Cabo Pulmo National Park
🇲🇽 Mexico
🦭 Mexico's Finest Sea Lion SanctuaryCabo Pulmo National Park sits along the arid southeastern coast of the Baja California Peninsula, protecting a harsh tropical dry forest landscape of cacti and scrubby vegetation that meets the Sea of Cortez. Sandy desert tracks wind through scattered thorn trees where resident birds forage daily, while the surrounding marine waters hold the park's signature species, the bull shark (*Carcharhinus leucas*).
23.438° N 109.426° W
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
★ Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
★ California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianus
★ Cape Spinytail Iguana
Ctenosaura hemilopha
📊 Most Spotted
White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica
Gila Woodpecker
Melanerpes uropygialis
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Verdin
Auriparus flaviceps
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Myiarchus cinerascens
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
Cactus Wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Hooded Oriole
Icterus cucullatus
Gray Thrasher
Toxostoma cinereum
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
Gray Whale
Eschrichtius robustus
White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
Ammospermophilus leucurus
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Western Spotted Skunk
Spilogale gracilis
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin
Stenella attenuata
📊 Most Spotted
White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica
Gila Woodpecker
Melanerpes uropygialis
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Verdin
Auriparus flaviceps
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Myiarchus cinerascens
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
Cactus Wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Hooded Oriole
Icterus cucullatus
Gray Thrasher
Toxostoma cinereum
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Zebra-tailed Lizard
Callisaurus draconoides
Common House Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus
Green Turtle
Chelonia mydas
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
Small-scaled Lizard
Urosaurus nigricauda
Desert Iguana
Dipsosaurus dorsalis
Baja California Coachwhip
Masticophis fuliginosus
Race-runner
Aspidoscelis hyperythrus
Hunsaker's Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus hunsakeri
Cape Region Whiptail
Aspidoscelis maximus
California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae
Baja California Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus zosteromus
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Diamond Stingray
Hypanus dipterurus
Banded Guitarfish
Zapteryx exasperata
Bullseye Round Stingray
Urobatis concentricus
Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
Longtail Stingray
Hypanus longus
Haller's Round Ray
Urolophus halleri
Giant Electric Ray
Narcine entemedor
Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus
Pacific Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma unami
Golden Cownose Ray
Rhinoptera steindachneri
Pacific Eagle Ray
Aetobatus laticeps
Smooth Hammerhead
Sphyrna zygaena
Animal Events
1Whale Migration
During these months, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) travel down to the warm waters of the Baja Peninsula to calve and nurse their young.
2Spring Ray Aggregations
Coastal waters become a hotspot for elasmobranch activity as giant manta rays (Mobula mobular) and rough-tail guitarfish (Zapteryx exasperata) gather in large numbers to feed and mate.
3Monsoon Amphibian Chorus
Following seasonal rains, Couch's spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus couchii) and the red-spotted toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) emerge from underground aestivation to breed in ephemeral pools.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Whale Migration
- 2Spring Ray Aggregations
- 3Monsoon Amphibian Chorus
Sighting Zones
Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
GoodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
Very goodHow likely to see animals?
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Cabo Pulmo National Park?
The most likely sightings are White-winged Dove (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Gila Woodpecker (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Bull Shark (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Turkey Vulture (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Northern Cardinal (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers) — among 481 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Cabo Pulmo National Park for wildlife?
October has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Bull Shark in Cabo Pulmo National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Bull Shark sighting in Cabo Pulmo National Park, based on 16 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Humpback Whale in Cabo Pulmo National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Humpback Whale sighting in Cabo Pulmo National Park, based on 27 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see California Sea Lion in Cabo Pulmo National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a California Sea Lion sighting in Cabo Pulmo National Park, based on 31 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Cape Spinytail Iguana in Cabo Pulmo National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Spinytail Iguana sighting in Cabo Pulmo National Park, based on 31 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
