Are you searching for the Best Places to Visit in Baja California? Are you thinking of a trip to North America and wondering what to explore in Baja California? We’ve got you covered. Baja is the second-longest peninsula, home to more than 1200 km of mysterious, beautiful, magnificent, and wild.
If you are lucky enough to take the entire Tijuana through Los Cabos trip will find that the Carretera Tran peninsular (Hwy 1) is awe-inspiring throughout the route. It is far more stunning than you could ever imagine, and the locals are friendly and relaxed, even in border towns.
Side roads meander through tiny villages and then wind their way through the slopes of mountains. Condors create circles in the pure blue sky. People can sip cocktails, eat fish tacos, and observe the sun fade in the Pacific. Many prefer the rush of adrenaline while they ride the perfect wave.
Others walk through the sherbet-colored canyons or gaze at the sky’s awe-inspiring haze of scattered diamond stars. No matter how you explore, you’ll be able to discover one of Baja’s many pleasures.
San Felipe
San Felipe is one of the best places to visit in Baja California. It is considered one of Baja Mexico’s most mysterious places. San Felipe is located in the northeastern region of the Baja peninsula. It’s a throwback to when Mexican cities along the coast were merely fishing villages, and life was simple and relaxed.
San Felipe is well-known for its beach camping and RV parks. However, there are also motels, ranches as well as vacation houses. Many are situated in the sea of Cortez’s turquoise seas.
Like many Mexican cities along the coast, San Felipe has a Malecon. This waterfront promenade can be walked along with the famous lighthouse, a thatched restaurant with pristine beaches, and various lively shops.
San Felipe is also home to the world’s most enormous cactus, the Mexican Cardon. Native to the deserts around Baja, California, this cactus resembles the Saguaro but is more considerable. These 2,000-year-old symbols are part of the Sonoran Desert and can be found only a few minutes from San Felipe in a natural reserve known to locals who live there to be The Valley of the Giants.
Loreto
The seaside resort town within Southern Baja is known for its stunning beaches, spectacular natural islands, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, and other water-based activities. One of the most renowned towns in Baja, Mexico, Loreto was established on the initiative of Jesuit missionaries in 1697. The town is the home of the first mission of the peninsula.
People often come to the island to relax, but many land and water activities keep you entertained. Off-roading is extremely popular, like golf, horseback riding, biking, hiking, and other ocean activities. Scuba diving at Puerto Escondido or Loreto Marina is excellent between June and November.
Snorkelers needn’t drive far to find coral reefs full of marine life right off shores of the Loreto Bay shores. Isla Coronado is only a 30-minute boat ride from the marina and offers pristine white sand beaches and breathtaking turquoise crystal waters.
Valle de Guadalupe
Wine enthusiasts who have visited the Mexican vinicultural paradise can’t resist sharing their experiences of this significant appellation which has been one of the fastest-growing regions for wine across North America. Producing 90% of all wines that come directly from Mexico, the Valle, or “Valle” as locals refer, is situated only 25 miles from the northwestern Ensenada coast. It’s worth the journey.
Jesuit priests first planted vineyards here around the end of the 17th century. Today, more than 110 wineries within the Valle are situated throughout the beautiful valley, with the backdrop of mountains stacked with boulders.
The wines are incredible, as are the multitude of innovative, chef-driven, farm-to-table restaurants and lodgings that range from cozy bed and breakfasts to eco-lofts carved in the slopes of the rocky hillsides. It doesn’t matter if it’s a weekend or a stay that includes the coastal town of Ensenada Valle. The Valle is a must-see destination that won’t let you down.
Sonoran Desert of Baja California
Traveling through Baja, California, you will almost encounter the Sonoran Desert. It is the most significant part areas of Baja California! This means you can find it easily. But our absolute favorite aspect was riding through it right after we left Ensenada and went south along highway 1.
It’s a well-paved road that is a stretch of road that runs from Tijuana to the south until Cabo San Lucas. There are many potholes and repair shops for tires scattered throughout. Unfortunately, we mainly saw older used car tires for auction, so you’ll probably need to discover something suitable for your motorcycle.
This section of our road journey enthralled us. There are cacti and deserts around you, and there’s low traffic. It can be challenging to find open restaurants on the road. However, there are plenty of possibilities to ride an unpaved dirt road that runs parallel to the asphalt if you’re in the market for Off-road biking.
We had so much fun on these roads! After a few bicycle drops with all the gear loaded and our energy levels a bit low due to the temperatures, we finally got back on the asphalt. However, seeing this part of the Sonoran Desert this way was an absolute blast!
Todos Santos
Todos Santos is one of the best places to visit in Baja California. The town’s magic lies in its quaint architecture, streets and gardens for families, its northern tastes of land and sea, and artwork everywhere. The force of Pacific Ocean waves makes this location a hidden gem for people who wish to visit a gorgeous, relaxing, Magical Town.
Surfers from all around the world travel for Todos Santos. La Poza, Batequitos, San Pedrito, Cerritos, Punta Lobos, and Los Esteros have solid waves and are popular destinations for amateur and professional surfers. These are the perfect waves to surf. You can get surf lessons at nearly every hotel in the town.
In addition, there’s a surf kit for you, including a wetsuit, board, inventions, keels (ropes) and paraffin, and sunblock. Experience stunning waves at dawn at the beach in San Pedrito or Cerritos and spend the night in a camp. Participate in turtle nesting areas and take in the bohemian vibe of the beach.
La Paz
One day, the famous writer John Steinbeck fell in love with a beautiful, breezy, and relaxed Baja seaside resort called La Paz. The intriguing harbor town on the Sea of Cortez provided the basis for Steinbeck’s story “The Pearl.”
