Baja California Destination Guide

Overview of Baja California Baja California is a long thin peninsula running parallel to the west coast of the Mexican mainland, separated by the Gulf of California or Sea of Cortez. It is divided into two states, Baja California Norte in the north and the southern region of Baja California Sur, and extends from Tijuana on the American border down to Cabo San Lucas at the peninsula's tip. Baja is a wildly beautiful place of unusual scenery and dramatic colour changes, of exquisitely azure bays and miles of fine white beaches, rocky cliffs giving way to dry mountainous slopes covered in a stunning display of cactus plants. The interior is harsh and undeveloped, while the coast is dotted with attractive resorts and modern towns. The warm waters are rich in marine life, and the protected waters on the Pacific coast are an important breeding ground for whales. Most resort tour operators arrange whale watching trips from January to March. A journey down the trans-peninsula highway conveys many surprises, from the bulging and frenetic activity of the modern city of Tijuana, to the oasis town of San Ignacio with some extraordinary cave paintings nearby. From the peaceful laid-back village of Mulegé to the tranquil port of La Paz, and the charming traditional Mexican town of Todos Santos in the south, there are a great variety of places to explore and enjoy. The UNESCO-listed Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve, in the mountains south of La Paz, is a wonderful playground for hikers, mountain bikers and nature lovers. The Baja Peninsula also boasts the best seafood and wine in Mexico. There is an efficient bus system between Tijuana and Los Cabos on the Trans-peninsula highway. Car and passenger ferry services connect Baja to the Mexican mainland and there are airports at Tijuana and near Los Cabos. Car rental companies can be found in the larger cities and at airports. Within the towns there are plenty of taxis and collectivos (shared taxi vans) for hire.

Key Facts

Language: Spanish is the official language in Mexico. Some English is spoken in tourist regions. Passport/Visa: All foreign passengers to Mexico must hold a Mexico Visitor's Permit (FMM), which is issued free of charge, and obtainable from airlines, Mexican Consulates, Mexican international airports, and border crossing points. As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all travellers transiting through the United States are required to present a passport, or other valid travel document, to enter or re-enter the United States. Foreign passengers to Mexico should ensure that their passports and other travel documents are in good condition - even slightly torn passports will not be accepted. NOTE: It is highly recommended that your passport has at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources. Currency: Mexican currency is the Mexican Peso (MXN), divided into 100 centavos. Credit cards are widely accepted, particularly Visa, MasterCard and American Express. ATMs are available in most cities and towns and are the most convenient way to get money, but for safety reasons should only be used during business hours and vigilance is advised. Although many businesses will accept foreign currency (particularly US Dollars) it is best to use pesos. Foreign currency can be exchanged at one of many casas de cambio (exchange houses), which have longer hours and offer a quicker service than the banks. Electricity: 110-120 volts, 60Hz. Two-pin flat blade attachment plugs are standard.

Travel guide by wordtravels.com © Globe Media Ltd. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Travmarket cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above. Event details can change. Please check with the organizers that an event is happening before making travel arrangements. We cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.

