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Home , Baja California, Baja California Sur, Cabo San Lucas, Caesar Cardini, El Centenario, El Coyote (character)

Baja map side 1/15/08 9:44 AM Page 1 S D N What is geotourism all about? N I A K L P S

According to National Geographic, geotourism “sustains I O

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or enhances the geographical character of a place—its I

The Borderland E L L

A H environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well- T P A L C

I N T E R M I N G L I N G F L A V O R S U N D E R G L O R I O U S L I G H T A A

being of its residents.” Geotravelers, then, are people who R T

117° 116° 115° 112° N To live along the Baja -U.S. like that idea, who enjoy authentic sense of place and A S

care about maintaining it. They find that relaxing and N border is to be part of a shared history O

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having fun gets better—provides a richer experence— E —Old West towns transformed into S geo.tour.ism (n): N

when they get involved in the place and learn about U neon cities mixed with extreme cli- S that sustains or enhances the mates and disparate cultures. You can what goes on there. geographical character of a Grab a seat at the El Acueducto bar in feel this sensation in Mexicali’s Chinese BPhoenix Geotravelers soak up local culture, hire local guides, place—its environment, culture, Hotel Lucerna and ask for the world restaurants where sweet and sour Asian buy local foods, protect the environment, and take pride aesthetics, heritage, and the CALIFORNIA famous juice and clam juice in discovering and observing local customs. Travel-spend- well-being of its residents. cocktail born here. About 28 miles flavors intermingle with spicy Mexican south of Mexicali, along the Laguna aromas. We borderlanders have adopt- ing choices can help or hurt, so geotravelers patronize establishments that care about conservation, preserva- Salton Salada, find Olivarera Italo-Mexicana, a ed the fashions and customs of the EOceanside company that produces extra-virgin olive tion, beautification, and benefits to local people. Sea oil from some 260,000 olive trees. globalized world without losing our E own rich culture. We live in modern Try a in the town where Escondido cities yet endure severe condi- Caesar Cardini created the world Map Key famous dish. Tortas Wash Movil, Rancho Los Chabacanos tions in a land that demands a strong housed in a white stall next to an old Start your day with a donut or pastry Wash your cares away in the “temaz- character and a defiant disposition. Archaeological site car wash, is well-known for savory 33° from Bakery el Mejor Pan de Tecate, cal,” a steam bath used by ancients tortas—mesquite-grilled beef sand- where the savvy and hungry line up Just by traveling along the Mexicali- Festival for healing and purification. Hike the Tijuana highway and looking up at 33° wiches similar to hamburgers. Satisfy daily to wait for fresh-baked bread. nature trail. Savor gourmet Mexican Mission or church your sweet tooth with dulce de leche, Tour the Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma Chinese immigrants arrived in the the Rumorosa mountains you feel the food at this hacienda lodge. early 1900s and created a flourish- Museum 111°W walnut marzipan, and other Mexican Brewery and sample cervezas in the light-headedness of the ages—the specialties at Mercado El Popo. beer garden. ing that rivaled that of major North American cities. Taste same rocks that the poet Lawrence Natural or scenic area EEl the unique blend of Mexican and Ferlinghetti called “a fantastic mountain Other point of interest E Chinese flavors for yourself at one of the 100-plus restaurants. landscape of nothing but stone” with Urban area Chula 8 E “bright sun flames close over.” In some Protected Areas EVista ECalexico Yuma ways we borderlanders BMexicali G Biosphere reserve EImperial Beach Ciudad are the ultimate gold-seekers, nomads E Baja Prog, who have, in this region, discovered National park Tijuana E G Tecate Festivals of the Sun Benito 2 Ju´arez destiny under transcendent light. Other protected area -- Gabriel Trujillo Muñoz, author, ELa Lambert Conformal Conic San Antonio E Mexicali Standard Parallels 24.5° and 30.5° del Mar Laguna San Luis SCALE 1:1,400,000 E Salada Río Colorado 0 mi 25 Playas de Rosarito El Compadre LA RUMOROSA KCerro Gordo Delta JULIO RODRÍGUEZ R. 0 km 25 4199 ft alabazas L.A. Cetto Vineyard Punta Descanso 1280 m C Arts and Crafts Corridor Puerto Nuevo Puerto Nuevo Las Take a tour, walk the gardens, or E 3 Festivities of the Peruse shop after shop of Bahía Descanso Lobster Festival picnic at the vineyard of Mexico’s Holy Cross handcrafted pottery, baskets, San Jos´e largest wine producer. Visit the Tucson E rugs, and furniture, all locally de la Zorra tasting room and linger over a glass Luis B. S´anchez 2 made and sold at bargain prices. Francisco San Antonio of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, or the La Misi´on Zarco Necua highly acclaimed Nebbiolo. 1 pe La Casa de Doña Lupe lu a ey All-organic wines, cheese, and jams Ejido Luis E. Johnson d ll a a 1857 CONSTITUTION Ensenada u V NATIONAL PARK C 32° G o Guadalupe Valley Wine Region lo EL PINACATE Y Tour Baja California’s oldest winery, r San Antonio a 32° Santo Tomás, and sip the award-win- de las Minas S d La Huerta o A GRAN DESIERTO DE ALTAR ning 2002 Cabernet with dinner in a Punta San Miguel Ojos Negros I Ruta del Rio Hardy L former wine-aging warehouse. Walk off EEnsenada Real del Castillo E T Wetlands on the Pacific Flyway for your filet by the street-side sculptures Fiestas de la Taste and buy the many local R A BIOSPHERE RESERVE of locally born Alfonso Arambula, who handmade cheeses of this region migratory birds and home to the R UNITED STATE Isla Todos Santos Bahía Vendimia R fashions objects out of natural and Todos Santos endangered Yuma clapper rail and A D recycled materials. Punta Banda yellow-billed cuckoo. Go canoeing, MEXICO S E camp along the river, or join in com- E K La Bufadora Maneadero 3957 ft Peninsula of J El Pinacate 3 munity-based restoration efforts. Isla Pelícano S 1206 m () DELTA U Isla Montague Golfo de Santa Clara E GEORGE STEINMETZ / CORBIS Santa Catarina Uruapan A R Ejido Boca la Baja Punta Santo Tom´as H´eroes de la R T Independencia Santo Tomás Vineyard Santo Tom´as E ALTO GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA Source of grapes for Z the Ensenada winery Bahía Adair Punta San Jos´e 1 Y DELTA DEL RÍO COLORADO El Sasabe BIOSPHERE RESERVE L´azaro C´ardenas 8 Bajaa Bahía San Vicente La Choya Nogales E ADOBE GUADALUPE, GUADALUPE VALLEY Puerto San Isidro La Choya E JULIO RODRÍGUEZ R. Puerto Pe˜nasco Nogales Er´endira (Rocky Point) 5

