San Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary
San Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary
San Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary
4
About
A spectacular beach where tourists come to view the sea lions in the month of June.
Features animals
Learn more about animal welfare in tourismSuggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience San Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
444 within 3 miles
Attractions
62 within 6 miles
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
579 reviews
Excellent
228
Very good
208
Average
94
Poor
34
Terrible
15
Rebecca P
Santa Fe, NM10 contributions
Nov 2022 • Solo
The natural beauty of the area includes birds, butterflies and the water itself. The problem is the impact of humans. There was litter and graffiti everywhere, many of the lookouts were broken, and lots of fences claiming private property. I hope they will clean it up and restore it to the oasis it once was.
Written November 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
janet
Surrey, Canada19 contributions
Jan 2020
It is easy to walk along the river on your own. You will see other birdwatchers/photographers, school groups, runners, horseback riders and locals. Lots of water birds to see and beach to relax and picnic. Not easily accessible for those with mobility issues because of uneven ground, but easy enough for most.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wendy V
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada1,109 contributions
Feb 2020
We were delighted to find this section of SJdC devoted to wildlife, after the urban experience of staying close to the Zona Hotelera. The river estuary with the bird life and relatively few people was a welcome relief for us on a beautiful day. You can spend hours in there watching the various types of birds both in the sky and on the water. You will be amazed at the variety of birds and the tranquility that you can get spending a few hours there. There are several platforms to get you up off the ground, which provide lovely vistas.
Written May 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Murray L
Richmond Hill17 contributions
Feb 2022
A wonderful quiet sanctuary in years past , and now even more impressive since the river exit to the Pacific has been blocked, with a small lake near the ocean. So many birds and varieties ! Pelicans, egrets, raptors, many kinds of ducks. See it from the beach , or from the dirt road across from the golf course , south of Finisterra.
Written February 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tubesteak
Morton Grove, IL64 contributions
Mar 2020
We found this by accident and went back every day we were there. It is very tranquil and we spent a fair amount of time here. We saw lots of different birds, most of which we do not see when we are home. There was a concrete path that went most of the way around the area but it was apparently destroyed by a bad storm a few years ago and has not been repaired.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martysfo
San Rafael, CA647 contributions
Feb 2020
The entrance to this sanctuary is tough to find, it is located behind the water treatment plant. However, your persistence is rewarded with some spectacular scenery. You see more birds and wildlife, and its as if you have left civilization behind. Well worth seeking out.
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
awacsgal2016
Chilliwack, Canada67 contributions
Feb 2020
Although not well marked, you can follow a map along the trail past the Holiday Inn to the trailhead. There's a few signs saying it is the Estuary but not much else there, not even any seating. The trail is more of a dirt path but offers nice views of the local birds and some cows & horses out to pasture. I also came across the Policia parked in the area but they said 'no problemo'. Unfortunately, the end of the trail is at the water reatment plant & it's a little nasty. You can then take a side road & are very close to the plaza. I walked back along the road as once was enough for me!
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Storyteller10139
Seattle, WA2 contributions
What a HUGE letdown! We set out one morning to explore the estuary.
Once there, we stayed six minutes. There was garbage everywhere and the cans were overflowing. There were horse droppings all over the ground to the point that you had to watch where you walked. The smell was horrendous! The foliage looked like someone had hacked at it once for maintenance and then never looked at it again. I think we saw two ducks. Absolutely not worth the time we spent putting on sunscreen!
Once there, we stayed six minutes. There was garbage everywhere and the cans were overflowing. There were horse droppings all over the ground to the point that you had to watch where you walked. The smell was horrendous! The foliage looked like someone had hacked at it once for maintenance and then never looked at it again. I think we saw two ducks. Absolutely not worth the time we spent putting on sunscreen!
Written August 23, 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo N
B.C.24 contributions
We have frequented San Jose many times and seen the devastation after hurricanes and destructive rain storms. We are so very impressed with the way our Mexican friends to the South work so very hard to clean up and do the best they can after suffering devastation themselves. Our experiences with the Estuary have been many, watching an entire area change in a matter of seconds. At the end of the day, the wildlife do come back and vegetation comes back very quickly. As to "garbage", perhaps, instead of walking through it, pick it up and dispose of it properly. Our experience with garbage in the Estuary is minimal. The only drawback I have personally, is snakes. Although I have never been confronted with one, I am very paranoid. The tranquility of the Estuary is awesome and even I have taken walks through it. With a little imagination, you can explore any part of the Estuary and it certainly takes a lot longer than six minutes! We have spent hours exploring and photographing birds, yes, even snakes, iguana and more. We would recommend the experience to anyone.
