Desert Ecology

A stroll through the rolling sand hill interior of Paraiso del Mar is like taking a tour of the world. The shore dunes are reminiscent of the barrier islands of the Carolinas, except instead of grass they are laden with unusual flowering succulents. Large swaths of pale green and rust colored low brush resemble--surprisingly—the Alaskan tundra. The giant dunes near the isthmus of the peninsula share similarities with the coast of North Africa. Keep your eyes open for roadrunners skittering from bush to bush.

The Baja desert is a very complete and complicated eco-system. In Baja California Sur in addition to common desert species there are hundreds of endemic ones that developed millions of years ago. Ocotillo, palo verde, elephant trees, mesquite and cactus offer sanctuary to thousands of birds and small mammals and reptiles.

Nature lovers will not only appreciate the desert ecology of El Mogote and La Paz, but may also venture to hike and camp in the nearby mountain ranges of Sierra de la Giganta and Sierra de la Laguna.