Agua Zarca n Rafael Sa Bahía San Jorge Los Molinos California Colonet Santa Clara San Felipe Roca Consag S´aric Highest point in Shrimp Festival ON THE PENINSULA, THE DREAM IS REAL Baja California San Felipe E 31° r K Bahía San Felipe a Cabo Colonet 10157 ft t Ruben Jaramillo l 31° 3096 m (Devil’s Peak) A orget about calling this 800-mile-long Bahía Colonet S Valley of the Giants I SIERRA SAN E Punta Estrella You’ll need to crane your neck to UPPER AND COLORADO CALIFORNIA ARIZONA NEW R La Tubutama peninsula Baja or "Lower" California. This R see the tops of these giant cardon MEXICO PEDRO MARTIR S RIVER DELTA BIOSPHERE RESERVE Camal´u A cacti that tower over the desert Wetlands and estuaries provide refuge for was California, named that way on maps U.S S M . NATIONAL PARK landscape of this natural reserve. the endangered Gulf of California harbor Atil EX A Laguna Perceb´u BAJA ICO N Algodon O porpoise and other endemic species. long before the first mission bells pealed CALIFORNIA G U E P L Birdwatch in Montague and Pelicano ( F Isla S E F Vicente Oquitoa E O Altar over San Diego. Guadalupe A F D Islands. Tour Roca Consag by boat.

