Playa El Cardonal
El Cardonal, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Playa El Cardonal fronts a tiny town of a few hundred people on the Sea of Cortez coast in the La Paz municipality of Baja California Sur, Mexico. The water is calm and transparent, the sand is white, and big boulders break up the shoreline. It feels like a semi-desert coast with the Cortez at its feet.
Clear, calm water and a nearly empty shoreline, though it is remote and has very few services.
How we score beachesCome on a calm morning and bring snorkel gear. Pack food and water because services are sparse.
Park near the beach on the town's streets or dirt tracks. Check current signage for any restrictions.
The sand and boulders are a short walk from where you park, with uneven footing.
Water is warmest from late summer into fall, and winter is mild and dry. Hurricane season runs roughly June through November.
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