Santa Margarita Island

Santa Margarita Island

Santa Margarita Island is part of the state of Baja California Sur, a few nautical miles west of the Baja California peninsula, separating Magdalena Bay from the Pacific Ocean. Its territorial waters are home to many species of fish, crustaceans and mollusks. Located within the Comondú Municipality, the island covers an area of 231 km², with a coastline of about 96 km and a maximum altitude of 610 meters. Puerto Cortés is a small settlement on Santa Margarita Island, home to a small naval base. On the island you can go kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, photo walks and long hikes on the desert island. The island's showpiece is an endemic cochemia cactus with bright red flowers. This cactus is found only on Santa Margarita and Magdalena islands. The rich deposits of magnesite and phosphorus ore found nearby have attracted the interest of scientists who are trying to reconcile the mining of these minerals with the need to protect the environment.