O C R ENLARGED F A N FAR LEFT C L O Magdalena O I The early explorers may have put this peninsu- R F T O de Kino E R M E Z BAJA ) N Sierra San Pedro Ma´ rtir I A la on the map, but they failed miserably in their CALIFORNIA A San Quintín National Park R O Cuauht´emoc SUR L´azaro C´ardenas E Snow falls on granite mountain T GUADALUPE VALLEY WINE REGION I search for treasure. Thank goodness they didn’t Isla San Martín peaks rising abruptly out of sea and R Wine producers of this temperate valley Punta San Fermin PACIFIC desert. Climb to the highest point K R harvest grapes that yield over eighty per- 6447 ft make much of an impact on the land, most of OCEAN AREA cent of Mexico’s wines. Stop at vineyards on the peninsula for a view of both 1965 m Puertecitos Hot Springs ENLARGED coasts, and watch for golden Bask in your choice of these Los Tanques and restaurants along the Wine Route— Trincheras which looks now as it did when Cortez aban- eagles and condors flying overhead. geothermally-heated pools A pick up a map at Baja Tourism offices. Cabo San Quintín ría Puertecitos cooled by tidal seawater. Ma BROWN PELICANS doned the peninsula: stark, defiantly beautiful, ta JULIO RODRÍGUEZ R. San io San Quintín Bay ía r Bah a N intimidating. Blue and purple sea grass beds os Puerto Lobos R provide winter habitat for the Pacific l E Yet the spines and barbs are just an evolutionary defense protecting black brant goose, and coastal GULF OF CALIFORNIA marshes shelter the light footed its gentler side. Walking in an arroyo after my first Baja summer clapper rail. Bring binoculars and 1 Punta Santa Isabel walk for miles on deserted beaches, (SEA OF CORTEZ) D Mama Espinosa’s Nuevo Uruapan Isla el Muerto thunderstorm—hummingbirds probing ocotillo flowers, fat mesquite or view ruins of an old mill, now Known for lobster burritos El Rosario BAJA Isla Lobos home to a bayside restaurant. and warm hospitality pods dangling on the branch—I realized that this peninsula was a 30° Isla Encantada E 30° Isla San Luis Cataviña sleeping beauty, needing only the kiss of water to awaken. Punta Baja Bring your camera on a desert hike S CALIFORNIA Punta Bufeo amid endemic blue palms and Cirios, La Lobera Bahía Rosario The have always known this, and have managed a cen- Peer over the edge of what appears to Cataviña Cave Paintings giant Cardon cacti—the world’s Puerto Libertad be a vast seaside crater, actually a Ancient yet vivid figures of yellow, VALLE DE largest , and the boulder field E turies-old balance of limited resources that could serve as a lesson to us Isla San Luis Gonzaga where centuries of wind has shaped collapsed cave, for a look at the sea red, and brown on walls and ceiling Bahía San lions who reside deep below. of a small desert cave. hills and valleys of smooth rock. all. You might see some vacation developments threatening this balance, Punta San Antonio Luis Gonzaga R Catavi˜na na places tilting more towards fantasy than reality. But remember, this ca Natural History and Cultural Las Cuevitas Bo ´ T San Carlos La Museum of Bahía de peninsula is the original California, and its California Dream isn’t make- LOS CIRIOS A 30-foot-long skeleton La Polvareda Punta San Carlos hangs from the ceiling of this small believe. It’s defined by the distinctive places you’ll find on this map, Isla Mejia museum that also exhibits arrow- heads from Cochimi natives, equip- BAY OF LOS ANGELES, WHALES AND judged by the people who actually live here as being the peninsula’s ment from abandoned mines, and an SALSIPUEDES CHANNELS BIOSPHERE RESERVE entire wall of well-described shells. Find yourself sleeping under the stars, most authentic treasures. Visiting them enriches your journey, and Punta Canoas paddling through shaded coves, or exploring Punta del Norte FLORA AND FAUNA arid desert islands that rise out of the sustains their future. They and their visitors agree with John Steinbeck: 118°W KCerro Dos Picachos Isla Angel turquoise sea. When birdwatching for peli- 5446 ft de la Guarda cans and ospreys, cast your eyes downward "A dream hangs over the whole region.” Cirios Valley Natural Protected Area 1 1660 m C (Guardian Angel I.) Named after the towering spike-like a for the chance to see a humpback whale in ( n —Charlie Kulander, travel author Monte Augusta W a this newly-established protected area. K Cirio plant, this protected area l h d 4259 ft a e 1298 m stretches from Pacific to Gulf coast. le s B NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LORETO MISSION Spot , , and bighorn C a h l PURESTOCK / GETTY IMAGES 110° 109° PROTECTION a l sheep while inland, and sea turtles n e n n ISLAS DEL GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA Punta del Vapor e a and peregrine where desert l) s meets the sea. HermosilloG B Punta Blanco Isla FLORA AND FAUNA PROTECTION AREA ISLA GUADALUPE Coronado Isla Guadalupe Bahía Blanco BAHÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES, SONORA Bacanora 29° 29° CANALES DE BALLENAS Isla Tibur´on Punta Chueca BIOSPHERE RESERVE Bahía de Y SALSIPUEDES (Shark I.) 29°N AREA los Angeles BIOSPHERE RESERVE Bahía de los Angeles Santa María PACIFIC Punta María Punta Prieta Isla Kino Nuevo OCEAN Bahía Partida E y Miguel Alem´an Morro Sur a Las Animas Isla Rasa Bahía Kino b u de World’s primary breeding spot for Y C Bahía Kino Borja Adac Mission a Heermann’s gulls and elegant terns n Well-preserved stone church a ARCHIPÍELAGO DE l Valle Verde completed in 1801 and still in use today La U´ nica Ecotourism Camp S Isla Turner 0mi 15 a SAN LORENZO Solar panels generate electricity for ls Isla San Esteban Punta Santa Rosaliíta Santa Rosaliíta ip 0km 15 cabins at this natural reserve. Take u NATIONAL PARK e a guided educational desert hike, d Bahía Santa Rosaliíta e Isla San Lorenzo photographic sea tour, or fishing trip. s Santa Eduwiges BIOSPHERE RESERVE Punta Rosarito Scuba dive, whale-watch, or observe great Bahía San Rafael Las Avispas Onavas white sharks on this remote volcanic Wetlands provide habitat for the white Punta Ballena island and sole reproduction zone for the pelican, royal eagle, and gray and white heron. Nearby, visit the largest Punta San Francisquito San Nicol´as Guadalupe fur seal. KCerro la Sandia ISLA SAN PEDRO MARTIR NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LORETO MISSION natural outdoor saltworks in the world 5938 ft Puerto San Francisquito and see locally made salt figurines. 1810 m AND MISSION MUSEUM Isla San Pedro M´artir BIOSPHERE RESERVE Pozo Nuevo Founded in 1697 and considered the first Islas Ortiz successful mission on the peninsula. Visit On a 3- to 4-hour hike from town to San Benito Villa Jes´us María Mission Santa Gertrudis la Magna the museum, which depicts the lives of the island’s nearly 4,000-foot peak Punta Small stone church built in 1752 both natives and missionaries, and the you’ll observe junipers, oak, and pine Santo Domingo and its freestanding bell tower a original stone church, recently restored. trees, but no cedar trees, for which Cabo San Miguel Bahía short distance away. the island was mistakenly named. K San Agustín 3937 ft Sebasti´an Vizcaíno 1200 m Cedros D Malarrimo Beach Puerto Famous for objects—from driftwood E 28°N G Bahía San Juan Bautista 28°N Morro Redondo and sea glass to kitchen appliances— S El Arco cast here by ocean currents from as San Carlos G Empalme Guerrero Negro E I Isla San Pedro Nolasco far away as and Japan. 1 Guaymas E Santa Rosalía E R Benito Ju´arez Wooden homes with balconies and Rosario COMPLEJO LAGUNAR Bahía San Carlos porches replaced disordered adobe lsa OJO DE LIEBRE T Marina del Rey nta Fa L structures when a French mining Pu a BIOSPHERE RESERVE g O company founded this town. Stroll ( u S streets lined by original pastel-hued c n S a a I E An Endless Summer m O D R structures, grab a fresh baguette at Bahía Tortugas m jo R o de Liebre A Punta Santa Ana Panadería El Boleo, in business since n’s E S Vicam D I S C O V E R I N G T H E P E N I N S U L A’ S D I V E R S I T Y Bahía Tortugas Pe n í n s u l a d e Lagoon) A Bahía Santa Ana 1901, and stop in the library for N photos of the town’s mining heyday. F Punta Clambey V R EEsperanza Giant winter swells slant down the V i z c a í n o A I K N Quiriego Z 5184 ft C RY peninsula's west coast, curling into Punta Morro Hermoso Emiliano Zapata I C 1580 m S FER E waves sought by the world’s best C Ciudad Obreg´on A O surfers, while 50 miles away, kayakers Laguna Ojo de Liebre KVolc´an Las Tres Vírgenes Isla Tortuga Í Maranata Restaurant 6365 ft Considered one of the best whale- N 1940 m glide on flatiron seas. That's the diversi- watching spots in the world, this K O Regional foods such as dates and figs Mexico’s Galápagos 3018 ft Vendor of traditional handicrafts ty this narrow peninsula offers: you can World Heritage Site provides refuge Bahía 920 m Isla San Marcos San Crist´obal E L V I Z C A Í N O B I O S P H E R E R E S E R V E 1 ISLAS DEL GOLFO encounter a placid Caribbean-like beach for breeding gray whales and their E In between diving and fishing, be A N E V O L U T I O N A R Y T R E A S U R E calves during the winter. Santa Rosalía DE CALIFORNIA sure to check out the carvings on one side, Hawaii's North Shore on the San Lino FLORA AND FAUNA made by local fishermen. San Ignacio Kadakaamán Mission When the San Andreas divorced other, and tackle the Sierras in between San Ignacio San Ignacio de Loyola PROTECTION AREA the peninsula from the North American San Pablo This impressive Spanish colonial Fair and Festival —all in one day. And if you're prepared church has four-foot-thick walls of mainland a few million years back, not San Marcos for a multi-sport adventure, the weather local volcanic stone, a grand exte- GULF OF CALIFORNIA only did it create the world’s youngest will never shut you down. Bahía Asunci´on rior façade with cornices, moldings, and engraved stone plaques, and (SEA OF CORTEZ) sea, it left behind some tectonic an interior altar of carved wood San Jos´e de Punta Chivato orphans: over 200 of them. (A few newer Pedro Cole, bodysurfer, La Paz: and gold. Magdalena Isla Santa In´es volcanic islands have added to their "Some of the best waves come up from 27° Punta Prieta Laguna Bahía Santa In´es number.) These islands, powered by the south, driven by severe summer lito Mesa San nutrient-rich seas, raced down the Hip´o Santa Clara storms. Surf breaks that lie dormant— unta San P Bahía Muleg´e Punta Concepci´on evolutionary highway, becoming home where you never see waves—suddenly San Hip´olito Ignacio to the largest number of endemic o turn into some of the most incredible dr Pe species in : chuckwallas, Laguna San Ignacio n B breaks you'll ever ride. Where are the Sa This World Heritage Site is the only a rattlesnakes, jackrabbits, spiders, Bahía h best spots? You gotta be kidding. You í remaining gray whale breeding Ballenas a scorpions, squirrels, lizards, plants P A C I F I C have to find these places yourself." lagoon considered undisturbed C Punta Santa Teresa Punta Abreojos o and insects. This astounding diversity BAJA n by human development. Take an c e prompted UNESCO to recognize the educational boating and camping p c Isla San Ildefonso Trudi Angell, tour operator, Loreto: expedition with Ecoturismo Kuyimá i Gulf’s islands as a World Heritage Site. o´ n “In March 1978, we paddled out of the O C E A N and observe adult whales and their Bahía San Nicol´as And it’s why a network of national channel across to Isla Danzante in the young offspring. CALIFORNIA Punta P´ulpito parks—the Loreto, San Lorenzo, and moonlight surrounded by whale blows S Espíritu Santo marine parks, the Bahía Rosarito to begin a month-long paddle down the Batequi de los A´ ngeles and Upper Gulf bios- I Bahía San Juanico coast to La Paz. It was a magical night. SUR pheres—have been created to Cadej´e Thirty years later, and I’m still here.” E Punta Mercenarios KAYAKING, ENSENADA GRANDE, protect these islands. 