BAJA PENINSULA

Baja is a narrow peninsula lapped by the Pacific ocean on one side and by the Sea of Cortez on the other. It extends 1,300 km (800 miles) from the southern California border on the north to Cabo San Lucas on
the south. The peninsula is covered by beautiful terrain, countless bays and caves, mountain ranges, dry desert, farmlands, vineyards and of course exclusive resorts. People who visited Baja were once considered adventuresome. Now, although there is much development, it is still a favorite spot for world travelers and sports enthusiasts. Baja Norte and Baja Sur, the two extremes of Baja California are linked by Mexico highway 1, which runs from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas.

Following its discovery by Europeans in the late 16th century the peninsula, now named Baja, was visited by a variety of explorers and missionaries. The Kikiwa, Cochimi Cucapa and Kumiai tribes first inhabited the barren lands of Baja. In 1697, Jesuit priest Juan Maria Salvatierra founded the first California mission at Loreto and not long after, the indigenous populations were nearly obliterated by disease and war. Seventy two years later, a Franciscan monk from Mallorca , Spain, Father Junipero Serra, set out to establish a chain of missions from San Diego to San Francisco, in the land then known as Alta California. When Mexico achieved independence from Spain in 1821, all missionaries were ordered home and Loreto’s mission was abandoned and fell into disrepair.
Baja Norte:
On the northern half of the peninsula , Baja Norte, you will find beautiful austere desert landscapes. The capital of the peninsula’s more populous state is fittingly Tijuana, Baja’s largest city, just 29km (18 miles) south of San Diego. It is the quintessential border city and claims to be the worlds busiest crossing, with up to 35 million visitors a year. In recent years Tijuana has become a modern city with towering skyscrapers and massive shopping malls. However, it is and always has been a place where people come to shop and party.
Links: Hotels: www.realdelmar.com.mx www.hotel-lucerna.com.mx www.hotlelavilla.biz

Just south of Tijuana on the Pacific coast are the beach communities of Rosarito and Ensenada. Southern Californians use Rosarito (population 100,000) as a weekend getaway. Surfers, swimmers and sunbathers enjoy the beach where whales swim within viewing distance. Horseback riding, jogging and strolling are also popular along this beach. The main drag, alternately known as the Old Ensenada Highway and Boulevard Juarez, reflects growth and speculation. The street is packed with restaurants, bars and shops in a jarring juxtaposition of building styles. A famous landmark is the Rosarito Beach Hotel, which was built during prohibition and has huge ballrooms, tiled fountains and stairways , murals and a glassed-in pool deck overlooking the sea. Playas de Rosarito attracted considerable attention when 20th Century Fox built a permanent movie-production studio on the coastline south of town to film the mega-success, Titanic. Today the complex doubles as the theme park and working studio called Foxploration.
Links: Hotels: www.rosaritobeachhotel.com www.lasrocas.com

Just south of Rosarito is Puerto Nuevo, where southern Californians regularly come to indulge in classic lobster dinners. There are at least 30 restaurants packed into this village, nearly all offering the same menu of lobster fried in hot oil served with refried beans, rice and homemade tortillas, salsa and lime, all for about $15. There are also Artisans’ markets and stands throughout the village

Ensenada, is a busy port and cruise ship destination which is also popular with fishermen, surfers and divers.
In 1542 Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo first discovered the seaport that Sebastian Vizcaino named Ensenada de Todos Santos (All Saints’ Bay) in 1602. Through the years the town has drawn a steady stream of explorers and developers. There are no beaches in Ensenada proper, but sandy stretches north and south of town are satisfactory for swimming, sunning , surfing and camping.
Links: Hotels: www.hotelesterobeach.com www.hotelcoral.com www.larosas.com
Fishing: www.sergios-sportfishing.com

Suggested side trips:

Valle de Guadalupe, northeast of Ensenada on Carretera 3, is filled with vineyards, wineries and rambling hacienda-style estates. A few wineries are open to the public. Baja California Tours conducts tours that include visits to several wineries, a historical overview of the valley, transportation from the border and lunch. The cost is about $80.

East of Tijuana is the quiet boarder community of Tecate, known as the home to the Tecate Brewery, which makes some of Mexico’s most popular beers. Here too, you will find Rancho La Puerta spa which opened in 1940 as one of the pioneers of fitness spas, and is still managed by members of its founding family.

Baja Norte - Baja California Tour Links: www.bajaspecials.com www.efivestartours.com
www.sandiegoscenictours.com
Visitor Information Links: www.discoverbajacalifornia.com www.ensenada-tourism.com
www.sanfelipe.com.mx www.tijuanaonline.org www.seetijuana.com

 


 

 



Casa del Prado

Residencia de 2 niveles, con vista al campo de golf. 4 recámaras y estudio.


Casa del Prado

Residencia de 2 niveles, con vista al campo de golf. 4 recámaras y estudio.		  
 



Casa del Prado

Residencia de 2 niveles, con vista al campo de golf. 4 recámaras y estudio.

Casa del Prado

Residencia de 2 niveles, con vista al campo de golf. 4 recámaras y estudio. 		 
 

Baja Sur

Geographically Baja Sur begins mid-peninsula. In reality, it starts at the southern tip in Los Cabos, which is made up of San Jose del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas, and the Corridor highway between the two towns.
Exclusive developments, marinas, golf courses, private homes and hotels are carved into the once uninhabitable desert and coast. Baja California Sur became Mexico’s 30th state in 1974 and population and tourism have been growing ever since. Still, Baja Sur remains a rugged, largely undeveloped land.

