Baja California Peninsula

A long, narrow peninsula made up of the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur, known for Los Cabos resorts, whale watching, islands and wine valleys.

Scope: Following the seven-region travel division of Mexico, this region covers the states of Baja California in the north and Baja California Sur in the south, a peninsula about 1,200 km long between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California). Highlights: At the southern tip, Los Cabos has the famous Land's End arch, golf courses and beachfront resorts. La Paz, the state capital, offers boat trips to Espíritu Santo Island National Park to snorkel with sea lions and, in the right season, swim with whale sharks. Todos Santos is an artsy small town. In the middle of the peninsula, the lagoons of the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve offer close-up gray whale watching in winter, and the rock art of the Sierra de San Francisco lies nearby. In the north, the Guadalupe Valley near Ensenada is Mexico's most important wine region, and Tijuana sits right next to San Diego in the US. Classic itineraries: Los Cabos plus La Paz in 5–7 days; or a 10–14-day road trip down the length of the peninsula on Highway 1, starting from Tijuana. Getting there and around: Los Cabos, La Paz and Tijuana all have airports, and in the north you can cross by land from San Diego. Federal Highway 1 is the main route between the north and south of the peninsula. Notes: The middle stretch has rough road conditions and few places to stock up, so avoid driving long distances at night. Summers are scorching, and if you travel during hurricane season, keep an eye on weather forecasts.

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