5 things I learnt from my
Baja California Sur Road Trip
Our roadtrip to Baja was Baja has been one of the wonderful road trip experiences we’ve had in Mexico so far. It’s stunning coast and nature is just breathtaking, and we can’t wait to go back someday and explore it again. However there were a few aspects of the region that truly surprised me, so I wanted to share this with you for you to be ready when you decide to explore this amazing region of Mexico!
It is more expensive than the rest of Mexico.
I never actually thought about how far is Baja from mainland Mexico and you can definitely see that reflected on the local prices, whether its on a restaurant, accommodations and even activities.
You can totally find very affordable prices along the state, though in general we did find it to be more expensive that other places we have travelled to in Mexico. We would usually spend between $250 and $400 pesos per person (between $12-$20 USD) on a regular meal and a beverage at an alright restaurant, but there is definitely places that are amazing that can easily cost you the double of that.
There is plenty of street food that is delicious and if you are travelling on a budget, its a great place to get delicious food. We honestly mostly ate this way, especially because we were always on a hurry to be able to catch our tours and going between destinations. Staying in Airbnbs can be also a great option for saving money if you decide to cook on them more often and therefore be able to explore more of Baja.
Definitely the most expensive part of our trip where the tours that we took, especially the ones where we got to see the Blue Whales in Loreto and swimming with Whale Sharks in La Paz. Expect to pay at least $2,000 pesos or 100 USD per person to be able to join any of this experiences. They are not cheap at all but they are quite magical and definitely worth it, principally when you think that your contribution also goes towards protecting and conserving the areas and species that you are visiting if you choose a responsible and accredited operator of course, which is so important. So make sure that you do choose mindful operators, such as the ones we took our tours from: Tuna Tuna Tours for Whale Sharks and Sea and Land Loreto for Blue Whales for example.
Baja is outstandingly beautiful!
While you are driving across the state, you won’t believe your eyes! It’s definitely one of those destinations that has completely blow my mind in a totally surprising way. It is unbelievable to see huge red coloured mountains right next to the coast, with white sand beaches and clear blue water every time you pass a hill. You can also spot a wide variety of cacti all along the roads that will leave you breathless and want to take hundreds of photos with them.
The little towns across Baja are so wonderful. They each have its own charm with beautiful cobblestone streets and colourful buildings, and plenty of activities to do around them, such as hiking, kayaking, whale watching, snorkelling and more!
Baja is a nature lover’s paradise without a doubt and whatever activity you enjoy doing in the outdoors you can probably find it here. Let’s also not forget about the stunning sunrises and sunsets that paint the mountains and ocean in majestic ways, a must see!
It’s one of the best places in the world for whale watching!
Every year roughly from December to April tons of types of whales visit both sides of the peninsula of Baja California Sur, making this region one of the best places in the world for whale watching. You can go look for Grey and Humpback Whales especially on the Pacific side of the peninsula, swim with whale sharks near the capital city of La Paz, and also go on a tour for spotting blue, fin and sperm whales near the coast and National Marine Park of Loreto!
Whales can be encountered all throughout the year in either coast of Baja, sometimes you can even spot orcas! But the prime season for it is definitely between the months of December and April. From seeing the largest mammal in the world to being able to get close to a baby whale, Baja is a magical place for this unique encounters.
You will get addicted to fish tacos.
If you have never tried fish tacos before, this is the best place to do so. Fish tacos in Baja are a staple and you can find them everywhere you go in the peninsula. The most common one is the battered deep fried fish taco that you can usually order with a corn or flour tortilla of your choice and garnish with lemon, coleslaw and different spicy and non spicy sauces. The combination of flavours are truly heaven on earth.
I also love that there are also plenty of other ways to cook the fish for the taco if you do not to love the fried ones like I do. I would rather choose the other options, like having your fish grilled, seasoned with Mexican spices, or even crunchy, and they are also delicious!
We tried different places along our road trip but our favourite local spot was located in Todos Santos, a small town located near Cabo San Lucas, called Fish Tacos Santo Chilote. Their tacos were $35 pesos each or $1.80 USD and had a huge variety of ways to cook them. They also have a bar with lots of options of garnish for your tacos from onions, to a variety of sauces and lemon. If you are ever in Todos Santos or only passing through do not miss this place!
The best thing about fish tacos though is that you can find delicious ones all across the Baja!
It can get super cold during the nights even if it’s piping hot during the day.
Baja California Sur is basically an extension of the Sonoran Desert which got separated from mainland Mexico a long time ago. So, yes, it is a desert with beaches all around it. And exactly because of that, there are certain times of the year when it can get super cold once the sun sets down and all through the night.
The more north you head to, the colder it will be, and of course also if you head into the mountains it will get even colder. We planned on spending three nights in Mulege during mid-February, in the north of Baja Sur, but we experienced such temperature drops while camping that we ended up shortening our stay there because of it, so make sure to be prepared! The temperature changes so drastically from day to night.
Even if it’s winter time, it still can get very hot during the day, though it is not humid as it can be during the summers. So it is very important to keep this in mind if you are visiting Baja, the weather is so extreme!
Baja Sur has been one of the most stunning places I have ever been to not only in Mexico but in the world! The scenery when driving through this beautiful state will leave you in such awe that you will want to come back again very soon.
Have you ever been to Baja California Sur or are you planning to in the future? It’s a place worth exploring while visiting Mexico!
