The Los Cabos space on the southernmost tip of Baja California is beach-laden, resort-heavy and residential to among the finest bars and eating places within the state. Whereas many guests are joyful to only loosen up at their resort with a margarita or 5, it’s additionally simple to flee these vacationer hubs to atmospheric cities, desert oasis sizzling springs and guarded marine parks. All this and extra are inside a half to a 3 hour drive.
The six following day journeys supply an enormous number of actions: from browsing, diving and climbing, to visiting museums and cobblestone lanes bursting with structure.
Todos Santos
Wander a Pueblo Mágico and surf wild seashores
In case you take solely someday journey from Los Cabos, Todos Santos needs to be it. Designated as a Pueblo Mágico by the Mexican authorities (a city with authentic structure and flourishing tradition and traditions), this desert oasis tucked behind miles of white sand Pacific Coast seashore, entices many guests to remain on for much longer, some even changing into expats.
Fill a half-day exploring the cobblestone streets, perusing artwork galleries and outlets. Cease in on the Centro Cultural (housed in a former schoolhouse) to admire the circa-Thirties murals within the courtyard and study concerning the city’s full of life historical past by way of previous images and artifacts. The eating places listed below are among the finest in Southern Baja and embrace star Mexican chef Javier Plascencia’s Jazamango for contemporary native delicacies with views over a desert backyard.
Then hit the blustery, wave-pounded seashore for limitless walks or browsing (for intermediate to superior ranges solely). In case you’re round between December and mid-April you’ll be able to hook up with Tortugueros Las Playitas to look at sea turtle hatchlings wriggle down the seashore and swim out to sea.
Todos Santos is round a one-hour drive north from Cabo San Lucas alongside Hwy 19.
Cabo Pulmo
Dive with whale sharks and tornadoes of fish
This tiny desert hamlet may not appear to be a lot at first, however as soon as you set your head underwater amidst the 17,571-acre Marine Protected Space (MPA) it’s one of the spectacular locations in Baja. Over 200 species of critters inhabit the wealthy Cabo Pulmo Marine Park, together with the well-known “tornadoes” of massive eyed jacks that faculty like a murmuration of starlings at El Bajo dive web site. Different species you would possibly see embrace large grouper, manta rays, sea turtles and – from October to February – whale sharks. The coral and anemone-covered hull of the sunken ship El Colima is one other spectacular sight.
Join a snorkeling tour or a multi-day diving course that begins in swimming swimming pools in Los Cabos and ultimately will convey you to Cabo Pulmo. In case you determine to remain longer, Cabo Pulmo itself is a really mellow scene with a couple of family-run seafood-oriented eating places and attention-grabbing city personalities to fulfill.
The city and park are round a two hour drive from Cabo San Lucas. Dive journeys normally embrace transportation to/out of your resort.
Los Cerritos
Be taught to surf on a boho-vibe seashore
Whether or not you’ve come to Southern Baja to study to surf or simply play within the waves, Los Cerritos is the perfect place to do it. The seashore will not be as pristine as others within the space, however the swell rolls persistently over sandy backside and it’s a straightforward paddle out to catch a couple of waves. There’s additionally an outer reef break for extra superior surfers. Hook up with board rental and/or surf instructors proper on the seashore and also you’ll be standing on a board very quickly.
The waves themselves can get crowded and there’s a enjoyable seashore shack bar ambiance round the principle entrance by the car parking zone. That mentioned, the seashore is huge so it’s simple to discover a quiet stretch to throw your towel, if that’s what you are after. There’s additionally secure swimming for individuals who favor ocean forays with much less adrenaline.
This seashore sits solely quarter-hour north of Cabo San Lucas on the best way to Todos Santos, so you could possibly conceivably mix the 2 locations for one very lengthy day journey.
Santiago & round
Hike to sizzling springs and a waterfall oasis
Driving into this village in a valley surrounded by desert, farmland and low hills feels such as you’ve arrived someplace very distant – however you are solely 55km from San Jose del Cabo. Pastel houses peek out from behind palapa palms, and the pleasantly lush city facilities on a colonial plaza. A lot of the meals served in Los Cabos eating places is grown right here.
Whereas quiet Santiago is price a go to, its surrounding sights are the larger draw. Take a brief, dirt-road drive into the Cañón de la Zorra all the best way till you attain the sign-posted Rancho Ecólogico Sol de Mayo. From there, hike a number of minutes to an outlandishly stunning 40ft waterfall pool for a refreshing dip and a picnic (convey your personal, as this can be a distant and rustic vacation spot). To heat up, head again south of city for warm springs: El Chorro is close to the city of Agua Caliente, and Santa Rita sits close to the tiny Ejido village of San Jorge. The recent springs function on many day journey itineraries out of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, so go early or late within the day to have them to your self.
Los Barilles
Kite surf thrills and leaping mobula ray viewing
Rising Los Barilles is a mixture of desert Baja backroads and new, Southern California-esque growth. Whereas the lengthy white seashore and laid-back vibe is purpose sufficient to go to, it’s the 20- to 25-knot winds that make this place well-known. Wind surfers and kite boarders flock right here from September to March. This excessive season additionally coincides with whale season (January to March) if you’ll typically see whales spouting over the white caps and nice faculties of mobula rays leaping above the waves; the latter is an unbelievable sight to behold and is well worth the drive right here itself. Seize a snack for the street at Caleb’s Cafe, which affords American-style baked items, together with extremely gooey and scrumptious sticky buns.
Outdoors the windy months, the ocean is calmer and good for stand-up paddle boarding. The city, nonetheless, falls right into a slumber and lots of companies shut for the season. It’s a few one and a half hour drive from Cabo San Lucas to Los Barilles.
La Paz
Expertise the Sea of Cortez islands
In case you’re uninterested in vacationer sizzling spots and need to expertise a extra laid-back Southern Baja, the sprawling, colourful metropolis of La Paz is the reply. Begin by strolling alongside the Sixties-feeling, 5.5km-long malecón (promenade) to take a look at native sculpture artwork and admire the turquoise sea. Then wander inland by way of the previous structure of the Plaza Constitución, peruse the small however nicely curated Nationwide Museum of Archaeology and lunch at one of many many higher-end native and worldwide eating places – or stroll out a couple of extra minutes out of the business zone to Taco Fish La Paz for what is likely to be the perfect fish tacos on the town.
It’s price staying in La Paz far longer than someday, particularly to go to Espíritu Santo, an island that’s a part of a Unesco World Heritage web site made up of 244 Sea of Cortez Islands. You’ll be able to go to the island on in style speedboat journeys or multi-day sea kayaking adventures. Close by there’s additionally distinctive diving with frequent whale shark sightings (October to March) and visits to a really full of life sea lion colony.
Town is a few two hour drive from Cabo San Lucas by way of Todos Santos or simply over three hours by way of Santiago and Los Barilles, so you could possibly fairly take a couple of days to make a loop.