1 RALPH LEE HOPKINS Punta Santo Domingo R Punta Mangles San Juanico Tim Means, founder, Baja Expeditions: World-renown surf spot San Juan Bautista Londo San Isidro “There’s no place where we have the R La Purísima possibility to save so much of the Bahía San Juanico 5512 ft world’s wildlife than what we have 117° A K1680 m Isla Coronados here in the Sea of Cortez right now. 116° San Jos´e de Comond´u Our Lady of Loreto Festivities, Once it’s gone, you can’t put it back.” Desert Visions Nuestra Señora de Loreto Mission ISLA CORONADOS, LORETO BAY E Loreto Foundation Festival 26° Las Barrancas and Mission Museum GLoreto MIGUEL ÁNGEL DE LA CUEVA / WWW.PLANETAPENINSULA.ORG A R T I S T S W O R K I N A T R A N S C E N D E N T L A N D S C A P E D BAHÍA DE u´ Isla Carmen d Nopol´o Walk the sand dunes, view Whether it's folkloric art along the bor- n o LORETO saltworks ruins, and sunbathe SINALOA m E der or the government-sponsored Casas o San Javier on a secluded beach National Geographic and the people of the states of Baja C Los Mochis E de Cultura found in the dustiest of towns, Danzante Resort NATIONAL California and present this Geotourism This luxurious eco-resort employs MapGuide to the peninsula of Baja California. you’ll feel the vital artistic pulse of the Isla Danzante Poza Grande its neighbors only and is built PARK peninsula. Resident artists—Mexican and from renewable and handmade materials. Take in the sea panora- L international—are interpreting sea and Ensenada Isla Monserrat Isla Santa Catalina Funded by National Geographic Expeditions, Lindblad ma from your private hilltop suite, Blanca Espíritu Santo Island desert in startling new ways, a vibrancy Home to the giant barrel cactus Swim among sea lions, kayak beneath Expeditions, and the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of spend the day in the mountains A and a rattle-less rattlesnake that fills the galleries in Todos Santos or sea, and enjoy a meal from red rock cliffs, or snorkel alongside Nature (FMCN). Prepared by National Geographic Maps and and elsewhere. Inspired by their sur- the organic garden. pufferfish, angelfish, and rainbow wrasse the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations in this biologically diverse protected roundings, artists increasingly work to area. After camping on the beach, hike in collaboration with the Sonoran Institute, the Baja Puerto conserve them. Santo Domingo San Antonio the island and keep an eye out for the California Tourism Office, and the Baja California Sur de la Higuera G Agua Verde Puerto Adolfo López Mateos black jackrabbit and a certain type of Tourism Office. Book a whale-watching trip, go antelope ground squirrel found nowhere Michael Cope, owner, Galería de Todos Villa Ignacio Zaragoza sportfishing, or birdwatch in this I else on the planet. Text by Charlie Kulander, author; Tom Miller, editor. Map Santos: friendly port city. Isla Magdalena Llanos Punta San Telmo ANGELFISH, CABO PULMO NATIONAL MARINE PARK notes by Angela Burnford. "This is an oasis in the desert—the G OCTAVIO ABURTO / WWW.COLORESDELBERMEJO.COM de Hiray 1 Isla clarity of light, the water, even the way Boca La Soledad Santa Cruz ISLAS DEL GOLFO Visit www.discoverbajacalifornia.com and Ciudad Insurgentes cows walk across the road—everything A Isla DE CALIFORNIA www.explorebajasur.com to learn more about points a painter needs is in Todos Santos. We San Diego FLORA AND FAUNA of interest on the peninsula of Baja California. Puerto Adolfo PROTECTION AREA work with the town to preserve this L´opez Mateos Sa N n L Punta Calabozo regional character. Seeing how popular uis Isla Las Animas Copyright © 2007 National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. we’ve become, the town realizes what's T at stake; we now have building codes to ECiudad Constituci´on keep it historical. And the art community 25° Isla San Jos´e A 22 has initiated school art programs.” Isla Magdalena Villa Morelos San Evaristo Hotel Brennan L San Luis Gonzaga Santa María Miguel Angel De la Cueva, photographer, Small, family-owned hotel offering sport- de Toris fishing and whale-watching excursions L Isla San Francisco La Paz: A Puerto San Carlos Cabo San L´azaro Puerto Gray Whale San Luis Gonzaga Chiriyaqui Mission "While climbing the San Carlos N This fishing village and deep-water Festival Step inside the 1750s stone church years ago, I was awestruck by its port is a favorite birdwatching spot. O or walk amid the fruit trees of this Punta Coyote Bahía Santa María RY grandeur, and felt the need to share its Catch a glimpse of resident ospreys mission set in the middle of the desert. FER or Brant geese. Go whale-watching. Bahía D force and beauty. If my photographs can s Bahía Coyote Puerto Magdalena Magdalena e r make a person feel this same passion, E b Santa Rita ie L Isla Partida ARCHIPÍELAGO DE then perhaps they will help to protect s CABO PULMO NATIONAL MARINE PARK L a ESPÍRITU SANTO these places. This has become my work.” Hike sand dunes, camp on remote Punta Redonda A L Take a dive into the only coral reef in the Sea of TODOS SANTOS beaches, or kayak calm Espíritu NATIONAL PARK Cortez and swim among 800 species of marine JON ARNOLD IMAGES / ALAMY Bahía forests of this wetland ecosystem Puerto Cort´es Almejas Santo I. animals, including whale sharks, leatherback Puerto M Punta Norte rich in wildlife. Get close to Pacific Las Pocitas Punta Dispensa turtles, and bottlenosd dolphins. Learn how gray whales in winter months or Isla Santa Margarita Chale A San Juan Grupo Tortuguero is dedicated to sea turtle de la Costa C spot bald eagles, magnificent Isla G a conservation. n frigatebirds, or the endangered Creciente D a Isla 1 Pichilingue l Cerralvo California . A Bahía de C Punta Tosca e 115° 114° 113° La Paz r L r FER a T House of the Southern Baja l o RY E vo Maz Californian Artisan N La Paz atl´an This cooperative has a showroom and A BFoundation Festival Punta Monta˜na store featuring paintings, sculptures, La Paz na Sargento Venta and clothing made by local craftspeople. ía la ChametlaG Bah FESTIVALS & EVENTS 24° 24° 1 San Juan Ensenada La Paz de Los Planes de Muertos Music, Food, Heritage & Nature View cave painting reproductions, colonial San Pedro Palm fiber baskets and Sustaining Seas Longitude West 112° of Greenwich pottery by local artisans Todos Santos Art Festival Todos Santos, Baja California Sur objects, and other artifacts at the Regional Museum of Anthropology and History. Try the (end of January or early February) Exhibits and performanc- W H A L E S A N D M A N D E P E N D O N S Q U I D Cardonal es by local and regional artists, musicians, filmmakers, and fish tacos and ceviche at either El Bismark El Triunfo San Antonio or El Bismarkcito. Stroll along the six-mile- Punta Pescadero artisans, workshops, and conferences www.todossantos- The real celebrities found off peninsular long Malecón, a lively waterfront promenade San Bartolo baja.com/todos-santos/art/art-festival.htm El Rosario Los Barriles/Buena Vista shores are the 31 species of dolphin and perfect for eating ice cream and watching Gray Whale Festival Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur (end Heart of the “East Cape” and perfect spot the sunset. Find out if Los Huizapoles, a Los Barriles for fishing, kayaking, or windsurfing of January to mid-February) Promotes the opening of the whales whose feathered geysers you’ll popular musical, theatrical, and comic duo, Buena Vista whale-watching season with music and entertainment, local spot on the horizon. None are more are currently performing in town. 19 food, horse racing, and fireworks www.bajaquest.com/side- impressive than the sperm whales, the SIERRA LA LAGUNA 1 La Ribera trips/sidetrip04.htm Punta Arena largest toothed mammals in the world. K6824 ft Baja Prog Mexicali, Baja California (March) Largest progres- Cultural Center and 2080 m sive rock concert in Mexico drawing bands and fans from all They hunt the Gulf’s most mysterious Museum of Todos Santos BIOSPHERE A Santiago Todos Santos N around the world www.bajaprog.org/webring_progordie.php and prolific creature, the torpedo-like View colonial artifacts, local handicrafts, U CABO PULMO Todos Santos Festival of San José del Cabo San José del Cabo, Baja . In Santa Rosalía, wit- and larger-than-life murals depicting the Todos Santos G NATIONAL PARK peninsula’s history. Attend a folk danc- Punta Lobos Art Festival RESERVE A California Sur (mid-March) Beginning with parties and music, L ness the sunset exodus of 200 outboard- Miraflores Bahía Los Frailes this festival continues for 11 days with and ing workshop or painting demo during El Pescadero A Handmade leather goods parades on weekends www.mexperience.com/guide/ driven pangas, speeding offshore for a the week-long annual art festival. L and wooden handicrafts S

