Watch the sunset from an empty beach. Feel dwarfed by nature under a forest of giant Cardon cacti. Gaze at a sparkling night sky from a remote island. Marvel at the wonders of time inside million-year-old canyons. Feel the energy of a giant grey whale as you plant a kiss on its head. Cruise down a sandy track with the wind in your hair.
This is Baja California Sur.
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Where is Baja California Sur?
Baja California Sur is one of 32 states in Mexico.
Uniquely, it is the only state that is completely disconnected from the Mexican mainland.
Baja California Sur is part of the Baja Peninsula. A 1,200-kilometre (745-mile) strip of land, separating the Pacific Ocean (west) from the Sea of Cortez, aka the Gulf of California (east).
The Baja Peninsula encompasses two Mexican states: Baja California and Baja California Sur.
Baja California is often referred to as Baja California Norte, meaning north in English, because it is the northern of the two. Baja California Sur means south in English, being the southern state.
The most northern point of the Peninsula is the city of Mexicali in Baja California, on the US/Mexico border, adjacent to the US state of California. Its southernmost point is Cabo San Lucas, in Baja California Sur.
💡 This travel guide is for Baja California Sur only, not Baja California Norte
Baja California Sur quick facts
- 🗣️ Language: Spanish is Mexico’s official language and learning some basics is a good idea. However, we did notice that English was more widely spoken in Baja California Sur compared to other states, especially around the tourist hubs of Los Cabos and La Paz. Don’t expect the same in the smaller, rural towns.
- 💰 Currency: Mexican Pesos (MXN). US Dollars are widely accepted at restaurants, shops and tour companies, however, the rate is almost always worse than converting it yourself.
- 🏙️ Capital City: La Paz, located midway along the east coast of the state.
- 👨👩👧👦 Population: Approximately 800,000. Baja California Sur is one of the least populated states in the country, despite being one of the largest in land mass. Plenty of wide, open spaces!
- ⏰ Time Zone: Mexican Pacific Standard Time (GMT-7). This is not the same time zone as Baja California Norte. Since 2022, Baja California Sur no longer observes daylight saving time, like most other Mexican states.
- 🛂 Visas: Visas are not required for Mexico for citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, most of Europe, and many other countries. Instead, you will get a tourist pass, an ‘FMM’, on arrival which grants up to 180 days in Mexico.
- 📱 Phone Service: Picking up a Telcel SIM card is the best and cheapest way to use your phone in Baja California Sur. Despite the remote nature of many places around the state, phone service is usually decent.
- 💵 Tipping: Tipping is standard and expected in Mexico. Especially in touristy areas frequented by American travellers, such as Los Cabos. 10 – 15% is standard in restaurants where you sit down and are served. Tips are also expected for gas station attendants, and if someone bags your groceries at the supermarket.
Is Baja California Sur worth visiting?
That would be a big, resounding YES!
We spent six months travelling in Mexico, from the west coast to the east coast. We visited ten states and countless destinations within them.
But if you asked either Brayden or me where our favourite place was, we would both say Baja California Sur without hesitation.
We ended up spending almost two months in the state (a third of our trip!) because we couldn’t drag ourselves away.
Now that we have left Mexico, the one place that I am constantly daydreaming about returning to is Baja California Sur.
So why was Baja California Sur our favourite place? So, so many reasons.
🌵 DESERT LANDSCAPES
The landscapes are like nothing else I have ever seen before.
I never knew a dry, arid desert dotted with cacti could be so beautiful. Shadowed by layers upon layers of rocky mountain ranges.
Miles of hiking trails lead through canyons in Loreto, to hot springs and waterfalls in Santiago, and even up a mountain with a group of dogs in Cabo San Lucas.
🌊 OCEAN VIEWS
Turn your head in the other direction, and you’ll find a dazzling ocean, in tones of blue, green and turquoise you didn’t think were possible.
Baja is fringed by miles of golden, empty beaches.
