La Paz: whale sharks in the Mexican Sea of Cortez

Capital of Baja California Sur, La Paz overlooks the Sea of Cortez, defined by Jacques Cousteau as 'the world's aquarium' for its marine biodiversity.

Local boats remain necessary to reach snorkeling sites.

The Malecón of La Paz, a waterfront dotted with contemporary sculptures, animates evening strolls with views over the Sea of Cortez.

Minutes away by boat, Isla Espíritu Santo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, hosts a colony of sea lions with whom one can swim in protected waters.

Heading further offshore, between October and April one encounters whale sharks, the planets largest fish, which feed on plankton in the bays calm waters.

As evening falls, waterfront restaurants serve fresh fish and seafood caught daily in the Sea of Cortez.

Jacques Cousteau called the Sea of Cortez "the world's aquarium" after exploring it personally in the Nineteen-Sixties, struck by the extraordinary concentration of marine species in a relatively contained area.

The whale sharks frequenting La Paz's waters remain young specimens that feed here in shallow waters before migrating to more open ocean zones once reaching maturity.