Drive the Baja Peninsula from Cabo north to La Paz and Todos Santos
Stay one night near the marina, eat fish tacos at the market, and rent a car first thing. The only road north is Mex-1 — the Transpeninsular Highway. Fill the tank and check tire pressure before you leave Cabo.
The rock arch at the tip of the peninsula is best seen from a water taxi before the tour boats arrive. 30 minutes each way from the marina dock. $15 round trip.
Start the road trip right: dinner at the best restaurant in Cabo before you head north. Michelin Guide feature, open-air courtyard, exceptional upscale Mexican cuisine. Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian menus. Make a reservation for your arrival night.
OXXO is everywhere on Mex-1. They take cards, have clean bathrooms, and decent food. Gas stations outside of Cabo and La Paz are infrequent — fill up whenever you see one.
Todos Santos is 80 miles north through the sierra. The Hotel California legend is overplayed, but the town itself is beautiful — galleries, organic farms, a strong expat art scene. Stay two nights.
Consistent beach break 15 minutes from Todos Santos center. Board and lesson rentals available. Beginners do well here. Sunset is spectacular from the beach chairs at the palapa bar.
La Paz is the Baja capital — more Mexican than Cabo, better food, calmer water. The malecon waterfront promenade is 5km of walking. Stay two nights and use it as a base.
Half-day boat tours from La Paz marina. Snorkeling with whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez — one of the top wildlife experiences in North America. Season runs October-April.
A morning walk through the central market (Mercado Municipal), lunch at a palapa fish stand on the malecon, afternoon hammock. This is the point of Baja road trips.
Both are on the malecon and both serve the La Paz specialty: tacos de marlin smoked in-house. Order a dozen, eat standing up, repeat. Under $10 total.
The Sierra behind La Paz rises to 7,000 feet and drops to pine forest at altitude — a complete climate change from the coast. Day hike to a palm oasis at Rancho El Potrero.
Loreto is the oldest permanent settlement on the Baja peninsula — the original Spanish colonial mission is here. The coast is world-class for kayaking and snorkeling.
La Paz has a small international airport with connections to LAX and PHX. Otherwise drive 3 hours back to Cabo for your return flight. The sunset drive south on Mex-1 is worth it.
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