With the wild waters of the Pacific Ocean on the west coast and the calm, inviting bays of the Sea of Cortez on the east, some of the best things to do in Baja California Sur revolve around the sea.
🏖️ INCREDIBLE BEACHES
Beaches abound, from the world-famous Playa Balandra in La Paz to the beaches of Bahia Concepcion in Mulege and Isla Coronado in Loreto.
If you’re chasing the surf, the thundering Pacific Ocean at Cerritos Beach is one of the best breaks in Mexico.
🦭 MARINE LIFE
The oceans of Baja California Sur are teeming with marine life of all shapes and sizes.
If you’re brave, you can go scuba diving with bull sharks in Cabo Pulmo. Or for something with fewer teeth involved, it’s possible to swim with sea lions and whale sharks in La Paz.
Keep your eyes peeled for groups of hundreds of Mobula rays leaping from the water off the coast of La Ventana. Releasing adorable baby sea turtles into the ocean in Todos Santos is a special experience.
🐋 WHALE HEAVEN
All that without even mentioning the whales.
If you love whales, I don’t think there is anywhere better on earth for whale watching.
During the winter months, humpback whales splash literally metres offshore in Los Cabos and Todos Santos. The mighty blue whale, the largest animal in the world, can be seen in Loreto. And for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, friendly grey whales approach boats in Magdalena Bay waiting for a kiss!
🌈 COLOURFUL COLONIAL TOWNS
And piecing together this mindblowing nature is a collection of colourful colonial towns.
From the cities of La Paz, Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, to the dusty, one-main-street towns of Cabo Pulmo, Santiago and La Ventana and the dedicated pueblo magicos of Todos Santos and Loreto.
Each is unique but just as charming as the last. Pastel-coloured buildings line cobblestone streets, with rows of rainbow flags blowing overhead in the breeze.
🌮 DELICIOUS CUISINE
The food in Baja California Sur was the best in all of Mexico, in our opinion.
Fresh, crunchy-on-the-outside but soft-on-the-inside fish tacos can be found in every town. For some variety, swap fish for prawns, octopus or scallops, or order a serving of ceviche tostadas.
The abundance of seafood, and the customary salads make the Baja cuisine lighter and healthier than in other regions. But if you’ve got a sweet tooth, nearly every town square has a churro stand!
Food tours are a fantastic way to find great local spots, and we loved doing them in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
Even in the most touristy of places, like Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, there are cheap, delicious Mexican restaurants to be found!
🌞 LAIDBACK VIBES
But above all, the thing we loved the most about Baja California Sur was the laidback vibe and the ability to get completely off the beaten track in isolated nature.
Once you escape the rowdy resort cities of Los Cabos, you can be in the middle of nowhere in under an hour.
It doesn’t get more isolated than the remote East Cape, and you’ll be greeted with empty beaches, dirt tracks for roads, and a cow or donkey popping its head in your car window.
The rugged landscapes create an indescribable sense of adventure and connection with nature.
Best time to visit Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur is one of those places that you can visit at any time of the year. Being a desert climate, it is generally warm and dry year-round.
Overall, the cooler months of November – April are the best time to visit Baja California Sur.
It is dry all over the state, with blue skies and sunshine most days. Mornings and evenings can be cool, and water temperatures are chilly. But this is the peak season for whales and other marine life and avoids the scorching temperatures, hurricanes and rain of summer.
🌞 Get a comprehensive breakdown of each season, with information on weather and wildlife in our post Best Time to Visit Baja California Sur
Places to visit in Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur has so many amazing destinations to visit. From the resort cities of Los Cabos, the capital city of La Paz and all the tiny towns in between.
There is a huge difference in weather, landscape and beaches between the western Pacific Cast to the eastern Sea of Cortez, so be sure to visit both sides of the peninsula.
Here are some of the destinations you can’t miss when planning your itinerary:
- 🍸 Cabo San Lucas: the most popular tourist destination in all of Baja Sur, Cabo San Lucas or ‘Cabo’ is a resort city at the southern tip of the state. It’s known as a raucous party destination with all-inclusive resorts. But there’s another side to Cabo if you look hard enough, and no trip to BCS would be complete without experiencing this iconic city.
