Mexico

Baja California Sur

Region

Baja California Sur encompasses the southern half of the Baja California peninsula, a desert land between the Pacific and the Gulf of California.

by Felix Gillen

Baja California Sur encompasses the southern half of the Baja California peninsula, a desert land between the Pacific and the Gulf of California. You go for the resorts of Los Cabos on the southern tip, for boat trips from La Paz to Espíritu Santo Island with the sea lion colony of Los Islotes, and for the artist town Todos Santos near the Pacific coast. Further north lies the mission town Loreto on the Gulf. The islands and protected areas in the Gulf of California have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2005.

Baja California Sur is sparsely populated, with life almost exclusively centered on the coast. In the Gulf of California lie the islands of Espíritu Santo off La Paz and the islands of Bahía de Loreto National Park, both part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California. On the Pacific side are Todos Santos with its galleries and Bahía Magdalena Lagoon, where gray whales give birth to their calves approximately from January to March. To the south, Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo together form the municipality of Los Cabos. Approximately 100 km north of Cabo San Lucas, Cabo Pulmo National Park has protected a coral reef since 1995.

Place 1 of 4

Cabo San Lucas

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Matthew T Rader / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

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La Paz

La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, nestled on a protected bay in the Gulf of California.

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Loreto

Located on the Gulf Coast of Baja California Sur, Loreto was founded in 1697 as the peninsula's first permanent Spanish settlement. The Mission Church and Mission Museum form the heart of its small downtown.

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San José del Cabo

San José del Cabo is the administrative seat of the municipality of Los Cabos on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, located approximately 32 km northeast of Cabo San Lucas.

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More places in Baja California Sur

Todos Santos

Todos Santos is a small town on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, precisely on the Tropic of Cancer. Since 2006, it has held the title of Pueblo Mágico. The center around the mission church features many galleries, cafes, and restaurants, while long surf beaches lie on the outskirts.

Sights in Baja California Sur

Discover the most important sights and attractions

National Park

Parque Nacional Cabo Pulmo

Founded in 1995, the marine national park on the east coast protects a coral reef with eleven coral species, the northernmost reef of the Eastern Pacific. Since 2005, it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Gulf of California. Snorkeling and diving tours depart from the village of Cabo Pulmo.

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Food and Drink

The region's cuisine thrives on the sea: fish and seafood usually come directly from the Gulf or the Pacific.

Tacos de pescado

Fried fish in corn tortillas with cabbage, salsa, and lime, found on almost every street corner.

Chocolate clam

Large Venus clam with a brown shell, a specialty around Loreto, often served grilled.

Ceviche and Aguachile

Raw marinated fish or prawns with lime and chili.

Damiana

Herbal liqueur from the Damiana plant, which grows on the peninsula.

Best Time to Visit

When is the best time for your trip?

November

December

January

February

March

April

19–24°C·0–9 mm(little rain)

From November to April, it's mild and almost rainless. This period also includes whale season: Grey whales in Bahía Magdalena roughly from January to March. In summer, it gets very hot; from August to October is hurricane season.

Climate data for La Paz (normal values 1991 to 2020). The Pacific Coast around Todos Santos is somewhat cooler in summer, the interior significantly hotter. Water temperatures are rounded approximate values for the Gulf near La Paz.

Seasons

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

High season: mild and dry

Off-season: warm, very dry

Hot, Hurricane Season

Best Time to Visit

▶Show detailed monthly data

Month	Temp (°C)	Rain (mm)	Sun (h)
January	18.8	9	7.1
February	19.7	6	8.2
March	21.5	1	8.8
April	23.7	0	9.8
May	26.1	0	10.4
June	28.7	1	10.3
July	31.0	12	9.4
August	31.5	46	8.1
September	30.3	81	8.2
October	27.6	17	8.3
November	23.5	6	7.5
December	19.7	7	6.3

History and Culture

Missions and PearlsBefore the Spanish arrived, groups of the Pericú, Guaycura, and Cochimí lived on the peninsula. In 1535, Hernán Cortés' expedition reached La Paz Bay, but a lasting settlement was only established in 1697 with the Jesuit mission in Loreto. From there, a chain of missions developed, including San Francisco Javier in the Sierra de la Giganta. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, pearl diving brought fame to La Paz.ExcursionsIsla Espíritu Santo: Boat tours from La Paz to bays and the sea lion colony near Los Islotes.Cabo Pulmo: National Park with a coral reef on the east coast, about 100 km north of Cabo San Lucas.Bahía Magdalena: Lagoon on the Pacific coast, a starting point for whale watching in winter.

Exploring the Region

International airports are located in San José del Cabo (Los Cabos), La Paz, and Loreto. Carretera Federal 1 connects all major towns in the region; between La Paz and Los Cabos, there are two routes: via Todos Santos on the Pacific side or through the interior. Intercity buses run regularly between the cities.From Pichilingue port near La Paz, ferries travel to the mainland to Mazatlán and Topolobampo. For beaches away from the towns, a rental car is practical. Try not to drive cross-country at night, as animals may be on the road.

Round trips through this region

Baja California easygoing

The route connects the artist town of Todos Santos on the Pacific coast with La Paz on the Gulf of California. The 80 kilometers between them are about an hour's drive by rental car; from La Paz, boat tours depart to Isla Espíritu Santo.

9 Days

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La Paz

La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, nestled on a protected bay in the Gulf of California. You come here for boat tours to Isla Espíritu Santo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for Balandra and El Tecolote bays, and from October to April for whale sharks in the bay. The city center, with its cathedral and approx. 5 km long Malecón, is easily explored on foot.

Todos Santos

San José del Cabo

San José del Cabo is the administrative seat of the municipality of Los Cabos on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, located approximately 32 km northeast of Cabo San Lucas. You come for the quiet historic center around Plaza Mijares, with its mission church, low colonial buildings, and gallery district, where the Art Walk takes place on Thursday evenings from November to June. On the outskirts of town is the Estero San José, a lagoon at the mouth of the Río San José.

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas is located at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, where the Gulf of California meets the Pacific Ocean. Its landmark is the rock arch El Arco, which you can reach by boat from the marina. The town is geared towards tourism, with hotels along El Médano beach and many bars in the center.