Baja California MapGuide

Page 1
The Borderland
116°
Salton
Sea
EOceanside
EEscondido
Tecate
Start your day with a donut or pastry
from Bakery el Mejor Pan de Tecate,
where the savvy and hungry line up
daily to wait for fresh-baked bread.
Tour the Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma
Brewery and sample cervezas in the
beer garden.
33°
Rancho Los Chabacanos
Wash your cares away in the “temazcal,” a steam bath used by ancients
for healing and purification. Hike the
nature trail. Savor gourmet Mexican
food at this hacienda lodge.
La Chinesca
Chinese immigrants arrived in the
early 1900s and created a flourishing Chinatown that rivaled that of
major North American cities. Taste
the unique blend of Mexican and
Chinese flavors for yourself at one
of the 100-plus restaurants.
E
El Centro
E
San Diego E
Chula
8
E
Vista
G
MEXICO
E
Tecate
Baja Prog,
La Rumorosa Festivals of the Sun
2
Yuma
B
Mexicali G
ES
UNITED STAT
E
Imperial Beach
Tijuana E
Calexico
E
Ciudad
Morelos
Benito
Ju´arez
Hermosillo
Puebla
E
La Joya
San Antonio
del Mar
Valle de las Palmas
EPlayas de Rosarito
E
San Luis
Río Colorado
Laguna
Salada
El Compadre
Map Key
Festival
111°W
Museum
Natural or scenic area
Other point of interest
Urban area
Protected Areas
Biosphere reserve
National park
Other protected area
Lambert Conformal Conic
Standard Parallels 24.5° and 30.5°
0 mi
25
25
0 km
Tucson E
2
ARIZONA
EL PINACATE Y
C
Gu
a
Vadalup
lle
y
33°
Mission or church
SCALE 1:1,400,000
do
R A
E R
S I
ra
32°
GRAN DESIERTO DE ALTAR
BIOSPHERE RESERVE
UN
ITE
Sonoyta
D
DS
ME
E
E Z
A R
J U
S
3957 ft El Pinacate
1206 m (volcano)
E
R
Peninsula of
Baja
Baja
California
TAT
XIC
K
ES
O
COLORADO RIVER DELTA
GEORGE STEINMETZ / CORBIS
Ejido
Nayarit
T
Bahía Adair
El Sasabe
BIOSPHERE RESERVE
8
Bahía
La Choya
La Choya
San Vicente
Puerto San Isidro
Er´endira
geo.tour.ism (n): Tourism
that sustains or enhances the
geographical character of a
place — its environment, culture,
aesthetics, heritage, and the
well-being of its residents.
Archaeological site
Delta
L´azaro C´ardenas
ADOBE GUADALUPE, GUADALUPE VALLEY
JULIO RODRÍGUEZ R.
B
Phoenix
LA RUMOROSA
JULIO RODRÍGUEZ R.
Cerro Gordo
K
4199 ft
labazas L.A. Cetto Vineyard
Punta Descanso
Ca
1280 m
E
Puerto Nuevo
Arts and Crafts Corridor
Las
Puerto Nuevo
Take a tour, walk the gardens, or
Festivities of the
3
Guadalupe Victoria
Bahía
Descanso
Lobster Festival
Peruse shop after shop of
picnic at the vineyard of Mexico’s
Holy Cross
San Jos´e
handcrafted pottery, baskets,
largest wine producer. Visit the
de la Zorra
Luis B. S´anchez
rugs, and furniture, all locally
tasting room and linger over a glass
made and sold at bargain prices.
of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, or the
San Antonio
Francisco
La Misi´on
Necua
Zarco
highly acclaimed Nebbiolo.
1
e
La Casa de Doña Lupe
Ejido Luis E. Johnson
All-organic wines, cheese, and jams
1857 CONSTITUTION
NATIONAL PARK
Ensenada
Guadalupe Valley Wine Region
ol o
Tour Baja California’s oldest winery,
San Antonio
Santo Tomás, and sip the award-winde las Minas
A
La Huerta
Ojos Negros
ning 2002 Cabernet with dinner in a
Punta San Miguel
L
Ruta del Rio Hardy
T
Ensenada
former wine-aging warehouse. Walk off
Real del Castillo
E
A
Wetlands
on
the
Pacific
Flyway
for
Taste
and
buy
the
many
local
your filet by the street-side sculptures
Fiestas de la
R
migratory birds and home to the
handmade cheeses of this region
Isla Todos Santos
Vendimia
of locally born Alfonso Arambula, who
Bahía
endangered Yuma clapper rail and
Todos Santos
fashions objects out of natural and
yellow-billed
cuckoo.