- 🛍️ San Jose del Cabo: the older, more sophisticated sister city to Cabo San Lucas, San Jose is a more authentic option. A charming historic downtown, quiet beaches, great restaurants, and boutique hotels await you in San Jose.
- 🌈 Todos Santos: one of just two pueblo magicos in Baja Sur, Todos Santos is a haven for artists, yogis and surfers. It boasts a gorgeous historic centre, aesthetic cafes and boutique hotels, stunning Pacific beaches and a quiet, boho feel.
- 🏄🏽♀️ El Pescadero and Cerritos Beach: just up the road from Todos Santos, the small agricultural town of El Pescadero is growing in popularity, thanks to its iconic surf spot, Cerritos Beach. The vibe is still very rural here, with lots of agriculture and rugged desert scenery, but there are funky beach bars, taco shops and sustainable hotels hiding away on the dusty roads.
- 🫏 East Cape: for a real taste of Cabo before the tourists, head to the East Cape. The area east of San Jose del Cabo, a collection of gorgeous beaches is strung together by the iconic Camino Cabo Este, a long, bumpy dirt road. Escape to a wellness retreat, watch donkeys stroll beside your car and enjoy some of the best waves in Baja Sur.
- 🐠 Cabo Pulmo: home to the largest coral reef in Baja, Cabo Pulmo is the place for snorkelling and scuba diving. Possible to visit on a day trip from Los Cabos, but stay a few days instead to soak up the old-school Baja vibe in this tiny beach town.
- 🌵 Santiago: if you thought Baja was all beaches, visit Santiago. This blink-and-you-miss-it town is nestled in the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range and is filled with hiking trails, desert oases, hot springs and waterfalls.
- 🪁 La Ventana: on the map as a kite surfing town, La Ventana has so much to offer, on land and sea. Giant Cardon cactus forests border the town, with an abundance of hiking and mountain bike trails. Offshore, Isla Cerralvo is a quiet alternative to La Paz’s popular Isla Espiritu Santo, with plenty of marine life to see.
- 🏖️ La Paz: the state’s capital city feels less like a ‘city’ and more like a charming seaside town. The jump-off point for some of Baja Sur’s most incredible natural experiences, you can swim alongside whale sharks, snorkel with sea lions and visit Mexico’s most beautiful beach, while enjoying amazing fish tacos, the lively Malecon and the friendly local vibe of the city.
- 🐋 Magdalena Bay: one of three lagoons in Baja Sur where grey whales migrate each winter to mate and give birth. Take a whale watching tour with local fishermen into the bay, to get up close and personal with friendly grey whales, who are known to approach boats and interact with humans. A life-changing experience.
- 🏜️ Loreto: Baja’s hidden gem. Loreto’s location in the far north of the state means it is less visited than the southern destinations, but boy does it pack a punch. The second pueblo magico, Loreto has a lovely historic centro. Offshore, the Bay of Loreto hosts 5 uninhabited islands and is teeming with marine life, whilst the rugged Sierra de la Giganta looms behind the town, with miles of trails to explore.
- 🌴 Mulege: known as the oasis town, for its freshwater source, Rio Mulege. This tiny mission town filled with palm trees has a fascinating history and hosts some of the state’s best beaches at Bahia Concepcion.
Our top things to do in Baja California Sur
It’s nearly impossible to narrow down all the incredible things to do in Baja California Sur! But reflecting on our time in the state, these were 10 very special moments.
- 🐋 Kiss a grey whale in Magdalena Bay: an experience like no other that you can’t have anywhere else in the world. The lagoons of Baja are the only place where grey whales have demonstrated this friendly behaviour, seeking interaction with humans.
- 🏝️ Float in the crystal clear waters of Playa Balandra in La Paz: frequently ranked as Mexico’s best beach, Balandra is actually a bay with more than 7 beaches! Calm, clear, shallow waters swirling with sandbanks, it’s stunning.