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Travel to Baja California Health Notes when travelling to Mexico Those entering Mexico from an infected area require a yellow fever certificate. There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Mexico, however visitors should take medical advice if travelling outside the major tourist areas. A malaria risk exists in some rural areas, but not on the Pacific and Gulf coasts, and dengue fever is on the increase. Vaccinations are recommended for hepatitis A and typhoid. Travellers who may come into close contact with animals and may be at risk of bites should consider a rabies vaccination. Sensible precautions regarding food and water should be followed and visitors are advised to be cautious of street food and stick to bottled water. Medical facilities are basic, so comprehensive medical insurance is recommended. As medicines may be in short supply in certain areas travellers should consider taking along prescription medications, in their original packaging, and accompanied by a signed and dated letter from a doctor detailing what it is and why it is needed. Note: Zika is still a risk in Mexico. Because Zika infection in a pregnant woman can cause serious birth defects, women who are pregnant should seek advice from healthcare providers before travelling to Mexico. Safety Notes when travelling to Mexico There can be incidents of robberies and muggings in Mexico, especially in the big cities such as Mexico City. Travellers, particularly women on their own, should be vigilant and take care of their belongings, especially on public transport. Only use authorised taxi services, and try to avoid bus travel at night. Visitors are advised to be wary of people presenting themselves as police officers attempting to fine or arrest them for no apparent reason, leading to theft or assault. If in doubt ask for identification. Most of the violence related to drug cartel wars in Mexico is concentrated along the border between Mexico and the United States. Tourist zones are generally unaffected, though it is worth checking the news before travelling. Hurricanes may affect the coastal areas between June and November. Customs in Mexico Mexicans are not impatient and do not appreciate impatience in others, so travellers should expect opening hours and public transport times to be flexible and laid back. Mexicans are friendly and hospitable people and courteous behaviour and polite speech in return is greatly appreciated. Travellers should also note that it is common for Mexicans to communicate closer than one arm's length from each other and that it is not an attempt to be forward. Duty Free in Mexico Travellers to Mexico over 18 years do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200g tobacco; 3 litres spirits or 6 litres wine; other goods to the value of US$500 if arriving by air, or US$300 if arriving by land are premitted without incurring duty fees. Prohibited goods include narcotics, firearms and used clothing that is not part of your personal luggage. The export of archaeological artefacts is strictly forbidden. Doing Business in Mexico In Mexico, business is ideally conducted face-to-face. Although many Mexican businessmen speak perfect English, Spanish is the official language of business in Mexico - and learning a few choice words and phrases will go a long way toward ingratiating yourself with your new associates. Business etiquette in Mexico is marked by a combination of formality and friendliness. It is very rare to hear the word 'No' being used in a direct or confrontational way - bald refusals are seen as rude. Use titles ('Señhor' and 'Señhora') until specifically instructed not to do so, but do not shrink away from engaging in personal discussions with your colleagues. Business meetings must be scheduled in advance, and then confirmed a few days before they are due to take place. The dress code for the Mexican business world is smart and formal. Business hours in Mexico are generally from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (with a 2 or 3 hour siesta in the early afternoon). Communication in Mexico The international access code for Mexico is +52. If calling internationally from a phone booth use the official TelMex phone booths, as all others charge very high fees. There is widespread network coverage in Mexico from Telcel, Movistar, and AT&T Mexico. As international roaming costs can be high, purchasing a local prepaid SIM card can be a cheaper option. Hotels, cafes and restaurants offering free wifi are widely available.

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Tipping in Mexico Tipping is customary in Mexico for almost all services as employees are not paid sufficient hourly wages and often rely on tips. Waiters and bar staff should be tipped 10 to 15 percent if a service charge hasn't already been added to the bill. The American custom of tipping 15 to 20 percent is practiced at international resorts, including those in Los Cabos. Passport/Visa Note All foreign passengers to Mexico must hold a Mexico Visitor's Permit (FMM), which is issued free of charge, and obtainable from airlines, Mexican Consulates, Mexican international airports, and border crossing points. As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all travellers transiting through the United States are required to present a passport, or other valid travel document, to enter or re-enter the United States. Foreign passengers to Mexico should ensure that their passports and other travel documents are in good condition - even slightly torn passports will not be accepted. NOTE: It is highly recommended that your passport has at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

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Currency Mexican currency is the Mexican Peso (MXN), divided into 100 centavos. Credit cards are widely accepted, particularly Visa, MasterCard and American Express. ATMs are available in most cities and towns and are the most convenient way to get money, but for safety reasons should only be used during business hours and vigilance is advised. Although many businesses will accept foreign currency (particularly US Dollars) it is best to use pesos. Foreign currency can be exchanged at one of many casas de cambio (exchange houses), which have longer hours and offer a quicker service than the banks.

