Archipiélago de Revillagigedo


World Heritage Identification Number: 1510

World Heritage since: 2016

Category: Natural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇲🇽 Mexico

Continent: Americas

UNESCO World Region: Latin America and the Caribbean

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Archipiélago de Revillagigedo: A Remote Pacific Treasure

The Archipiélago de Revillagigedo, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, stands as a testament to the extraordinary biodiversity found within its remote Pacific Ocean location. Comprising four volcanic islands—San Benedicto, Socorro, Roca Partida, and Clarión—the archipelago lies approximately 458 kilometers south and southwest of Cabo San Lucas, the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, and 698 to 1,092 kilometers west of Manzanillo. Historically linked to the Mexican state of Colima, these islands are now under Mexican federal property and jurisdiction.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, this archipelago is made up of four remote islands and their surrounding waters: San Benedicto, Socorro, Roca Partida and Clarión. This archipelago is part of a submerged mountain range, with the four islands representing the peaks of volcanoes emerging above sea level. The islands provide critical habitat for a range of wildlife and are of particular importance for seabirds. The surrounding waters have a remarkable abundance of large pelagic species, such as manta rays, whales, dolphins and sharks. 

Encyclopedia Record: Revillagigedo Islands

The Revillagigedo Islands or Revillagigedo Archipelago are a group of four volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean, known for their unique ecosystem. They lie approximately 458 kilometres (285 mi) from Socorro Island south and southwest of Cabo San Lucas, the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, and 698 to 1,092 kilometres west of Manzanillo. Historically linked to the Mexican state of Colima, to which they were granted in 1861 to establish a penal colony, the islands are under Mexican federal property and jurisdiction.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 636,685.4 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (vii) — Contains superlative natural phenomena or beauty
(ix) — Outstanding example representing ecological and biological processes
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity

Coordinates: 18.7880555556 , -110.9752777778

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Image of Archipiélago de Revillagigedo

Lieutenant Debora Barr, NOAA Corps, Public domain

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Country Information: Mexico

Flag of Mexico

Official Name: United Mexican States

Capital: Mexico City

Continent: Americas

Population (2024): 130,861,007

Population (2023): 129,739,759

Population (2022): 128,613,117

Land Area: 1,943,950 sq km

Currency: Mexican peso (MXN)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Archipiélago de Revillagigedo are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Revillagigedo Islands, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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