- 🥾 Hike Tabor Canyon in Loreto: one of my favourite hikes in the state, you can venture deep into the rich red rock of the Sierra de la Giganta, with amazing views over the dazzling Sea of Cortez.
- 🤿 Scuba dive with bull sharks in Cabo Pulmo: one of the most pristine coral reefs on the west coast of North America, the Cabo Pulmo Marine Park is an incredible place for snorkelling or scuba diving. There is a very good chance of getting to dive with bull sharks! Terrifying but exhilarating.
- 🫧 Soak in the thermal waters of the Santa Rita Hot Springs: seeing water and lush growth in the middle of the desert is a stark contrast, but it is just stunning. Tucked into the Sierra de la Laguna, plan your visit for early on a winter morning.
- 🛻 Drive the scenic, dusty roads of the East Cape: remote, rugged, old school Baja. This region is what Cabo would have been decades ago. While it’s growing in popularity a little, it’s still blissfully off the beaten track, with a long dirt road in either direction deterring everyone but the adventurous souls.
- 🐋 Swim with whale sharks in La Paz: this is one of the best places on earth to swim alongside the biggest fish in the sea, the tiburon ballena. A very regulated and tightly controlled program allows visitors to jump in the water next to these gentle giants.
- 🌺 Wander the painfully charming streets of Todos Santos: one of three pueblo magicos, aka magic towns, in the state, Todos Santos is oozing with charm. Boutiques line the cobblestone streets next to art galleries, a fantastic cafe culture, fine dinining restaurants and a fluttering of colourful papel picado.
- 🌵 Marvel at a forest of giant Cardon cactus in La Ventana: the tallest cactus species in the world, you can drive, hike or bike through these enormous specimens, marvelling at their sheer size.
- 🌮 Hunt out the best tacos on a food tour in Cabo San Lucas: head away from the touristy marina and Medano Beach into downtown, with the help of an expert local to sample some of the state’s best street food!
How to get to Baja California Sur
By air ✈️
Baja California Sur has three airports:
- Los Cabos International Airport (SJD)
- La Paz International Airport (LAP)
- Loreto International Airport (LTO)
Los Cabos International Airport is the best connected internationally, with numerous flights to the USA and Canada.
La Paz International Airport is better connected domestically within Mexico.
The distance between the two airports is so short (2 – 2.5 hours) that you can fly to whichever airport is most affordable and suits you best, and transfer via land if required.
Loreto International Airport is a very small airport with just a handful of seasonal flights to the USA and Canada and limited Mexican cities.
Bear in mind that Loreto is much further north (6 hours from Los Cabos and 4 hours from La Paz), so if you’re planning to visit only Loreto and the northern part of the state, it’s worth opting for a flight directly there.
By car 🚗
It is possible to drive to Baja California Sur, from Canada or the USA via Baja California Norte.
It’s quite common for Americans and Canadians to drive cars, campervans, RVs or caravans across the border. It takes approximately 20 hours to drive the length of the Baja Peninsula from Mexicali in the north to Cabo San Lucas in the south.
But of course, there are plenty of spots to stop along the way, and driving the length of the Baja Peninsula is the perfect road trip!
By ferry ⛴️
If you want to reach Baja California Sur from mainland Mexico, but don’t want to fly (or have a car to transport) there is one other option.
There is a ferry service that crosses the Sea of Cortez to La Paz.
Services depart from Topolobampo and Mazatlan in Sinaloa. It takes approximately 14 hours, and you can book as a foot passenger or with a car.
⛴️ Two companies run the La Paz – Topolobampo and La Paz – Mazatlan ferry routes. Baja Ferries is primarily a passenger service, although you can also load your car or van. TMC is primarily a cargo service and would be best for those transporting a vehicle.
How to get around in Baja California Sur
By car 🚗
To experience the best of Baja California Sur, you really need to rent a car. I truly believe you are limiting yourself and the places you can visit if you don’t have one.