La Paz, meaning “The Peace,” is located approximately 1-hour drive from Los Cabos, and it is a fantastic place. The most beautiful and secluded in all of the Baja peninsula beaches will be breathtaking Belandra Bay.
Surrounded by massive rock formations, the waters of Belandra are clear, warm, shallow, and welcoming. The name is also “Laguna de la Colores” the six distinct colors of turquoise and blue delight the eyes—palapas with a thatch-roofed pattern line a spit of sand that runs along the beach.
Popular and loved activities to enjoy in the area is swimming with whale sharks.
These gentle giants of the ocean are the most notable species of fish we have on the planet. From October to April, they visit to feed in the rich plankton-rich water.
Santiago
We’ve all been told about the “oasis in the desert.” But on the route toward La Paz, we encountered the real thing. Just outside of the quiet Baja village of Santiago, This breathtaking oasis, surrounded by lush vegetation, seems different from the desert landscape.
It’s impossible to prepare ourselves for the stunning sight. This isn’t a tiny spring-fed pool surrounded by a handful of date palms. Instead, this immense beauty is a vast body of water lined with trees-covered islands surrounded by a stunning collection of grand palms. Its abundance of vegetation and greenery looks like something from an old Jurassic Park film.
The area is surrounded by citrus orchards that produce grapefruit, mango, and orange; Santiago is also known for its cheese and farming. However, the charming hamlet has the most impressive relics of Baja’s Spanish colonial past – the Mission of Santiago de Los Coras Anini. It was founded around 1724 by an Italian Jesuit priest.
The church took its name from the Coras indigenous people of the area. This simple and formal mission provides a simple but timeless feeling of tranquility to the tranquil village.
San Jose del Cabo
San Jose del Cabo is one of the best places to visit in Baja California. Although the entire southern portion of the peninsula, known as Los Cabos has earned the reputation of being overbuilt and overgrown, it’s stunning in its natural beauty. It truly holds many treasures that are hidden, provided it is possible to look for the hidden treasures.
Los Cabos is anchored by the tourist-friendly Cabo San Lucas, located on the west Pacific part of Los Cabos and its sister city San Jose del Cabo, to the east. The town’s historical past is located within San Jose and enchants visitors with its ancient adobe structures that are painted with vibrant tropical hues. Its Spanish colonial town’s history goes back to the 17th century.
There are charming historic hotels, art galleries with a boutique feel, and welcoming family-owned restaurants. One of the best moments of our trip was seeing two farms that rear their livestock and produce and serve it in their beautiful and elegant restaurants. Flora Farms and Los Tamarindos are delightful places to explore, relax and dine, or participate in a fun and fascinating cooking class taught by the local chef.
An unknown author once stated, “The trick about hidden treasures is that they are difficult to discover until you begin digging. After that, every location around the globe is filled with them.”
We’re thankful that Baja, California, Mexico has numerous of these undiscovered gems to explore and appreciate. We’re eager to discover more.
Bahía Concepción
Bahia Concepcion is among the most extensive bays located in Baja, California. It is recommended to discover if you are staying in the charming town of Mulege. We made it our base to go surfing and exploring the coastline.
Bahia Concepcion is located just 20 miles south of Mulege and boasts more than 50 miles of beaches. Some famous beaches include Playa Santispac, Playa Escondido, Playa Los Cocos, Playa El Coyote, Playa Buenaventura, Playa El Requeson, and Playa Armenta.
Our favorite beach day was spent in Playa Request. Locals drive their cars all up to the beach and put up their camp with a large picnic or barbecue. Local fishermen provide freshly caught seafood at affordable cost. We didn’t like the possibility of driving all up to the beach. However, we liked the fact that only locals were on the beach. We didn’t meet any tourists, and it was amazing to be able to enjoy an authentic Mexican beach!
Another reason why I loved Playa El Requeson so much is that most of the Bahia Concepcion’s beaches are right next to the Highway. The colors of the ocean are excellent, and the desert-like landscape, with its cacti, is super beautiful.
However, when you turn and look at the Highway, it takes away from the beauty. The Highway needs to be visible from Playa El Requeson, though. There’s a second beach where you can walk or swim halfway to since the water is shallow if you want a quieter beach.
San Javier Mission in Baja California
San Javier Mission in Baja California is one of the best places to visit in Baja California. We stumbled upon the small San Javier town San Javier by accident. We were for lunch in Loreto, a tiny but charming town that helps to break into a perfect journey in the direction of La Paz.
While eating a delicious meal, we had a chat with people living there who shared their experiences about the town. It was an enjoyable hour’s drive uphill through the mountains to reach it. The journey was breathtaking, with the winding roads traversing the stunning Sierra de la Giganta range.
The most memorable part for visitors to San Javier is visiting the Mission San Francisco Javier De Vigge-Biundo. It was established in 1966 by Jesuits to help the conversion of Natives who were native to the region, known as who was known as Cochimi in the Cochimi region, to Christianity. It is among Mexico’s oldest and most preserved churches and is still used as a church.
Its population in San Javier is only around 130 people. It is a tiny but charming little village. We were amazed at the small size of this town. It’s an unpaved street that has a few basic accommodations as well as a few restaurants. The mission is the town’s main attraction and is located at the bottom of the cobbled road. It’s the entire town center.
The most memorable thing for us wasn’t as much the church itself but a thrilling experience, and it felt like we had been transported back to the past. So, if you’re seeking a thrilling ride or to learn more about the history of Baja, visit San Javier.
Conclusion
All destinations are awesome! According to my opinion, Santiago is the best to start. I hope you have enjoyed our list of Best Places to Visit in Baja California.
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