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- Destinations
- North America
- Mexico
- Baja California
Baja California
Baja California is a long finger 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 one of the least humid places on earth with an intensely
dry climate. It is a diverse geographical area providing remarkable
contrasts. This is a wildly beautiful place of unusual scenery and
dramatic colour changes, of exquisitely azure bays and miles of
fine white beaches, rocky cliffs and deserts, 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 protected gulf is
home to more endemic species than anywhere else in the world; 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, with its tacky souvenir shops and thriving
gambling scene, to the oasis town of San Ignacio, a beautiful
respite from the hot Vizcaíno Desert on its fringes, with some
extraordinary cave paintings nearby. From the peaceful laid-back
village of Mulegé to the tranquil port of La Paz, with a colonial
centre and spectacular sunsets, and the charming traditional
Mexican town of Todos Santos in the south, there are a great
variety of places to explore and enjoy. The Baja Peninsula also
boasts the best seafood and wine in Mexico.
Information & Facts
Climate
The coastal resorts of Baja are hot and humid in summer, and can
be cold and windy in winter, with most rainfall concentrated in
September. Summer temperatures are about 85ºF (30ºC) along the
coast and 110ºF (43ºC) inland, with winter temperatures dropping to
48ºF (9ºC). The southern Cape is warm all year round with hot
summers and mild winters averaging 70 - 80ºF (21 - 27ºC).
Getting Around
There is an efficient bus system that covers the distance
between Tijuana and Los Cabos in 24 hours on the Trans-peninsula
highway, stopping at towns along the way. 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, although the
Trans-peninsula highway is narrow and routinely travelled by
trucks. Within the towns there are plenty of taxis and collectivos
(shared taxi vans) for hire.
Language
Spanish is the official language in Mexico. Some English
is spoken in tourist regions.
Money
Mexican currency is the New Peso (MXN) divided into 100
centavos. Credit cards are widely accepted, particularly Visa,
MasterCard and American Express. Travellers cheques are generally
accepted, but cannot be cashed on Sundays. ATMs are available in
most cities and towns and are the most convenient way to get money,
but for safety reasons they should only be used during business
hours. Although most businesses will accept foreign currency 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.