🚙 The best place to rent a car is at one of the airports. Browse for rentals and compare prices at Los Cabos Airport, La Paz Airport or Loreto Airport.
A 4×4 is not strictly necessary, but highly recommended. Outside of the main highways, most roads are dirt. They also turn to sandy tracks in many places, and you can drive right onto the beach if you have a 4×4.
You can easily get by with a standard, compact car but it will be bumpy and you need to be careful with soft sand.
It is an increased cost to have a 4×4, but it makes the experience a whole lot more enjoyable.
We loved zipping around in the Jeep Wrangler we rented, and I would have been on edge driving the roads we did in a normal rental car.
Driving in Baja is safe and straightforward, and if we Aussies can adapt to driving on the wrong side of the road, you can do it too!
🚗 A road trip is the best way to experience everything Baja California Sur has to offer. We spent almost two months travelling around the state by car, and we have created a detailed road trip guide covering all our stops, driving distances and where to eat, stay and play in each place.
By public transport 🚌
Aguila operates long-distance buses across the state. They service most of the popular destinations, both big and small.
These buses can be booked online, with frequent times to choose from. They are a comfortable service on modern coaches, only stopping at set stations (not to pick up passengers on the side of the road every five minutes!).
⚠️ Note that if you want to visit East Cape, Cabo Pulmo or La Ventana, Aguila does not run services there.
The problem is, that when you arrive at most destinations around the state, there is no local public transport.
In larger cities like La Paz, Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo there are limited buses that shuttle tourists between beaches and other attractions. Uber and taxis are also available here to supplement.
But outside of these cities, if you don’t have your own car, you will be very limited in what you can do. There are no local buses or colectivos travelling between popular attractions. Uber is not available, and don’t count on taxis either in the smaller, more remote towns!
By tour or private transport 🚐
If you’re having a flop-and-drop holiday and don’t want to rent a car, it’s possible to experience many of the popular things to do on day tours.
This isn’t really what we would recommend, as staying overnight is much more sustainable, plus you get a much better insight into different destinations than one day can provide.
However we understand everyone travels differently, and if you’re looking for a relaxing holiday staying in one place, taking day tours can be a good option for you to see more of the state.
Basing yourself in Los Cabos or La Paz, the biggest destinations, will be the best option if you want to branch out on organised day tours. There are countless day trips from Cabo.
Private transfers are available to/from the airport, and you can also agree on a daily rate with a private driver to create a DIY day tour.
🤿 There are so many great tours available for a range of budgets, interests and ages in Baja California Sur that allow you to see more of the state without renting a car. From snorkelling, sailing, swimming with whale sharks or ATVing through the desert, browse the best tours here.
Accommodation in Baja California Sur
Accommodation is plentiful all around the state. Even the smallest, most remote towns have at least one comfortable place to stay.
The full spectrum of accommodation is available, from cheap dorm beds to mega-luxury all-inclusive resorts.
- 🍽️ All-inclusive resorts: available mostly in Los Cabos, this is the side of tourism in Baja I would urge you to avoid. With so many amazing things to see and do, you don’t need to have everything included inside your resort. Skip it!
- 💸 Luxury resorts: if you’re looking for a luxury resort experience, there is a better way to do it than an all-inclusive. Some of the world’s top resorts can be found around Los Cabos, and Todos Santos has its fair share of higher-end properties too. Expect to pay $400 USD + per night, and room rates into the thousands per night are not uncommon.
- ⛪️ Boutique hotels: Baja hosts some gorgeous boutique hotels that offer a smaller, more unique experience without sacrificing design or service. Often these properties are designed around the landscape or history of their destination, sometimes in historic buildings or nestled into the heart of nature.
San Jose del Cabo has some fantastic boutique hotels, and La Paz is also growing in this area. Todos Santos is a standout too. Staying at The White Lodge in the East Cape was our accommodation highlight. Most boutique hotels range between $150 – $600 USD per night.
- 🏨 Mid-range hotels: this category varies wildly, depending on the location you are in. Sometimes the mid-range options can feel like cookie-cutter resorts, with rows and rows of identical rooms.