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La Paz Foundation Festival La Paz, Baja California Sur (first J

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week in May) Exhibits and concerts celebrate the founding s I

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of La Paz on May 3, 1535 www.lapaz-tourism.com S Mario Reyes, squid fisherman, Santa Festivities of the Holy Cross, Valle de Mexicali, Baja , TODOS SANTOS San Jos´e Viejo Santa Catarina Rosalía: BERNARD FRIEL / DANITA DELIMONT / ALAMY G California (May) Traditional religious celebration featuring San José del Cabo dancing, music, and colorful costumes www.cucapah.org "It is risky out here. The squid’s beak is Candelaria Festivities E Punta Gorda San Ignacio de Loyola Fair and Festival San Ignacio, Baja sharp, and we bathe in its ink. By law, Migri˜no San Jos´e del Cabo 23° California Sur (last week of July) Festival honors the town’s we can only fish by hand with hooks, Bahía patron saint and includes horse races, music, dances, 23° San Jos´e religous celebrations, sports events, and fireworks which keeps the fishery sustainable— del Cabo San José Estuary This protected bird sanctuary is www.mexonline.com/cityguide-sanignacio.htm very tiring, but worth it. When the cop- E Bahía San Lucas home to more than 250 bird Fiestas de la Vendimia Ensenada, Baja California (August) per mines in town closed, there was no Cabo Falso CABO SAN LUCAS species, including egrets, pelicans, Presentation of the wines of Baja California accompanied by way to make a living until we began fish- FLORA AND FAUNA and frigatebirds. Wander the quiet PROTECTION AREA music, food tasting and art www.fiestasdelavendimia.com ing squid. Santa Rosalía now depends on paths or kayak the lagoon. Our Lady of Loreto Festivities Loreto, Baja California Sur (September 5-8) Honors Loreto's patron saint and Baja's the squid fishery, even though it is not a first mission with a series of religious, civic, and cultural food we are accustomed to eating. activities including pilgrimages, baptisms, sport-fishing Asians buy most of our catch.” tournaments, horse races, and dances www.loreto.com Festivals of the Sun Mexicali, Baja California (end of September to mid-October) Dancing, music, art exhibits, Professor Bill Gilly, Hopkin's Marine parades, rides, and food booths featuring regional Station: S C

cuisine www.fiestasdelsol.com.mx A I B "One squid can produce a million off-

N O Loreto Foundation Festival Loreto, Baja California Sur R 109° M O spring; the population is absolutely F S I I S (October 19-25) Celebrates the founding of Baja’s first town L R A A U