Go
canoeing,
Punta Banda
recycled materials.
E
camp along the river, or join in comLa Bufadora
Maneadero
3
Isla Pelícano
munity-based restoration efforts.
Isla Montague Golfo de Santa Clara
Santa Catarina
Uruapan
Boca la Baja
H´eroes de la
Punta Santo Tom´as
Independencia
Santo Tom´as
Santo Tomás Vineyard
ALTO GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA
Source of grapes for
the Ensenada winery
1
Y DELTA DEL RÍO COLORADO
Punta San Jos´e
32°
112°
To live along the Baja California-U.S.
border is to be part of a shared history
—Old West towns transformed into
neon cities mixed with extreme climates and disparate cultures. You can
feel this sensation in Mexicali’s Chinese
restaurants where sweet and sour Asian
flavors intermingle with spicy Mexican
aromas. We borderlanders have adopted the fashions and customs of the
globalized world without losing our
own rich culture. We live in modern
cities yet endure severe desert conditions in a land that demands a strong
character and a defiant disposition.
Just by traveling along the MexicaliTijuana highway and looking up at
the Rumorosa mountains you feel the
light-headedness of the ages—the
same rocks that the poet Lawrence
Ferlinghetti called “a fantastic mountain
landscape of nothing but stone” with
“bright sun flames close over.” In some
ways we Baja California borderlanders
are the ultimate gold-seekers, nomads
who have, in this region, discovered
destiny under transcendent light.
-- Gabriel Trujillo Muñoz, author,
Mexicali
Mexicali
Grab a seat at the El Acueducto bar in
Hotel Lucerna and ask for the world
famous tomato juice and clam juice
cocktail born here. About 28 miles
south of Mexicali, along the Laguna
Salada, find Olivarera Italo-Mexicana, a
company that produces extra-virgin olive
oil from some 260,000 olive trees.
CALIFORNIA
Tijuana
Try a Caesar salad in the town where
Caesar Cardini created the world
famous dish. Tortas Wash Movil,
housed in a white stall next to an old
car wash, is well-known for savory
tortas—mesquite-grilled beef sandwiches similar to hamburgers. Satisfy
your sweet tooth with dulce de leche,
walnut marzipan, and other Mexican
specialties at Mercado El Popo.
I N T E R M I N G L I N G F L AV O R S U N D E R G L O R I O U S L I G H T
115°
Nogales E
Nogales
Puerto Pe˜nasco
(Rocky Point)
5
E
Agua Zarca
Rafael
San
Bahía San Jorge
San Felipe E
K
Picacho del Diablo 10157 ft
SI
Punta Estrella
ER
SIERRA SAN
RA
SA
NATIONAL PARK
i
BROWN PELICANS
JULIO RODRÍGUEZ R.
Catavi˜na
Natural History and Cultural
Museum of Bahía de los Ángeles
A 30-foot-long gray whale skeleton
hangs from the ceiling of this small
museum that also exhibits arrowheads from Cochimi natives, equipment from abandoned mines, and an
entire wall of well-described shells.
Isla Mejia
118°W
Cirios Valley Natural Protected Area
Named after the towering spike-like
Cirio plant, this protected area
stretches from Pacific to Gulf coast.
Spot mule deer, coyote, and bighorn
sheep while inland, and sea turtles
and peregrine falcons where desert
meets the sea.
4259 ft
1298 m
Punta del Vapor
ISLA GUADALUPE
Isla Guadalupe
29°N
PA CI F IC
O CE A N
5446 ft
1660 m
PROTECTION
Bahía Blanco
Yu
ba
y
Morro Sur
Bahía de los Angeles
San Francisco de
Borja Adac Mission
Santa Rosaliíta
Bahía Santa Rosaliíta
Punta Rosarito
Guerrero Negro
Wetlands provide habitat for the white
pelican, royal eagle, and gray and
white heron. Nearby, visit the largest
natural outdoor saltworks in the world
and see locally made salt figurines.
Cedros Island
On a 3- to 4-hour hike from town to
the island’s nearly 4,000-foot peak
you’ll observe junipers, oak, and pine
trees, but no cedar trees, for which
the island was mistakenly named.