Other times, they can be Mexican-owned with local flair and character. If your budget is around $100 – $200 USD per night, this is what you’ll be looking at. Booking.com is my favourite platform for finding mid-range hotels, as I like the large amount of filters available.
- 🏡 Self-contained rentals: our usual style of accommodation is a private room with a bathroom, with at least some kitchen amenities (fridge, coffee machine at the minimum). We had no trouble finding this around Baja California Sur for a reasonable price ($50 – $100 USD).
Airbnb is a great resource, but also look for anything labelled ‘casita’ which means small house in Spanish. You can often get great deals booking directly with local owners. If you’re a bigger group, you can rent entire houses too.
- 🛏️ Hostels: for budget travellers, you can find typical hostels around the larger destinations of Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and La Paz. Although hostels are not as popular as they are in other parts of Mexico, and once you get outside of these places, dorm rooms are scarce. Dorm prices start at around $20 – $30 USD per night, Hostelworld is the best place to find them.
- ⛺️ Camping: camping is a great option around the state. Whether you are driving a fully kitted out RV/campervan into Baja from the USA or Canada, or flying in and picking up a cheap tent from Walmart to put in the back of your rental car.
Free camping is possible on many beaches, and there are paid campgrounds and RV parks around the state with more amenities ($10 – $30 USD per night). This Baja California camping guide has some valuable information if you’re planning to go down this route.
Is Baja California Sur safe?
The question ‘is Baja California safe?‘ was one we got asked frequently throughout our trip.
The feeling of safety when travelling can be subjective, and the situation on the ground can change frequently. So all I can do here is share our personal experiences and opinions.
We felt incredibly safe in Baja California Sur. In fact, we probably felt the safest of anywhere we visited in Mexico (not that we ever felt unsafe).
Baja California Sur is not on the border of the USA, which is traditionally where safety issues can arise. Of course, it’s not possible to say there is no violence, crime or cartel activity in Baja California Sur. However, it is limited in comparison to other states where cartels are based or very active.
We didn’t encounter anything dodgy or uncomfortable in our two months in the state and felt completely comfortable getting way off the beaten track and driving ourselves around.
I think a lot of this owes to the fact that it is a very sparsely populated area. Without large cities, where there are seedy people and unsavoury things going on, it’s pretty hard to feel unsafe when you’re in sleepy towns and out in nature, with hardly anyone else in sight!
Safety tips
In addition to taking all the usual safety precautions you would anywhere in the world, there are a couple of things we recommend keeping in mind in Baja California Sur:
- 🚰 Avoid drinking water from the tap: many people say the water is okay compared to other parts of Mexico, but it’s not worth taking any risks. Boil, filter or use bottled water (preferably from a large dispenser, not individual plastic bottles).
- 🌊 Be very careful swimming: particularly on the west and south coasts of the state. The Pacific Ocean can be rough with strong rips and currents. Don’t expect any lifeguards.
- 🐮 Don’t drive at night: not for fear of hijacking or narcos, but because farmers are allowed to let their cattle free-graze. With poorly lit roads, it can be dangerous to come across some rogue cows on the highway!
- 🍻 Be careful with alcohol: particularly in the party capital, Cabo San Lucas. Where there is alcohol involved, things can easily get out of hand. Avoid drugs at all costs.
Is Baja California Sur expensive?
There is a perception that Baja California Sur is more expensive than the mainland of Mexico. Because it is disconnected from the largest part of the country, where many things are produced, prices can be higher.
Its proximity to the USA and popularity with American holidaymakers and expats also drive up prices. This is especially true in Los Cabos where prices in tourist establishments can be the same or more than in the US!
Overall, we found prices in Baja California Sur comparable, if not slightly higher, to the rest of Mexico. Unless you’re comparing it to southern states like Oaxaca or Chiapas, which are exceptionally affordable, we didn’t find it too much more expensive than the rest of the country.
There are a few things that make Baja California Sur a more expensive state, which I’ll run through as well as some average costs.
