Islas Coronados, Mexico

A short trip out from our beautiful Pacific Coast is a vast world of nature; yes, nature does exist and you do not need to visit the San Diego Zoo to see it. Darwin’s islands may lie in another hemisphere, but just off the coast from the millions of Californians who call San Diego home is a distant land.

The Coronado Islands are home to many species not seen anywhere outside of the Alta and Baja California region. The tour heads out to sea and you feel an immediate Robinson Crusoe effect come over you – daydreams of leaving the house in Poway behind and fishing for a living come to mind. Here time stops and you can indulge in the tranquility that is the Ocean.

Just beyond the limits of San Diego’s coastline, the cruise heads towards the islands. Here you may see nature in all of its beauty. After roaming the islands for a portion of the five-and-a-half-hour tour, you return for civilization.

The Islas Coronados tour is a great experience to be had for any novice environmentalist. For about $50 a person, you can plan one of the most memorable trips around San Diego. Board the Harbor Tours cruise from the Embarcadero on Harbor Drive — remember to pack a lunch, sunblock, a hat, jacket and a good digital camera.