Islas
San Benito
Punta
Santo Domingo
San Agustín
Bahía
Sebasti´an Vizcaíno
Cedros
Malarrimo Beach
Famous for objects—from driftwood
and sea glass to kitchen appliances—
cast here by ocean currents from as
far away as Alaska and Japan.
Puerto
Morro Redondo
28°N
Guerrero Negro E
RA
5184 ft
1580 m
SC
Volc´an Las Tres Vírgenes
K
O
Í
N
O
Maranata Restaurant
Santa Rosalía
E
Bahía Asunci´on
27°
Punta Prieta
Punta Sa
´olito
Bahía
San Hip´olito
Mesa
Santa Clara
Laguna
San
Bahía
Ballenas
Punta Abreojos
ro
Ped
B AJA
El Coyote
CA LIF OR NIA
Punta Santa Teresa
Isla San Ildefonso
n
Bahía San Nicol´as
Punta P´ulpito
S
Rosarito
Cadej´e
E
Punta Mercenarios
1
Punta Santo Domingo
´u
nd
C
o
A
uis
Hotel Brennan
Small, family-owned hotel offering sportfishing and whale-watching excursions
Puerto
San Carlos
Gray Whale
Festival
San Luis Gonzaga
A
N
Bahía Santa María
Puerto Magdalena
Magdalena Bay
Hike sand dunes, camp on remote
beaches, or kayak calm mangrove
forests of this wetland ecosystem
rich in wildlife. Get close to Pacific
gray whales in winter months or
spot bald eagles, magnificent
frigatebirds, or the endangered
California brown pelican.
Bahía
Magdalena
D
E
Santa Rita
L
Punta Redonda
Bahía
Almejas
Puerto Cort´es
Isla Santa Margarita
San Evaristo
Santa María
de Toris
Isla San Francisco
San Luis Gonzaga Chiriyaqui Mission
Step inside the 1750s stone church
or walk amid the fruit trees of this
mission set in the middle of the desert.
O
A
Puerto
Chale
Isla
Creciente
M
ANGELFISH, CABO PULMO NATIONAL MARINE PARK
OCTAVIO ABURTO / WWW.COLORESDELBERMEJO.COM
Isla
Santa Cruz ISLAS DEL GOLFO
DE CALIFORNIA
Isla
San Diego FLORA AND FAUNA
PROTECTION AREA
Punta Calabozo
Isla Las Animas
Punta Coyote
Bahía Coyote
i
Isla Partida
ARCHIPÍELAGO DE
ESPÍRITU SANTO
NATIONAL PARK
Espíritu
Santo I.
A
Las Pocitas
G
Punta Tosca
D
A
San Juan
de la Costa
Isla
Cerralvo
To FERR
Ma Y
zat
l´an
lv
o
ra
L
House of the Southern Baja
E
Californian Artisan
N
This cooperative has a showroom and
store featuring paintings, sculptures,
and clothing made by local craftspeople.
Pichilingue
Bahía de
La Paz
1
CABO PULMO NATIONAL MARINE PARK
Take a dive into the only coral reef in the Sea of
Cortez and swim among 800 species of marine
animals, including whale sharks, leatherback
turtles, and bottlenosd dolphins. Learn how
Grupo Tortuguero is dedicated to sea turtle
conservation.
Punta Norte
Punta Dispensa
er
lC
na
Ca
113°
Cabo San L´azaro
Villa Morelos
s
Puerto San Carlos
This fishing village and deep-water
port is a favorite birdwatching spot.
Catch a glimpse of resident ospreys
or Brant geese. Go whale-watching.
Topolobampo
Isla San Jos´e
A
Isla Magdalena
22
Espíritu Santo Island
Swim among sea lions, kayak beneath
red rock cliffs, or snorkel alongside
pufferfish, angelfish, and rainbow wrasse
in this biologically diverse protected
area. After camping on the beach, hike
the island and keep an eye out for the
black jackrabbit and a certain type of
antelope ground squirrel found nowhere
else on the planet.