- 🚗 Car rental: the need to rent a car can add a significant cost to your budget. You’d be lucky to find a small sedan for less than $50 USD per day, with insurance included. $60 – $80 USD is a more reasonable expectation, depending on the location, duration and season. If you want a 4×4, the price can more than double. It is 100% worth the cost though!
- 🛏️ Accommodation: I’ve already touched on accommodation costs, and you can see it varies wildly depending on your style. For budget travellers, the lack of hostels, which are not as plentiful or affordable as in other parts of Mexico, can increase your costs.
- 🌮 Food: how long is a piece of string? It depends on the type of dining you’re doing and in what location. Excluding the very trendy and fancy restaurants around Los Cabos and Todos Santos, and assuming you’re eating tacos for every meal as we did, expect to pay between $2 – $5 USD for a taco.
Main dishes are always more expensive, between $10 – $20 USD in basic local restaurants. The big emphasis on seafood in Baja makes the cost of food slightly higher here. It’s standard all over Mexico for fish and seafood to be more expensive than meat. So when you’re visiting a place that specialises in fish and seafood, understandably food costs are a bit more.
There are plenty of incredible fine dining restaurants throughout the state where prices are much higher if you’re seeking an elevated food experience.
- ⛵️ Tours: the cost of tours in Baja California Sur is on the pricier end. But the quality of the tours is high, with many eco-friendly companies doing their part to protect the environment. Something we are always happy to pay a little bit extra for! For any boat tours, scuba diving or whale watching tours, expect $120 + USD.
All in all, Baja California Sur can be more expensive than other parts of Mexico. It’s more noticeable to those travelling on a shoe string budget. If you’ve got a moderate budget, you won’t really feel the difference outside the car rental fees, and tour prices for bucket list experiences.
Baja California Sur Travel Guide eBook
GRAB A COPY OF MY BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR TRAVEL GUIDE!
After falling absolutely in love with Baja, I decided to put together a Baja California Sur Travel Guide eBook to help anyone planning a trip to Baja California Sur.
This eBook is designed to be a go-to quick reference guide for the best places to visit around the state, allowing you to be confident you’re hitting all the highlights without needing to do hours of research.
This 153-page eBook covers 13 top destinations across the state, with recommendations for where to eat, stay and play, as well as regional information about climate, transport, and tour recommendations.
It’s filled with all our best tips and advice, and beautiful photos to excite and inspire you ahead of your trip to this incredible part of Mexico!
There is also the option to add a customised Google Map that has over 450 locations pinned by category, allowing you to easily visualise our recommendations across the state.
Find out more about the guide here.
Baja California Sur: Desert and ocean paradise
In case you couldn’t tell, I absolutely ADORE Baja California Sur.
It’s one of my favourite places on the planet, and there is a magic here that is hard to put into words.
It’s somewhere we will continue to come back to, again and again, because the landscapes are so incomparable to anywhere else we’ve been in Mexico, or Latin America more broadly.
I hope this guide has given you a good overview of my favourite Mexican state and gotten you excited for all the incredible adventures you can have where the desert meets the ocean.
MORE BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR POSTS
OUR BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR TRAVEL GUIDES
The Comments
Brett Coley
This is a great website Sally! We went to the Baja Peninsula in January 2024 and referenced your blogs countless times for our overall trip itinerary, ideas of things to do, places to go and places to stay and eat. Thanks so much! Some highlights were the dog hike in Cabo San Lucas, the natural hot springs (Santa Rita), snorkelling in Cabo Pulmo and the drive along Cam Cabo Este. We only had 5 days on our trip so just touched the surface of exploring Baja but your info helped make for an awesome trip. Cheers!
Sally Rodrick
Brett ColeyHi Brett, thankyou so much for your kind words and for sharing about your trip. I’m so glad you had an amazing time and got a taste of that Baja magic! You hit so many highlights. How was the road to the East Cape? Did you have a 4×4 or braved it in a sedan? Happy travels! Sally