Baja Peninsula

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GEOGRAPHY:

The Baja California peninsula extends 1,100 km from the U.S. border to the southern tip. Its widest point is approx. 230 km. Most of it is separated from mainland Mexico by the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California). It has a long, varied coastline on both sides.

The Baja features four major mountain ranges: Sierra Juarez, Sierra de San Pedro Martir, Sierra de la Giganta, Sierra de la Laguna, and many minor ranges.

Much of Baja California is desert or mountains.

Here is a link to a brief history of the lower Baja Peninsula

CLIMATE:

The climate varies from "Mediteranian" around Ensenda/Tijuana, to a very dry and hot desert around San Felipe, and dry-tropical in parts of Baja South.

More information on the climate can be found under each individual city page. When possible, we can link you to the latest weather forecasts, and at the very least, give you temperature statistics.

FISHING:

Fishing is big on the Baja Peninsula. To see a very comprehensive site for information on fishing and travel on the Baja, visit Amigos de Baja Bajanet. Virtually everything you wanted to know about fishing the Baja can be found at this great web site. You will also find extensive information on hotels and resorts, weather, and road conditions.

Another site to consider is Catch Fish Now! - on Mexico's Baja Peninsula!

DRIVING:

If you plan to drive down the peninsula, we recommend you obtain a copy of the Baja California map and tour guide available from the Automobile Club of Southern California. This is an excellent map and is kept right up-to-date. It is particularly useful if you plan to drive some of the secondary roads and trails. You can visit their web site at: http://www.aaa-calif.com. Click on the eStore link.

Baja California North (Norte) includes the border cities of Tijuana, Tecate, and Mexicali. These border cities offer a wide variety of shopping opportunities.

The area near Rosarito Beach is famous for lobster restaurants. This area is mostly a weekend and summer tourist area. It supports a sizable permanent population of Americans and Canadians. It is actually commuting distance from San Diego or Chula Vista, in California.

San Felipe, on the other hand is a winter vacation center. It's weather is fantastic in the fall and spring, and nice in the winter. The summers in San Felipe are a little too hot for most North Americans.

Ensenada has a nice Mediteranian climate that is suitable for year-round living. It offers duty free shopping, wonderful dining, and great fishing. If you need to be close to the border, but you want to get away from the hussle and hassle of most border towns, check out Ensenada.

Here are some pictures from the San Felipe area on Baja Norte:

The Crowded Beach at San Felipe        A Little Cactus South of San Felipe.    Or try this link: Playa de Oro Ocean Beach Front San Felipe

The Baja California cities included in Virtual Mexico are:

    Rosarito Beach

          Ensenada

Baja California South (Sur) includes the capital of La Paz, that many people believe is the most "Mexican" of the Baja cities, and the resort centers of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Ferries run from La Paz to the Mexican Mainland. Great shopping, modern resort hotels, fabulous beaches, and unbelievable weather in the Los Cabos area, attract many thousands of visitors and permanent residents from the U.S. and Canada. Towns like Todos Santos offers a nice year-round climate. Sea of Cortez towns like Mulege feature fabulous diving, snorkeling and kayaking opportunities, and Loreto is becoming a retirement mecca.

The south-central areas around Gerrero Negro on the Pacific side, and Mulege to La Paz on the Sea of Cortez side, are becoming popular whale watching sites!

The cities of Baja California Sur included in Virtual Mexico at this time are:

    La Paz

         Los Cabos

Other Web Sites with Baja California Information

Baja Relocation A full-service relocation counseling and consulting firm providing the very best personalized relocation services for clients in Baja California.

BajaInsider.com information concerning lifestyles, road reports, weather, the how, where, when and why; about living and traveling in Baja California and all Mexico.

Tourist Info., Roads, Hotels, Transportation on the Baja (English)

Recommended publications about the Baja: TRAVEL:

Baja Bound: To Cabo and Back. This engaging tale of driving the length of the Baja peninsula is full of adventure, exploration, and excitement. Capturing the essence of life on the open road, Baja Bound gives a complete overview of what to expect while road tripping across Baja. Filled with pertinent travel information, cultural insights, and just plain funny stories, Baja Bound is guaranteed to educate and uplift the reader.

Baja Handbook, Publisher:Moon Publications Inc. P.O. Box 3040, Chico, CA. 95927-3040, U.S.A.

 Jen's Baja-Web Comprehensive information on many areas of North and South Baja.