T
E
Ciudad Constituci´on
25°
A
La Paz
La Paz
Foundation Festival
Punta Monta˜na
a
Ventan
a
l
a
í
Bah
B
Sargento
Chametla
G
24°
Calafia
24°
Longitude West
WHALES AND MAN DEPEND ON SQUID
Professor Bill Gilly, Hopkin's Marine
Station:
"One squid can produce a million offspring; the population is absolutely
immense. Sperm whales probably take
out as much squid as man does; they'll
eat half a ton of them a day, one reason
the whale population is very healthy. Up
in Isla San Pedro Mártir I saw six huge
sperm whales doing barrel rolls right
next to the ship."
San Juan
de Los Planes
1
Ensenada
de Muertos
San Pedro Palm fiber baskets and
pottery by local artisans
El Triunfo
Cardonal
Punta Pescadero
San Bartolo
Los Barriles/Buena Vista
San Antonio
El Rosario
Heart of the “East Cape” and perfect spot
for fishing, kayaking, or windsurfing
Los Barriles
Buena Vista
La Ribera
Punta Arena
19
1
SIERRA LA LAGUNA
TROPIC OF CANCER
Cultural Center and
Museum of Todos Santos
View colonial artifacts, local handicrafts,
and larger-than-life murals depicting the
peninsula’s history. Attend a folk dancing workshop or painting demo during
the week-long annual art festival.
K6824 ft
2080 m
BIOSPHERE
Todos Santos
Punta Lobos
Todos Santos
Todos Santos
Art Festival RESERVE
El Pescadero
111°
CATHOLIC CHURCH, TODOS SANTOS
BERNARD FRIEL / DANITA DELIMONT / ALAMY
Santiago
Miraflores
CABO PULMO
NATIONAL PARK
Handmade leather goods
and wooden handicrafts
´
San Jose
Mario Reyes, squid fisherman, Santa
Rosalía:
"It is risky out here. The squid’s beak is
sharp, and we bathe in its ink. By law,
we can only fish by hand with hooks,
which keeps the fishery sustainable—
very tiring, but worth it. When the copper mines in town closed, there was no
way to make a living until we began fishing squid. Santa Rosalía now depends on
the squid fishery, even though it is not a
food we are accustomed to eating.
Asians buy most of our catch.”
La Paz
View cave painting reproductions, colonial
objects, and other artifacts at the Regional
Museum of Anthropology and History. Try the
fish tacos and ceviche at either El Bismark
or El Bismarkcito. Stroll along the six-milelong Malecón, a lively waterfront promenade
perfect for eating ice cream and watching
the sunset. Find out if Los Huizapoles, a
popular musical, theatrical, and comic duo,
are currently performing in town.
112° of Greenwich
The real celebrities found off peninsular
shores are the 31 species of dolphin and
whales whose feathered geysers you’ll
spot on the horizon. None are more
impressive than the sperm whales, the
largest toothed mammals in the world.
They hunt the Gulf’s most mysterious
and prolific creature, the torpedo-like
Humboldt squid. In Santa Rosalía, witness the sunset exodus of 200 outboarddriven pangas, speeding offshore for a
night of squid fishing, a bobbing city of
lights on the Sea of Cortez.
SPERM WHALES, GULF OF CALIFORNIA
FIDEICOMISO ESTATAL DE TURISMO BCS
N
Sustaining Seas
Music, Food, Heritage & Nature
Puerto
Agua Verde
G
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
San Antonio
de la Higuera
Isla Santa Catalina
Home to the giant barrel cactus
and a rattle-less rattlesnake
I
114°
Isla Monserrat
G
115°
PARK
Ensenada
Blanca
Ciudad Insurgentes
Sa
nL
Los Mochis E
Isla Danzante
1
L
TODOS SANTOS
JON ARNOLD IMAGES / ALAMY
Puerto Adolfo
L´opez Mateos
SINALOA
NATIONAL
L
Miguel Angel De la Cueva, photographer,
La Paz:
"While climbing the Sierra de la Giganta
years ago, I was awestruck by its
grandeur, and felt the need to share its
force and beauty. If my photographs can
make a person feel this same passion,
then perhaps they will help to protect
these places. This has become my work.”
Isla Carmen
Punta San Telmo
Llanos
de Hiray
ISLA CORONADOS, LORETO BAY
MIGUEL ÁNGEL DE LA CUEVA / WWW.PLANETAPENINSULA.ORG
on a secluded beach
Villa Ignacio Zaragoza
Boca La Soledad
Tim Means, founder, Baja Expeditions:
“There’s no place where we have the
possibility to save so much of the
world’s wildlife than what we have
here in the Sea of Cortez right now.
