The Baja California Peninsula—nearly 800 miles (1,290 kilometers) long and varying from 30 to 110 miles (48 to 160 kilometers) in width—extends south from the United States and runs parallel with mainland Mexico.
Between the bustle of Tijuana, a stone's throw from San Diego, and the tourist mecca of Cabo San Lucas, on the peninsula's southernmost tip, lies a land of desert and sea, much of it wild and isolated.
Heading down the Highway 1, explore the coast along the Golfo de California (Sea of Cortés), or venture inland on rugged, rock-strewn 4WD routes.
STEP ONE
Know When to Go
Baja California's climate is similar to that of southern California, with warm summer days and balmy nights. Winter evenings in the north can be chilly, but temperatures rarely drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius).
Down south, in Cabo San Lucas, the weather is warm all year. Daytime highs are around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) in winter but can soar to over 100 (38 degrees Celsius) in summer.
In October the waters of the Pacific and the Sea of Cortés have been warmed by summer's heat to between 75 and 80 degrees, ideal for swimming and snorkeling. High season is considered October through April.
STEP TWO
Map Your Route
To drive the 1,050 miles (1,690 kilometers) from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas takes about 25 hours. The speed limit is 50 miles (80 kilometers) an hour.
Along the Way
• Tijuana: Part trashy, part flashy, this border town of two million people is a shopper's delight (and a crime risk, according to the U.S. State Department, so be especially alert here). First-timers should start with Avenida Revolución, or "La Revo," as locals call it. (To avoid schlepping too much stuff, you may want to hit Tijuana on your way back.)
• Ensenada: An hour and a half south, Ensenada is a popular weekend destination for Californians. Its scenic hillside setting overlooks Todos Santos Bay.
• Bahia de los Angeles: Dive into the steely blue waters of the Sea of Cortés. All beaches in Mexico belong to the government and are open to the public.
• San Ignacio: With its date palms and pastel-colored buildings, San Ignacio is an unhurried oasis in the middle of the desert.
• Magdalena Bay: Whale-watching excursions are offered from October through March. From January to March, some 27,000 gray whales migrate to give birth here.
• Los Berriles: An hour north of Cabo, it's a surfing mecca.
• Cabo Pulmo: Here you'll find the only living coral reef in western North America, filled with 300-plus rubberneck-inducing species.
• Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo: Sport fishing and surfing rule here, but the area is also home to an impressive string of championship golf courses.
Fishing
Fishing charters abound around Cabo San Lucas, and almost any of the bigger hotels can arrange an expedition. Among the catch: Striped marlin, blue marlin, amberjack, black marlin, bonito, black sea bass, corbina, mahimahi, sailfish, snapper, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, and yellowtail.
Pangas (small skiffs) can be rented by the hour. Rentals generally include fishing equipment, a license, and a chest to ice the catch.
STEP THREE
Know Before You Go
Rules and Regs
You'll need to present proof of citizenship and a photo ID at the Mexican border. At the crossing you'll also be able to purchase a tourist card, or FM-T, which is required for stays longer than 72 hours.
See the U.S. State Department's travel tips for details on regulations, crime, and safety (travel.state.gov).
Recommended Guidebooks
• AAA Mexico TourBook (free to AAA members)
• Best Places Baja: The Best Restaurants, Lodgings, and Outdoor Adventure by Lori Makabe
• Hidden Baja: Including Tijuana, Ensenada, Mulege, La Paz, and Los Cabos by Richard Harris
• Lonely Planet Baja California by Andrea Schulte-Peevers and others
• The Magnificent Peninsula: The Comprehensive Guidebook to Mexico's Baja California by Jack Williams, Patty Williams, Barbara Williams
• Wines of Baja California: Touring and Tasting Mexico's Undiscovered Treasures by Ralph Amey
Outfitter
San Diego-based Baja Expeditions organizes adventure trips to Baja. (www.bajaex.com)
¿Habla Inglés?
In the major tourist destinations, like Los Cabos and Ensenada, most of the locals speak English. In more rural areas it's good to know some basic Spanish. As always, a few words in the local language usually result in more favorable treatment.
STEP FOUR
Get Your Wheels in Gear
Highway 1 is in mostly good condition, but the road can be narrow in places, sometimes with no shoulder. Worries about banditos are often exaggerated, but you may want to avoid driving at night, as cattle could cross the road unexpectedly.
With terrain ranging from high-altitude ridges in the Sierra Madre to high dunes on the west coast, Baja is a four-wheeler's dream. Sample desert racing in March during the San Felipe 250, one of off-roading's premier competitions.
You should get car insurance for Mexico—U.S. insurance is not valid there (try www.motormexico.com). If you forgot to make arrangements from home, you can still buy insurance at the border, usually at slightly higher rates.
Car-rental businesses in San Diego, California, include Avis, Enterprise, or Baja. All three will require you to purchase Mexican insurance from them.
In Baja California the most useful number for emergencies is 060, which reaches local police and the fire department.
STEP FIVE
Pack Right
Don't go on a road trip here without good maps, a full-size spare, a working jack, a tire-repair kit, and a nylon tow strap (no metal hooks). Also, keep an eye on the fuel gauge—gas stations can be few and far between.
Bring a cooler for drinks and a mini-pharmacy (aspirin and an anti-diarrheal, for starters) and, of course, sunscreen. A GPS system and a handheld UHF/VHF radio could also come in handy.
STEP SIX
Hit the Road
The best place to get organized is San Diego, California, which is served by all major U.S. airlines. Here, you can rent a car and get the insurance you need.
Prefer to drop in, rather than drive? Aero California, Alaska Airlines, and Mexicana airlines offer direct flights from Los Angeles to Los Cabos International Airport, which is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) northwest of San Jose del Cabo.
-Stefan Lovgren
Photograph by Mark Karass/Corbis