Written November 5, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CaliforniaOsprey
California61 contributions
The Estuary in San Jose del Cabo is a wonderful birding experience. In March 2007, we saw several pairs of ospreys. One dived into the water right beside us - the closest we have ever been to an osprey. There were numerous colorful moorhens and their cousins the coots. Also orioles, grebes, ibis, heron, ducks and woodpeckers. My only regret was seeing poorly treated water from the sewage facility in town go into the water of the estuary. Hopefully this problem will get corrected some time soon.
Written March 22, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jtamig2010
Seaside, OR5 contributions
Why can’t the local government put in a couple of public toilets for the non-paying people?? And a trash can (or thirty) at the same Time?? Too much human garbage, so much beauty totally lost!
Sad!!
McDaniel H
Flower Mound, TX1,399 contributions
I thought it could be cleaned up too, especially since the whole city area is sold as "exclusive".
kallika412
Phoenix, AZ
We've tried to find this twice in a car and can't seem to locate a suitable parking lot or the entrance to the estuary. Any recommendations on where to park and the best entrance (from the roadside)?
Thanks, in advance, for helping us out!
Shirley M
New Westminster, Canada165 contributions
As you pass the shops on your left of the little strip mall, all the big hotels are on your right. Cabo Azul, the Mayan is the last one you pass before the roundabout. Go straight, no turns at the roundabout. The road does end at the last hotel there, I believe is a Holiday Inn. You can park there, the path runs up along side of the hotel and around into the Santuary. The last time I was there, the water was too high and covered the paths. It's a lovely walk early morning.
Is it an easy walk from Hyatt Ziva?
boatmisser
Fort Collins, Colorado138 contributions
Depends on your definition of an easy walk. The estuary can be toured from the south-end Holiday Inn side or the north-end San Jose side, but the connection between these two ends is flooded, requiring a long detour between ends. We took a cab from the tourist corridor for the sole purpose of touring the estuary and were somewhat disappointed by the stench of standing water and the lack of wildlife. However, we saw a few birds and got to spend some time away from the Cabo/San Jose chaos, so we called it a "win." If you don't mind spending the day walking about 10K, you'll have a good day.
Krista L
Prince George, Canada13 contributions
Has the path beside the Holiday Inn into the Estuary that will take you all the way to the town been redone?
NWwatraveller
Everson, WA36 contributions
We went to the Estuary in October for the first time. The path looked fairly new and definitely walkable. I'm not sure if it was redone, but we walked from San Jose to the Estuary and back. It was nice.
Heading there now with kids. Shoes or flip flops ok for the walk?
Stephiepu
20 contributions
I don't know....I don't recommend that type of footwear anywhere except for a public bathroom!
four11s
Reno NV8 contributions
Hi,
Was the biking path rebuilt?
Thank you!
ColdeComfort
New Marshfield, OH23 contributions
Not all the way up to the Holiday Inn Resort. You can access it from an access road off the sidewalk up from the hotel and then it runs all the way below town to the causeway.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingSan Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about San Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience San Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary:
- Historical and Cultural Walking Tour of San José del Cabo (From $39.00)
- Small Group Tour of Los Cabos (From $70.00)
- Following the bike lane, discover the main attractions of San José del Cabo (From $75.00)
- San Jose Wonders (From $90.00)
- Half-Day Bird Watching Endemics Activity in Los Cabos (From $170.00)
- Hotels near San Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary:
- (0.75 mi) Casa Natalia Boutique Hotel
- (0.89 mi) Hotel El Ganzo
- (1.01 mi) Royal Solaris Los Cabos
- (0.90 mi) Hilton Vacation Club Cabo Azul Los Cabos
- (1.92 mi) Casa Maat At JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa
- Restaurants near San Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary:
- (0.60 mi) Fiorenza
- (0.59 mi) Chato's Burger Sea Food Grill & Bar
- (0.59 mi) Cuervo's House
- (0.72 mi) Tei Sushi
- (0.77 mi) Lolita Cafe
San Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary Information
Excellent Reviews | 228 |
|---|---|
Very Good Reviews | 208 |
San Jose's Estuary and Bird Sanctuary Photos | 271 |