S immense. Sperm whales probably take C C I T www.loreto.com

U B F E L R

O D

O out as much squid as man does; they'll

N

Puerto Nuevo Lobster Festival Puerto Nuevo, Baja California F L

C TODOS SANTOS A L

/ A

S U T

S (October) Live music, crafts, local wine sampling, folklorico eat half a ton of them a day, one reason A G Sculptors, dancers, and surfers alike call this his- O

E T , B L S dancing, contests, and lobster feast www.puertonuevo S A B

E toric seaside town home. Start your day with E the whale population is very healthy. Up

E C L

E O

lobster.com/puerto-nuevo-lobster-festival.htm A N P S I warm bread from family-owned Panadería Todos

I H in Isla San Pedro Mártir I saw six huge S S M W A

R San Felipe Shrimp Festival San Felipe, Baja California Santos. Tour Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Todos O L E M C G I C sperm whales doing barrel rolls right

R 110°

(November) Big block party with three days of music, danc- E Santos Mission, built in 1786. Browse shelves of U N E D O P A I S F D D ing, seafood, and beach fun www.sanfelipe.com.mx next to the ship." hard-to-find books at Tecolote Bookstore. Baja theme side 1/15/08 10:08 AM Page 1 Peninsula of Baja California LAND OF EPIC VISIONS AND UNEXPECTED TRAVELS A Quixotic spirit runs through this peninsula. The Rosalía, you may witness a shimmering mirage of islands disappearing right before your eyes. You will have

rancheros, for example, barely wrest their livelihoods A N E L

learned a most important lesson: nothing here is what it A

from an intractable desert, yet name their ranches in D G A M keeping with their epic visions: Rancho Esperanza, seems. It doesn’t matter how you travel—by car or A ´ I H A B

Rancho Progreso, Rancho El Imposible. Hope, Progress, kayak, sailboat or mountain bike—the wind-whipped , A A I N N E R L O The Impossible. The clean ocean air washing across seas, searing heat, mysterious currents, unmarked roads A F D I L G A A C D

and trails will interfere with your planned journey, M A the peninsula lets you see clearly into the sublime F L A O

B L F N D S I L E

N , I U heart of the desert, yet as you drop down the hairpin pulling you towards the unexpected. You can plan your H S L

G O E

F , C N

S O U N L N I E D

O route, but don’t expect to always follow it. Cuesta del Infierno into the furnace-blast heat of Santa - H H D P N P L N E E O A T V S S D S —Charlie Kulander, travel author

BETWEEN TIJUANA AND ENSENADA

CALIFORNIA E 117° 116°W Cultural Investigations Center and 115° ARIZONA Museum of the Autonomous UNITED STAT 8 E Cuchuma Mountain University of Baja California EWinterhaven MEX Lemon Grove Stop and smell the lilacs, E ICO ES San Diego E Heber View local history exhibits, sculp- artemisia, and sage, or birdwatch Los E E AREA ENLARGED tures and crafts from indigenous Yuma Coronado E for golden eagles and red-tailed peoples, regional artwork, and more. Algodones 5 hawks. Find the rock-slab altar at 8 ELigurta ENational City the peak of this mountain consid- Calexico E BAJA ered sacred to the Kumiai. CALIFORNIA G B U Tijuana E C A L I F O R N I A L SONORA Chula Vista UNITED STATES E F Walk the lively Avenida Revolución, Mexicali Ciudad Morelos ( E G S Jacumba E O Tijuana’s main street, known by MEXICO A F Tijuanans as “La Revu.” Head to Jai E O C Somerton F A Alai Fronton Palace, which formerly L EImperial Beach C I housed fast-paced Basque ball E O F EBenito Ju´arez R O games and exhibits impressive E 2 5 Puebla T R Tecate E E N Moorish architecture. La Z ) I E Rumorosa A G Rancho Ojai R.V. Park 2 Family-friendly working ranch E A R I Z O N A Tijuana with camping, cabins, and many Vallecitos Hermosillo recreational activities Hike through pine forests and agave ESan Luis groves to locate several prehistoric La Rumorosa Grade rock paintings. On the winter sol- Keep one eye on the steep, winding Deposits left from Gulf floods create E AREA stice, a sunbeam enters the cave of highway and another on the impres- exceptionally salty waters in this San Luis ENLARGED ELa Joya red-colored “El Diablito,” or “Little sive mountain scenery as you shallow, hour-glass-shaped basin. UNITED Río Colorado STATES BAJA San Antonio E Devil,” and illuminates only the descend 4,000 exhilarating feet. PA C I F I C CALIFORNIA del Mar figure’s eyes. ENuevo Le´on MEXICO Islas Coronado Laguna O C E A N SUR Juntas de Neji- Tijuana Cultural Center Salada Considered Baja California’s most Valle de las Palmas E Indigenous Community 2 E E important cultural center, this modern Playas de Rosarito 3 Delta landmark is home to a concert hall, o IMAX theater, and the Museum of the alabazas orad AREA . Allow yourself time in the 4199 ft Las C Tajo Canyon 1280 m KCerro Gordo Col ENLARGED museum to see the maps, photographs, Spectacular El Trono Blanco, Mexico’s tallest monolith at 1,970 EGuadalupe Victoria tools, and other artifacts that recount BIK E RO feet, rises out of a rugged boulder- the peninsula’s rich history. UT Puerto Nuevo Punta Descanso E and palm-tree-strewn gorge. Self-proclaimed “Lobster Capital of Climbing and hiking this rugged land- Puerto Nuevo E Baja” and home to 30-plus restau- E scape is not for the faint of heart. Colonia Carranza Bahía Descanso rants all serving the same dish: Puerto Nuevo lobster—crustaceans EL PINACATE Y pan-fried in lard and served with ELuis B. S´anchez Hotel beans, rice, and tortillas. San Jos´e Former Prohibition watering hole Ede la Zorra GRAN DESIERTO DE ALTAR for Hollywood royalty. Take in the San Antonio Necua B A J A ENSENADA lobby’s panoramic murals or the Rosarito Ensenada 50 Mile Indigenous Community Guadalupe Canyon H S O N O R A Fun Bicycle Ride ar Grab a fish taco or scope out the catch of view of the beach from the bar. Take a guided hike, go horseback dy BIOSPHERE RESERVE the day at the lively Fish Market. Kick back Family-owned since the 1920s. Biannual ride along riding, or learn basket-weaving at this C A L I F O R N I A scenic coastal highway La Misi´on Kumiai Indian community. Learn about Cucapá Community Museum with a cerveza at legendary Hussong’s E San Antonio E Francisco Zarco E medicinal plant uses, hear traditional The Cucapá have inhabited this Cantina, where Bing Crosby crooned and Necua 1857 CONSTITUTION GUADALUPE CANYON music, and camp at the Siñao Kuatay region for 3,000 years and today John Wayne tipped his hat. Meander Guadalupe Valley Community struggle to subsist in a severely E Explore desert landscape and palm groves opulent halls of the Riviera de Ensenada Kumiai Recreational Center. NATIONAL PARK Ejido Luis E. Johnson at the foot of granite mountains. Swim in Museum Laguna Hanson environmentally degraded area. Civic & Cultural Center, once a famed hotel Locally made Indian crafts and The museum recounts their history spring-fed pools. Tour prehistoric rock art and casino frequented by celebrities such memorabilia from early Russian S and exhibits traditional handicrafts sites. Unwind in the private outdoor hot