Connected by a 28 km (17 mile) stretch of highway called the Corridor, the two towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo were distinct until the late 1970’s when the Mexican government targeted Baja’s southern tip for resort development and dubbed the area Los Cabos. Today the population is about 100,000 which includes the growing number of Mexicans migrating from the mainland in search of jobs as well as foreigners who have bought vacation homes here.

San Jose del Cabo is the government center and a traditional Mexican town. Downtown is lovely, with adobe houses and jacaranda trees, stylish restaurants and shops. Massive all-inclusives have consumed much of its coastline, making San Jose the favored destination for families.
Links: Hotels: www.casanatalia.com www.ichotelsgroup.com www.elencantoninn.com
www.vivacabo.com www.hterranova.com.mx www.tropicanacabo.com www.srmanana.net
Tours: www.bajawild.com Fishing: www.gordobanks.com Surfing: www.costa-azul.com.mx

Cabo San Lucas is more the party town, the “in” place, with its slew of trendy restaurants and lively beaches. The sportfishing fleet is headquartered here, cruise ships anchor off the marina and massive hotels abound. A pedestrian walkway lined with restaurants, bars and shops anchored by the sleek Puerto Paraiso mall curves around Cabo San Lucas harbor, itself packed with yachts. The most popular restaurants, clubs and shops are along Avenida Cardenas and Boulevard Marina, paralleling the waterfront. El Arco, the most spectacular sight in Cabo San Lucas, is a natural rock arch. It’s visible from the marina. To fully appreciate Cabo, take at least a short boat ride out to the arch and Playa de Amor, the beach underneath it.
Links: Hotels: www.solmar.com www.marinafiestaresort.com www.pueblobonito.com
www.cabosiestasuites.com
Fishing: www.grupobahia.com www.minervas.com www.piscessportfishing.com

La Paz, the capital of Baja Sur and home to 200,000 residents, is the most traditional Mexican city in Baja Sur. Its feel is that of a small town in a time warp. The city sprawls inland from the curve of its malecon along Bahia La Paz, which, through some strange feat of geography, angles west toward the sunset. The malecon is La Paz’s seawall, tourist zone, and social center all rolled into one. Travelers use La Paz as both a destination in itself and a stopping-off point en route to Los Cabos.
Links: Hotels: www.crowneplaza.com www.elangelazul.com www.laconcha.com
www.hotelmarina.com.mx www.losarcos.com www.hotelperlabaja.com www.clubelmoro.com
Diving: www.bajaex.com www.funbaja.com
Kayaking: www.nicholsexpeditions.com

Loreto’s setting in the Sea of Cortez is spectacular with the gold and green hills of the Sierra de la Giganta which seem to tumble into the cobalt water. The skies are said to be clear here 360 days of the year. Loreto is flush with developments, thanks to an influx of money from Fonatur, the federal government’s tourism development fund. The downtown waterfront now has a pristine seawall and sidewalk malecon with park benches. Entrepreneurs are opening small hotels and restaurants and investors are buying up land.
Links: Hotels: www.hoteloasis.com www.danzante.com www.posadadelasflores.com www.loretobaja.com www.villasdeloreto.com www.moteleldorado.com www.loreto.com/sukasa/
Fishing: www.arturosport.com www.bajabigfish.com
Water Sports, etc.: www.dolphindivebaja.com www.tourbaja.com www.sea-quest-kayak.com

Mulege, once a mission settlement, this charming town of some 3,500 residents swells in winter with Americans and Canadians fleeing the cold. It is a popular base for exploring the Sierra de Guadalupe mountains, the site of several prehistoric rock paintings of human and animal figures. Access to the rock paintings is good, although you must have a permit and go with a licensed guide. Kayaking in Bahia Concepcion, Baja’s largest protected bay, is spectacular.

Links: Hotels: www.hotelserenidad.com
Tours: www.mulegetours.com
Kayaking: Home.EarthLink.net/-rcmathews/EcoMundo.html

Things to know about Baja:
Whale-Watching: Every December through March, gray whales swim 8000 km (5,000 miles) south from Alaska’s Bering Strait to the tip of the Baja Peninsula. Up to 6,000 whales swim past and stop close to the shore at several spots to give birth to their calves. The best places for close encounters are Bahia Magdelena (aka Mag Bay) and Laguna San Ignacio.

Fishing: Baja is known throughout the world for its excellent fishing and lucrative tournaments. Fishermen flocked to Los Cabos long before developers did. Fish bite, no matter the season. Summers are exciting in the Sea of Cortez, when dorado, tuna and billfish congregate close to shore. Wahoo and blue marlin are abundant off Los Cabos in the winter, and sailfish, yellowfin and bluefin tuna weighing 200 pounds or more can be found in the Pacific.

Spa’s: A spa vacation is the perfect way to kick-start a healthier lifestyle and there are more treatment choices then ever before on the Baja Peninsula. From Japanese Shiatsu to Mexican temazcal the focus is on educating you on the interrelationship between body and mind.
Links: www.esperanzaresort.com www.marquislocabos.com www.lasventanas.com
www.casadelmarmexico.com www.pueblobonito.com www.starwood.com/westin

Transportation: There are several airports on the Peninsula.
Ferry service between mainland Mexico and Baja is available. Links: www.bajaferries.com www.ferrysematur.com.mx
Tourist Offices: www.vivalapaz.com www.gotoloreto.com www.visitloscabos.org

Weather: Baja Norte is a desert locale. The heat is tempered by low humidity and cool breezes off the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. Summers are hot and winters can be chilly. In Los Cabos rain is rare, except from August to November, when the occasional hurricane brings things to a halt. Baja Sur’s winters are mild, however, the months from December through April can be chilly at night.

 


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