Exchange rate for 1 MXN - Mexican Peso 0.05 BMD 0.05 EUR 0.05 USD 0.04 GBP 5.84 JPY 0.07 CAD Bermudan Dollar Euro U.S. Dollar U.K. Pound Sterling Japanese Yen Canadian Dollar 0.05 CHF 0.07 AUD 1.35 UAH 18.12 KZT 80.81 LBP 0.04 LYD Swiss Franc Australian Dollar Ukrainian Hryvnia Kazakhstani Tenge Lebanese Pound Libyan Dinar 0.37 BOB 5.79 NPR 0.02 OMR 0.20 QAR 0.07 SGD 0.44 SEK Bolivian Boliviano Nepalese Rupee Omani Rial Qatari Rial Singapore Dollar Swedish Krona 0.36 TTD 0.54 VEF 2.46 DOP 0.36 HRK 31.46 XOF 0.17 PGK Trinidad Tobago Dollar Venezuelan Bolivar Dominican Peso Croatian Kuna West African CFA Franc Papua New Guinean kina 0.05 BSD 0.11 FJD 1.21 HNL 5.93 DZD 63.93 MMK 0.60 BWP Bahamian Dollar Fiji Dollar Honduran Lempira Algerian Dinar Myanma Kyat Botswana Pula 0.18 PEN 37.22 CLP 25.66 AMD 1.30 CZK 1.07 MDL 6.67 ISK Peruvian Nuevo Sol Chilean Peso Armenia Dram Czech Koruna Moldova Lei Icelandic Krona 157.70 UZS 0.21 ILS 0.04 JOD 0.02 KWD 1.68 UYU 1.91 MUR Uzbekistan Sum Israeli New Sheqel Jordanian Dinar Kuwaiti Dinar Uruguayan Peso Mauritian Rupee 1.53 NIO 0.45 NOK 0.21 PLN 0.20 SAR 7.84 LKR 1.91 THB Nicaraguan Córdoba Norwegian Krone Polish Zloty Saudi Riyal Sri Lanka Rupee Thai Baht 0.20 AED 0.19 BRL 0.22 RON 0.42 HKD 31.53 XAF 1,206.06 VND U.A.E Dirham Brazilian Real Romanian New Leu Hong Kong Dollar Central African CFA Franc Vietnamese Dong 0.75 ARS 0.14 XCD 0.42 GTQ 0.52 MAD 0.02 BHD 0.05 PAB Argentine Peso East Caribbean Dollar Guatemalan Quetzal Moroccan Dirham Bahrain Dinar Panamanian Balboa 0.08 AZN 167.31 COP 3.67 KGS 15.01 HUF 0.42 TJS 734.28 IDR Azerbaijan Manat Colombian Peso Kyrgyzstan Som Hungarian Forint Tajikistan Ruble Indonesian Rupiah 0.48 EGP 63.92 KRW 304.24 PYG 0.22 MYR 28.91 CRC 0.08 NZD Egyptian Pound South Korean Won Paraguayan Guaraní Malaysian Ringgit Costa Rican Colón New Zealand Dollar 5.62 PKR 3.58 RUB 0.84 ZAR 0.11 TND 0.11 BBD 0.09 BGN Pakistani Rupee Russian Rouble South African Rand Tunisian Dinar Barbadian Dollar Bulgarian Lev 0.16 TRY 2.50 PHP 1.75 TWD 10.54 NGN 5.75 XPF 0.21 GHS Turkish Lira Philippine Peso New Taiwan Dollar Nigerian Naira CFP Franc Ghanaian Cedi 6.70 JMD 0.10 ANG 0.07 BND 5.93 RSD 0.35 CNY 1,067.81 BYR Jamaican Dollar Neth. Antillean Guilder Brunei Dollar Serbian Dinar Chinese Yuan Belarussian Ruble 0.36 DKK 0.18 TMT 3.61 INR