as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. immigrants, all housed in a 1905 I and clothing. tub at your campsite. ESan Marcos Russian cottage. E 32°N 3 R 5 Punta Salsipuedes E San Antonio de las Minas R A

ELa Huerta J G

Ojos Negros E R

PACIFIC O 1857 Constitution National Park U .

Punta San Miguel A

Hike through pine forests, go mountain L

A U biking, or camp beside fresh-water S N OCEAN 3 R I E Hanson’s Lagoon in this park named in N Ensenada A L T O G O L F O D E C A L I F O R N I A E

E P

Punta Ensenada honor of the 1857 signing of Mexico’s A T

Ensenada Z E

constitution. N

r A o L N

d P lva . a Y D E L T A D E L R Í O C O L O R A D O O W Bahía n S Y N W A La Bufadora a

S A D Todos Santos Isla de Todos Santos W C

A /

At the rocky tip of Punta Banda E N A P E V S U

peninsula, water shoots upward as E L

N B I O S P H E R E R E S E R V E U A E

C

, far as 80 feet above sea level,

D A A Isla A L N U

I making this the second largest E

Montague G T Punta Banda

, ELa Bufadora D N

marine geyser in the world. P L L A E E E E C

Maneadero E

G G H S ’ O S (Rodolfo S´anchez Taboada) N

G V 0mi 15 A

N N E L R O E D O S U U

0km 15 H S A G G I U L I M H C B

BETWEEN SANTA ROSALI´A AND MULEGE´ Geotraveler Tips BETWEEN LA PAZ AND SAN JOSE´ DEL CABO How to Help the Baja California Region Desert Ecology Isla Partida 110°W Retain Its Character Ironwood trees are the Florence Nightingales of 0mi 15 E L V I Z C A Í N O B I O S P H E R E R E S E R V E Focus on what's authentic. Not only will you gain the desert, nursing hundreds of plant species ARCHIPÍELAGO DE 0km 15 ESPÍRITU SANTO 6365 ft K greater cultural insight, your targeted pesos will under their shade canopies. Wood from these Isla 1940 m Volc´an Las 112°W Isla Ballena NATIONAL help local communities conserve local tradition rapidly disappearing trees, some 800 years old, po Tres Vírgenes Espíritu PARK and protect natural resources. Baja Californios have been converted to woodcarvings and bam Santo FERRY Isla Tortuga polo erra typically respond with enthusiasm and heartfelt mesquite charcoal. Admire the trees, but avoid o Si ncisco T To Fra o n T Sa hospitality to any traveler curious about their purchasing their carvings or their charcoal. Keep daily lives. ATVs and similar off-road vehicles on established El Angel Azul FERRY É Punta Dispensa Punta Lupona To Mazatl´an G Bright, traditional colors fill the guest- CUESTA RY E roads and paths, doing otherwise violates regula- FER L DEL INFIERNO U Food rooms of this family-owned B&B, M tions and scars the land for years, even decades. o Guaymas Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve T E originally the town’s courthouse and D

Seeking real regional cuisine? Skip pre-trip provi-

Gray whales frequent coastal A recently restored. Step under the E Í EEl Tecolote Santa Rosalía L Y lagoons and fruit-bearing cacti A sioning; you'll find everything you need prowling hacienda-style arches into the garden

S On the Beach Balandra Y M O A M

R and enjoy a traditional Mexican color the inland arid landscape of L Beach

the peninsula's modern supermarkets found in all A

A Leave footprints, not trash. Shells and driftwood L A

/ T A

Mexico’s largest protected area. breakfast before taking a short walk H

/ N A C

I S L A S D E L

I the larger cities, and things you’ve never heard of

A are part of the fragile beach habitat; leave them A L View cave paintings—there are to the waterfront. N S E A A

B F G at roadside stands and mini-mercados. Don't E more than 200 in the Sierra San Pichilingue W

E in their place. Keep in mind that campfires can O A

C O R R

R N

Francisco, hike the desert, or a D O miss the specialties of the smaller towns: sweet O S

I scar beaches for years and are illegal on the 1 N I C n Punta San Lucas S A V explore islands and wetlands. R S L A I A raisins, pitahaya fruit, dates, Mission grape wine. a A Gulf's islands. Finally, Mexico maintains a public R M M

