Baja’s best
Here are a few popular destinations in Baja California and Baja California Sur
After repeat trips down the Baja peninsula, Mike and Donna Mitchell agree that the five best things about Mexico’s Baja provinces are the people, the food, the beaches, the sun and the natural wonders. Here are a few specifics.
1. La Bufadora is a blowhole caused by a unique configuration in the rock at the ocean’s edge; it lies just a half hour south of Ensenada. Approximately every minute, as the water recedes, trapped compressed air explodes with a roar from the underwater cave, blowing spray up to 80 feet in the air. Observation decks offer excellent views of the action, though crowds at the site might cause cogestion on the decks. Local merchants and food vendors add to the cheerfully festive atmosphere.
2. Guerrero Negro (which means black warrior) and Magdalena Bay are premier whale-watching locations. From January through March, the waters of the Magdalena Bay complex are filled with the curved shapes of the gray whales as they mate, give birth and bask in the warm waters before heading north. A number of local companies offer whale-watching and eco tours on the water.
3. Beaches, beaches everywhere. Beautiful Santispac Beach is about 10 miles from the charming town of Mulege in southern Baja. There are no hookups available for RVs, so this is considered boondock camping—right on the beach—for a cost of about $6 per night. Every morning, the enterprising Mexican vendors arrive with fresh produce, enchiladas, empanadas and other baked goods, and they will take orders to be delivered the next morning. The campsite caretaker will deliver water.
About 20 miles from La Paz lies Tecolote Beach, where the open, white sand beaches invite ATVing excursions in any direction.
Another favourite beach is El Requeson, with an isthmus that extends to an islet in the Sea of Cortez. At high tide, the end of the isthmus is under water. Like Santispac and Tecolote, El Requeson has white, sandy beaches; good fishing, swimming and shell collecting; and the opportunity to meet dozens of other North Americans who enjoy Baja in the winter.
4. Loreto is a lovely town on the Sea of Cortez—officially the Gulf of California—that is authentically Mexican but also caters to the gringo tourists. The food is fabulous and the locals make visitors feel right at home. The town offers golf, tennis and horseback riding, as well as tours to the restored Mission of San Javier in the mountains high above the town. Sport fishing, kayaking and sailing are among your options if you choose to spend your day on the water.
5. Los Barriles is a favourite destination for Canadians and Americans who are spending their winters on the Baja. On breezy days the sky above the beaches is full of kiteboarders and the waves are peppered with windsurfers. Quads are the vehicle of choice in the area; they are used for running errands, going to lunch or transporting riders for longer distances to other beaches, such as Los Pescadero for wonderful snorkelling.