Danish Krone New Turkmenistan Manat Indian Rupee

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La Paz Overview

The holiday retreat of La Paz is the laid-back capital of Baja California Sur, known for its stunning sunsets and beaches. The city is a perfect base from which to explore the magical surrounding landscape. Although it has excellent beaches, it is not known specifically as a beach resort, but is a tranquil Mexican port which has retained a charming colonial atmosphere. La Paz is a 'real' city where locals go about their daily business among the tourist shops, fancy restaurants and tour operators. The most romantic feature in the city is the waterfront promenade, or malecón, around which city life revolves, stretching for several kilometres along sandy beaches. Much of the dining and nightlife most popular with travellers is found along this walkway and it is the best place to catch one of the city's famously spectacular sunsets while on holiday. La Paz is the eco-tourism capital of the country, surrounded by desert and situated in a large bay on the Sea of Cortez, with a variety of outdoor tour guides offering excellent trips. The region boasts astonishing plant and animal life, the varied and dramatic geology of the inland deserts, mountains and oases, and the Sierra de la Laguna Biosphere Reserve. Beautiful unspoilt offshore islands offer naturalist hiking, as well as amazing diving and snorkelling from pristine beaches with hammerhead sharks, dolphins, sea lions and gigantic whale sharks. The islands are the destination of kayakers, sailors and boat cruises, and the bay is a popular yachting stopover. La Paz is a fisherman's paradise and its international fishing competitions are world famous. To the north of the city, along the Pichilingue Peninsula, are some magnificent beaches, backed by mangroves and the cactus-studded mountains of the desert. Besides the eco-tourist activities on offer, La Paz boasts plentiful shopping, a varied nightlife, excellent fish and seafood, and comfortable accommodation, offering visitors everything they need for a relaxing and stimulating holiday.

Shopping in La Paz

From small, exclusive boutiques lining the Malecon, to the department stores of busy downtown La Paz, known as 'El Centro', the city offers plenty of options for lightening the pocket, with high fashion and upmarket branded goods aplenty. There are also numerous stores selling locally produced Mexican arts and crafts to delight souvenir hunters on holiday, and supermarkets on just about every street corner for self-caterers.

Dining in La Paz

There are delicious treats to suit all tastes available in the many restaurants of La Paz, from the highly rated street corner hotdog and chocolate clam stands, to mouth-watering lobsters from the Sea of Cortez served up in classy seafront restaurants. The cuisine of most nationalities is available, including Chinese, Italian, French and Korean, but traditional Mexican naturally remains the holiday favourite.

Activities in La Paz

La Paz has no shortage of lively nightspots, with the most popular located along the Malecon. This brightly lit promenade and adjacent pier is abuzz with strollers and party-animals after dark, entertained by groups of street musicians known as mariachis. Shops stay open late to cater for evening browsers. Like in most Mexican cities, the party action doesn't start hotting up until late in the evening, from around 10pm, but continues until the early hours of the morning. Discos offer all kinds of music, from traditional Latino to American rock, and many of the bars and restaurants offer live music. La Caliente and Las Varitas are great night spots and live music venues. Culture vultures will probably find a play or concert to their taste at the Teatro de Ciuidad or Teatro Juarez, and there are several movie theatres showing American films with Spanish subtitles.

Things to be aware of in La Paz

La Paz can be expensive during peak season.

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Ensenada Overview

Just south of the border, on the Baja Peninsula, lies the flourishing, friendly port and holiday destination of Ensenada. It's a 90-minute drive south of San Diego and joined to Tijuana by the spectacular Trans-Peninsula Highway, with its breathtaking ocean views. The first visitor to this beautiful bay was Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino, who set ashore in 1602 and named the spot Ensenada de Todos los Santos,which means 'inlet of all the saints'. The saints have indeed been kind to Ensenada, which today has progressed from a Spanish mission station through fishing village status to become Mexico's second-most visited port of call for cruise liners and yachts, an extremely popular holiday destination for land-based tourists, and a leading convention centre. The secret of Ensenada's success as a tourist magnet is simple: the resort town basically has it all. The weather is bright and sunny throughout the year, and the Pacific beaches are magnificent. These basic ingredients have been enhanced by some wonderful natural and man-made attractions, great restaurants serving up fresh seafood and local wines, and amiable local tour operators providing a huge array of outdoor recreational activities and excursions. Even the town's industry, which consists mainly of fishing, winemaking and canning, has become a lure for visitors, who can visit factories and wineries and liberally sample the delicious wares.

Shopping in Ensenada

The eyes of avid bargain-hunting tourists glitter when they see Ensenada's broad shopping avenues. The shops are literally bursting with a massive array of Mexican arts and crafts from elegant Taxcosilver jewellery in the boutiques of the Avenida Lopez Mateos to a selection of 'below $5' curios in the stores along First Street. Best buys to look out for in Ensenada are leather goods (bags, purses, jackets, belts etc.), hand-blown glassware, woodcarvings, and ceramics. Those who enjoy local colour can browse through the bustling Los Globos flea market where occasional treasures can be found. Due to its popularity as a cruise port, Ensenada offers great shopping opportunities, but it can be very expensive.