Once it’s gone, you can’t put it back.”
Walk the sand dunes, view
A
Copyright © 2007 National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C.
San Javier
Santo Domingo
Isla Magdalena
When the San Andreas Fault divorced
the peninsula from the North American
mainland a few million years back, not
only did it create the world’s youngest
sea, it left behind some tectonic
orphans: over 200 of them. (A few newer
volcanic islands have added to their
number.) These islands, powered by
nutrient-rich seas, raced down the
evolutionary highway, becoming home
to the largest number of endemic
species in North America: chuckwallas,
rattlesnakes, jackrabbits, spiders,
scorpions, squirrels, lizards, plants
and insects. This astounding diversity
prompted UNESCO to recognize the
Gulf’s islands as a World Heritage Site.
And it’s why a network of national
parks—the Loreto, San Lorenzo, and
Espíritu Santo marine parks, the Bahía
´
de los Angeles
and Upper Gulf biospheres—have been created to
protect these islands.
LORETO saltworks ruins, and sunbathe
Danzante Resort
This luxurious eco-resort employs
Poza Grande its neighbors only and is built
from renewable and handmade
materials. Take in the sea panorama from your private hilltop suite,
spend the day in the mountains
or sea, and enjoy a meal from
the organic garden.
Puerto Adolfo López Mateos
Book a whale-watching trip, go
sportfishing, or birdwatch in this
friendly port city.
Nopol´o
G
Loreto
BAHÍA DE
L
Visit www.discoverbajacalifornia.com and
www.explorebajasur.com to learn more about points
of interest on the peninsula of Baja California.
o
m
Our Lady of Loreto Festivities,
E Loreto Foundation Festival
E
Michael Cope, owner, Galería de Todos
Santos:
"This is an oasis in the desert—the
clarity of light, the water, even the way
cows walk across the road—everything
a painter needs is in Todos Santos. We
work with the town to preserve this
regional character. Seeing how popular
we’ve become, the town realizes what's
at stake; we now have building codes to
keep it historical. And the art community
has initiated school art programs.”
Text by Charlie Kulander, author; Tom Miller, editor. Map
notes by Angela Burnford.
D
Funded by National Geographic Expeditions, Lindblad
Expeditions, and the Mexican Fund for the Conservation of
Nature (FMCN). Prepared by National Geographic Maps and
the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations
in collaboration with the Sonoran Institute, the Baja
California Tourism Office, and the Baja California Sur
Tourism Office.
Isla Coronados
1680 m
K
San Jos´e de Comond´u
Nuestra Señora de Loreto Mission
and Mission Museum
Las Barrancas
Whether it's folkloric art along the border or the government-sponsored Casas
de Cultura found in the dustiest of towns,
you’ll feel the vital artistic pulse of the
peninsula. Resident artists—Mexican and
international—are interpreting sea and
desert in startling new ways, a vibrancy
that fills the galleries in Todos Santos
and elsewhere. Inspired by their surroundings, artists increasingly work to
conserve them.
National Geographic and the people of the states of Baja
California and Baja California Sur present this Geotourism
MapGuide to the peninsula of Baja California.