l B T Isla right-of-way from the mean high tide line to 66 Bahía de C Isla San Marcos SANTA ROSALÍA DE MULEGÉ MISSION Money e Cerralvo BALANDRA BEACH ESan Lucas Step inside the picturesque 18th-century feet inland, even in front of exclusive resorts. La Paz r G O L F O D E C A L I F O R N I A S r Wade through the opalescent blue-green Bring small denomination Mexican bills, especially I a E lime and stone church to see the original (Local beach peddlers know this!) E l ISLAS DEL water of this shallow bay and view 12-foot- San Marcos R v statue of Saint Rosalía. Outside, follow the to rural areas where it may be impossible to break Península R o tall “Mushroom Rock,” a well-known land- El Mogote A GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA rocky steps for a panorama of the sur- a 500-peso note. You'll get the best exchange rate mark and symbol of La Paz. With its man- Campsites L rounding hills, river, and palm tree forest. Ensenada B A FLORA AND FAUNA groves and mountain backdrop, this public at the ATMs found in all the larger cities. La Paz Stick to trails that have been around for decades La Paz P beach, threatened by development, is a I PROTECTION AREA if not centuries. The desert ecology is easily N focal point for conservation efforts. E E T Real Estate scarred by errant footsteps. (And getting lost is a Chametla A F L O R A A N D F A U N A T D G E Santa Barbara Church A long-term rental in an integrated community a A Sargento real danger.) As a custodian of the wild, be m The town’s main tourist attraction is proclaims your compatibility with local culture, a Bahía Punta Arena de la Ventana San Jos´e proactive and clean up after others who have les the all-steel church that was prefabri- Ede Magdalena GULF OF CALIFORNIA and avoids the tourist bubble that dwelling in cated in before being shipped gone before you. to the current site in pieces. high-end resorts consigns you to. Buying into a E new housing development in a remote, pristine Calafia Isla Santa In´es (SEA OF CORTEZ) Golf area will speed its deterioration. Nor should you EEnsenada de 24°N S P R O T E C T I O N A R E A Stick to links with eco-focused management los Muertos I 27°N buy into a place on your first trip when you’re 1 E Bahía Santa In´es systems including gray water irrigation and E wearing rose-tinted glasses; stay nearby a couple San Juan Ensenada de Muertos R saline-tolerant hybrid grass (the rare exception de los Planes GULF OF CALIFORNIA R S Mulegé of times. Check for year-round electricity, hurri- here, not the rule). San Pedro E A Part fishing town, part genuine cane protection, insurance, waste and sewage (SEA OF CORTEZ) Mexican village, part scenic para- disposal, and especially potable water. Seek a S dise. Explore the narrow streets or Hotels El Triunfo A I comb the beach by day and camp house that fits into the desert surroundings, Punta Concepci´on Whenever possible, lodge at locally owned After the 1750s discovery of gold N EMuleg´e along the river under palm trees at aesthetically, culturally, ecologically. independent hotels where your money trickles and silver, wealth-seeking night. Don’t miss the folk dancers Europeans flocked here and built a E ro P Santa Rosalía at Hotel Serenidad’s pig roast or through the local economy. Give preference also grand mining empire. The 130- ed Photography P E de Mulegé Mission P the margaritas at Los Equipales. foot-tall main chimney still stands, n to hotels that make a point of supporting local a E Digital cameras work best, as image quality does along with smelter and mine ruins. ESan Antonio ECardonal S 5380 ft D K N conservation, communities, and culture. Laundry 1640 m R R not deteriorate in heat. Flash is prohibited Punta Pescadero Í squanders precious water; reuse towels and O around cave paintings and in most museums. N sheets when practical. S Instead, boost ISO to 800 or 1200. For wildlife Punta Santa Rosa El Rosario E B A J A R U photos, keeping your distance with a telephoto Cactus Sanctuary 1 E L lens reflects humane consideration and ensures National Parks San Bartolo A Bahía quality pictures. A big chunk of a national park's revenue comes B A J A Bahía de Las Palmas A Coyote Tía Licha’s El Coyote E C from entrance fees. While tour outfitters usually C A L I F O R N I A I. Coyote O ELos Barriles Step out onto your balcony to N Punta Santa Teresa Weather are responsible for paying their clients' fees, if watch the sunrise over the sea, B EBuena Vista a C Summer hurricanes get the publicity, but you are traveling independently, inquire locally C A L I F O R N I A return inside for your traditional h E 19 Mexican breakfast (made by Tía 1 í Nortes—the northerly gale-force winds of winter where to pay. Coastal parks have a very limited S U R a P Licha herself), and set out for a C fleet of patrol boats, but you can help out by D C on the Sea of Cortez—are a bigger hazard to day on deserted beaches or E o I E San Buenaventura n O small craft. Listen to AM radio. If Santa Ana reporting park infractions such as a sea turtle S U R La Ribera scenic mountains. c E e N San Isla San Ildefonso winds are forecast in , capture or a shrimp boats dragging nets in pro- S I E R R A L A L A G U N A EPunta Colorada Canyon La Trinidad p Sebasti´an E c tected waters. Punta Arena Prehistoric cave paintings well i prepare for Nortes whistling down the Gulf, ´o 6824 ft worth the scenic yet challenging n Bahía especially during the months of January and K2080 m canyon hike and river crossings to ESanta Visiting Archaeological Sites get there. Your journey starts at Rosalita San Nicol´as February. VHF and single sideband radios PACIFIC B I O S P H E R E nearby Rancho la Trinidad to see E E broadcast the latest weather reports. Practice good etiquette at unprotected petro- A Cadej´e San Nicol´as the larger-than-life figures, includ- gylph and pictograph sites: don't take rubbings E L OCEAN N Santiago ing a giant red deer and human Punta Cultural Differences or touch them with your hands. The oils on your figure. Experienced guide required. P´ulpito TROPIC OF CANCER Todos Santos Inn R E S E R V E Cabo CABO PULMO Whether you're a local resident or foreign visitor, fingers can affect potential dating techniques Todos Santos E Tranquil 19th-century hacienda with U Cabo Pulmo EPulmo A allow plenty of social leeway to avoid cultural and accelerate their deterioration. Instead of heated pool, gardens, and wine bar NATIONAL PARK LA PURI´SIMA OASIS G Santiago Picnic under trees, swim in the misunderstandings. Visitors, carry a Spanish rubbings, use a camera to preserve the images Tour the rebuilt mission church. Visit E SAN JOSE´ DEL CABO A river, or stroll the village streets. Thirteen- Rosarito dictionary, or at least a guidebook with a good and shoot early or late, in oblique light, to the zoo and view parrots, , Meander the laid-back streets lined with hundred-foot rock formation El Pilón beck- E reptiles, and native creatures. language glossary. accentuate the design. L Miraflores E ons serious rock climbers. colonial buildings, bougainvillea, and Los Bahía Los Frailes palms. Explore art galleries and boutiques. Frailes G Listen to live music on the town plaza. Cadua˜no E D A A

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FIN WHALE, BAJA CALIFORNIA COAST FLIP NICKLIN / MINDEN PICTURES

Copyright © 2007 National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. Visit www.discoverbajacalifornia.com and www.explorebajasur.com to learn more about points of interest in the Baja California region.