Ano Nuevo State Reserve

About Ano Nuevo State Reserve

The Spanish sailor Sebastian Vizcaino sailed past this point on 3 January 1603, and today it is the only place in the world where he has seen his passing ship.

On the sand dunes and beaches in front of the island, sun, moon, stars and stars of the Milky Way come ashore and rest, mate, give birth or mate with their partners.

This is a unique and unforgettable natural spectacle that hundreds of thousands of people experience every year. The Ano Nuevo State Reserve is home to the largest seal population in the world in the Pacific Ocean and is one of the most popular breeding grounds for seals on the planet. In winter, the males fight with their partners on beaches, the females give birth in the dunes and the females mate on land, while the males mate at sea and the males on land.

Anyone hoping to see seals during the winter breeding season is urged to register early; this program has generated growing interest in this winter over the past 19 years and over $1.5 million in donations.

Daily access to the reserve is only possible with a guided walk from the parking lot on the north side of the beach or by boat. Most adult seals disappear in winter, leaving only the weaned young until April.

The northern elephant seals are seen all year round and return to the beaches of Ano Nuevo in spring to shed their skin. The 4000 hectare reserve is one of the largest seal reserves in Mexico and the second largest in Latin America. Elephants and seals are constantly monitored via a permit system and can also be monitored in their natural habitat, such as the beach area, at any time with the permit system.

Males fight with their partners on the beaches, females give birth to their young in the dunes, and males fight and fight for their partner on the beach.

Daily access to the reserve is only possible through a guided hike, and advance reservation is recommended for people with special needs such as children, seniors or people with disabilities.

Food and drinks are not sold in the reserve, toilets, drinking water and picnic tables are only available in the visitor centre.