DANCERS IN CABO SAN LUCAS
DOUGLAS PEEBLES / CORBIS
5512 ft
A
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 26°
Todos Santos Art Festival Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
(end of January or early February) Exhibits and performances by local and regional artists, musicians, filmmakers, and
artisans, workshops, and conferences www.todossantosbaja.com/todos-santos/art/art-festival.htm
Gray Whale Festival Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur (end
of January to mid-February) Promotes the opening of the
whale-watching season with music and entertainment, local
food, horse racing, and fireworks www.bajaquest.com/sidetrips/sidetrip04.htm
Baja Prog Mexicali, Baja California (March) Largest progressive rock concert in Mexico drawing bands and fans from all
around the world www.bajaprog.org/webring_progordie.php
Festival of San José del Cabo San José del Cabo, Baja
California Sur (mid-March) Beginning with parties and music,
this festival continues for 11 days with carnivals and
parades on weekends www.mexperience.com/guide/
beaches/sanjosedelcabo.htm
La Paz Foundation Festival La Paz, Baja California Sur (first
week in May) Exhibits and concerts celebrate the founding
of La Paz on May 3, 1535 www.lapaz-tourism.com
Festivities of the Holy Cross, Valle de Mexicali, Baja
California (May) Traditional religious celebration featuring
dancing, music, and colorful costumes www.cucapah.org
San Ignacio de Loyola Fair and Festival San Ignacio, Baja
California Sur (last week of July) Festival honors the town’s
patron saint and includes horse races, music, dances,
religous celebrations, sports events, and fireworks
www.mexonline.com/cityguide-sanignacio.htm
Fiestas de la Vendimia Ensenada, Baja California (August)
Presentation of the wines of Baja California accompanied by
music, food tasting and art www.fiestasdelavendimia.com
Our Lady of Loreto Festivities Loreto, Baja California Sur
(September 5-8) Honors Loreto's patron saint and Baja's
first mission with a series of religious, civic, and cultural
activities including pilgrimages, baptisms, sport-fishing
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,
parades, carnival rides, and food booths featuring regional
cuisine www.fiestasdelsol.com.mx
Loreto Foundation Festival Loreto, Baja California Sur
(October 19-25) Celebrates the founding of Baja’s first town
www.loreto.com
Puerto Nuevo Lobster Festival Puerto Nuevo, Baja California
(October) Live music, crafts, local wine sampling, folklorico
dancing, contests, and lobster feast www.puertonuevo
lobster.com/puerto-nuevo-lobster-festival.htm
San Felipe Shrimp Festival San Felipe, Baja California
(November) Big block party with three days of music, dancing, seafood, and beach fun www.sanfelipe.com.mx
R
Desert Visions
116°
San Isidro
La Purísima
Bahía San Juanico
Punta Mangles
San Juan Bautista Londo
R
San Juanico
World-renown surf spot
117°
Bahía San Juanico
I
SUR
Batequi
KAYAKING, ENSENADA GRANDE, ISLA PARTIDA
RALPH LEE HOPKINS
AN EVOLUTIONARY TREASURE
Punta Concepci´on
Muleg´e
Ignacio
n
Sa
Mexico’s Galápagos
(SEA OF CORTEZ)
Punta Chivato
Isla Santa In´es
Bahía Santa In´es
San Jos´e de
Magdalena
Quiriego
ECiudad Obreg´on
i´ o
pc
Laguna San Ignacio
This World Heritage Site is the only
remaining gray whale breeding
lagoon considered undisturbed
by human development. Take an
educational boating and camping
expedition with Ecoturismo Kuyimá
and observe adult whales and their
young offspring.
EEsperanza
GULF OF CALIFORNIA
San Marcos
ce
Co n
O C E A N
San Ignacio Kadakaamán Mission
This impressive Spanish colonial
church has four-foot-thick walls of
local volcanic stone, a grand exterior façade with cornices, moldings,
and engraved stone plaques, and
an interior altar of carved wood
and gold.
San Lino
San Ignacio
San Ignacio de Loyola
Fair and Festival
Bahía
P A C I F I C
n Hip
Vicam
Isla San Marcos
In between diving and fishing, be
sure to check out the carvings
made by local fishermen.
ISLAS DEL GOLFO
DE CALIFORNIA
FLORA AND FAUNA
PROTECTION AREA
1
Rosario
Marina del Rey
Isla Tortuga
6365 ft
1940 m
Regional foods such as dates and figs
Vendor of traditional handicrafts
EL VIZCAÍNO BIOSPHERE RESERVE
San Pablo
Empalme
Guaymas
E
RY
FER
CI
A
AN
C
K
Emiliano Zapata
K
3018 ft
920 m
Punta Santa Ana
Bahía Santa Ana
S
G
San Carlos
Isla San Pedro Nolasco
Santa Rosalía
Wooden homes with balconies and
porches replaced disordered adobe
structures when a French mining
company founded this town. Stroll
streets lined by original pastel-hued
structures, grab a fresh baguette at
Panadería El Boleo, in business since
1901, and stop in the library for
photos of the town’s mining heyday.
FR
Z
I
Bahía
San Crist´obal
ER
AN
Vizcaíno
Punta Morro Hermoso
Laguna Ojo de Liebre
Considered one of the best whalewatching spots in the world, this
World Heritage Site provides refuge
for breeding gray whales and their
calves during the winter.
SI
V
Trudi Angell, tour operator, Loreto:
“In March 1978, we paddled out of the
channel across to Isla Danzante in the
moonlight surrounded by whale blows
to begin a month-long paddle down the
coast to La Paz. It was a magical night.
Thirty years later, and I’m still here.”