Dining in Ensenada

No matter what your taste in food, from hamburgers to haute cuisine, you will find it while on holiday in Ensenada. However, because of its seaside location and local fishing industry, nearly all restaurants offer some sort of fresh seafood on the menu, and most include traditional Mexican fare. Highly recommended is a visit to the fish market (known as the 'Black Market') where delicious and cheap fish tacos are sold at several stands. Lunches are best enjoyed at one of the myriad sidewalk cafes: relax and watch the passing parade of people along a leafy boulevard while sipping a glass of wine. When it comes to dining, the choice is vast. Manzanilla in the port area is a great place to try local cuisine. Those hankering for formal dining can enjoy award-winning French cuisine at El Rey Sol on Avenue Lopez Mateos. For a taste of the traditional, fun comes along with the food at Bronco's Steakhouse, which serves a great Mexican buffet at weekends.

Activities in Ensenada

Holidaymakers will enjoy the nightlife in Ensenada, which sizzles after dark, especially during weekends, with discos, karaoke bars and cantinas rollicking into the early hours. An unmissable night spot is Baja's oldest cantina, Hussongs, which was established in 1892 as a stage coach stop and is still partying today in traditional Mexican style. Tourists should spend at least a few hours at Hussongs, swigging margaritas as mariachis stroll the sawdust-strewn, rough wood floors.

Things to be aware of in Ensenada

Being something of a tourist Mecca, Ensenada tends to be more expensive than other towns in Mexico.

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Los Cabos Overview

Located at the southern-most tip of the Baja California peninsula, where the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez collide with the wild Pacific, Los Cabos is an area of striking beauty and one of Mexico's top holiday resort destinations. Surrounded by a vast cactus desert and ochre-coloured mountains, the azure waters offer diving, sailing and swimming, and the area is a world-renowned Mecca for sport fishing and surfing. Los Cabos is an area made up of the two resort towns of San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, sitting at either end of an 18-mile (29km) stretch of exquisite beaches sprinkled with exclusive luxury holiday resorts and championship golf courses, known locally as the Resort Corridor. San José del Cabo is the older and more traditional of the two resorts with the unhurried pace of a colonial Mexican village. Cabo San Lucas started as a simple fish ing village and is now one of the favourite beach holiday destinations of the elite, with high quality luxury services and an energetic nightlife. The majority of visitors base themselves in San Lucas or the Resort Corridor. Just offshore is the area's landmark and an impressive natural wonder, Los Arcos (The Arches), a beautiful, wave-sculpted rock formation.

Shopping in Los Cabos

There are shops galore in the two towns and along the Resort Corridor, and shoppers will not be disappointed in the variety of clothes and shoes, gifts and souvenirs, furniture, jewellery, leather goods and speciality stores. Cabo San Lucas has the largest selection of shops, and also has imported American goods, an artisan's market and dozens of boutiques to explore while on holiday.

Dining in Los Cabos

There are numerous restaurants in Los Cabos offering a wide range of fare from Italy, France and North America, as well as some excellent local Mexican cuisine. Seafood is understandably popular and is offered by almost every style of eatery. Diners can choose between fine dining, local restaurants with dancing and live music, bistros, and casual eateries. The tourist-orientated Resort Corridor has a vast variety of fine dining options, while simple Mexican cuisine is best found in either San José or San Lucas. One of the best places to sit elbow-to-elbow with locals is Marisquería Mazatlán, which serves simple and delicious seafood.

Activities in Los Cabos

The after dark scene in Los Cabos is mainly located in Cabo San Lucas, which has a livelier atmosphere than the relatively laid-back San José and attracts a younger, more energetic crowd. The most popular nightclubs are El Squid Roe, Cabo Wabo, Zoo Bar & Dance, and The Giggling Marlin, while many hotels have popular clubs and bars. For a quieter evening out, there are also numerous places to enjoy soft music and a romantic atmosphere.

Things to be aware of in Los Cabos

Los Cabos can sometimes experience hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricane season runs from June to November and visitors to the region during this time should take care to check weather and storm forecasts.

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