited capacity [3]. Check current conditions before you go.
Balandra is the photo you've surely seen: a lagoon of turquoise water so shallow you can wade across it, surrounded by reddish hills. It's one of Mexico's most famous beaches, and for that very reason it needs protecting.
Why Balandra is protected
In 2011, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee approved adding the Balandra zone (1,197 hectares) as the twelfth component of the Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California site [2]. The Committee also recognized the mangrove restoration within Balandra and encouraged similar efforts across the Sea of Cortez [2].
A year later, on November 30, 2012, Balandra was decreed a Flora and Fauna Protection Area covering 2,512.73 hectares [1].
How to visit by land
Because it's so popular, entry to Balandra is regulated. In early 2025 access was reported to require a wristband and to be organized in two time slots with limited capacity [3]. Rules, hours and fees can change, so check current conditions with the protected area authority before you go.
- Arrive early: capacity fills up in high season.
- Don't take shells, sand or anything else.
- Stay on marked trails.
- Take your trash back with you.
The easiest way: see it from the sea
On our Espíritu Santo snorkel tour, the first stop is Balandra seen from the sea, a perspective few visitors get. Then we continue to Isla Espíritu Santo and Isla Partida to snorkel, see sea lions and enjoy pristine beaches. All in one day, with National Park wristbands included.
Learn more about the island in what Isla Espíritu Santo is and how to visit.
Experience it with Keabelmet
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a reservation to enter Balandra?
Access is regulated; in 2025 entry was reported to require a wristband with time slots and limited capacity [3]. Check current conditions before you go.
Since when is Balandra protected?
It was decreed a Flora and Fauna Protection Area on November 30, 2012 [1], and in 2011 it was added to the Gulf of California UNESCO World Heritage Site [2].
Can you see Balandra on a tour?
Yes. On Keabelmet's Espíritu Santo snorkel tour the first stop is Balandra seen from the sea.
Scientific sources
The wildlife, season and geography facts in this article come from these publications. The [n] citations in the text link here.
- Semarnat, Dirección General de Estadística e Información Ambiental (2017). Áreas naturales protegidas federales de México (compendio de estadísticas ambientales): Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Balandra, decreto del 30 de noviembre de 2012, 2,512.73 ha. Compendio de Estadísticas Ambientales 2017. apps1.semarnat.gob.mx:8443/dgeia/compendio_2017/archivos/01_…
- UNESCO World Heritage Committee (2011). Decision 35 COM 8B.48: Examination of minor boundary modifications – Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (Mexico). World Heritage Committee, 35ª sesión. whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4319
- Luz Noticias (2025). En esta playa de BCS solo entrarán con brazaletes y en ciertos horarios. Nota periodística. www.luznoticias.mx/2025-01-16/mexico/en-esta-playa-de-bcs-so…