Pe n í n s u l a d e
28°N
Bahía San Carlos
E
Pedro Cole, bodysurfer, La Paz:
"Some of the best waves come up from
the south, driven by severe summer
storms. Surf breaks that lie dormant—
where you never see waves—suddenly
turn into some of the most incredible
breaks you'll ever ride. Where are the
best spots? You gotta be kidding. You
have to find these places yourself."
O
Pozo Nuevo
BIOSPHERE RESERVE
San Nicol´as
NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LORETO MISSION
AND MISSION MUSEUM
Founded in 1697 and considered the first
successful mission on the peninsula. Visit
the museum, which depicts the lives of
both natives and missionaries, and the
original stone church, recently restored.
Cabo San Miguel
Benito Ju´arez
mo jo de
Liebre
n’s
Lagoon)
Onavas
ISLA SAN PEDRO MARTIR
Bahía San Juan Bautista
D
Giant winter swells slant down the
peninsula's west coast, curling into
waves sought by the world’s best
surfers, while 50 miles away, kayakers
glide on flatiron seas. That's the diversity this narrow peninsula offers: you can
encounter a placid Caribbean-like beach
on one side, Hawaii's North Shore on the
other, and tackle the Sierras in between
—all in one day. And if you're prepared
for a multi-sport adventure, the weather
will never shut you down.
Bahía Tortugas
Punta Clambey
Las Avispas
Ortiz
El Arco
O
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
Santa Eduwiges
T
un
Lag(Scam
a
Bahía Tortugas
Isla San Lorenzo
1
COMPLEJO LAGUNAR
OJO DE LIEBRE
BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Falsa
Punta
Valle Verde
Isla Turner
Isla San Esteban
NATIONAL PARK
Mission Santa Gertrudis la Magna
Small stone church built in 1752
and its freestanding bell tower a
short distance away.
G
Isla Natividad
An Endless Summer
E R
S I
D E
3937 ft
1200 m
K
SAN LORENZO
EMiguel Alem´an
Bahía Kino
Bahía San Rafael
Punta Ballena
Punta San Francisquito
Puerto San Francisquito
Isla San Pedro M´artir
5938 ft
1810 m
Villa Jes´us María
Kino Nuevo
Bahía Kino
World’s primary breeding spot for
Heermann’s gulls and elegant terns
ARCHIPÍELAGO DE
s
Cerro la Sandia
K
29°
Bacanora
Santa María
de
ue
ip
Punta Santa Rosaliíta
15
GB
(Shark I.)
Isla
Partida
Isla Rasa
La Única Ecotourism Camp
Solar panels generate electricity for
cabins at this natural reserve. Take
a guided educational desert hike,
photographic sea tour, or fishing trip.
109°
Hermosillo
SONORA
Punta Chueca
Isla Tibur´on
ls
Sa
al
15
BAHÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES,
CANALES DE BALLENAS
Y SALSIPUEDES
Bahía de
los Angeles BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Bahía
Las Animas
Well-preserved stone church
completed in 1801 and still in use today
GUADALUPE ISLAND BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Scuba dive, whale-watch, or observe great
white sharks on this remote volcanic
island and sole reproduction zone for the
Guadalupe fur seal.
FLORA AND FAUNA PROTECTION AREA
n
Ca
0 km
AREA
Punta Prieta
110°
NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LORETO MISSION
PURESTOCK / GETTY IMAGES
ISLAS DEL GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA
Isla
Coronado
Punta María
0 mi
(Guardian Angel I.)
s
Punta Blanco
29°
BAY OF LOS ANGELES, WHALES AND
SALSIPUEDES CHANNELS BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Find yourself sleeping under the stars,
paddling through shaded coves, or exploring
arid desert islands that rise out of the
turquoise sea. When birdwatching for pelicans and ospreys, cast your eyes downward
for the chance to see a humpback whale in
this newly-established protected area.
El Desemboque
Isla Angel
de la Guarda
Cerro Dos Picachos
K
1
na
lle el)
Ba nn
e ha
ld sC
na ale
Ca (Wh
KMonte Augusta
BIOSPHERE RESERVE
FLORA AND FAUNA
La Polvareda
RR
Punta Canoas
Punta del Norte
Las Cuevitas
T
LOS CIRIOS
Punta San Carlos
CHIHUAHUA
FE
na
Puerto Libertad
R
a
oc
aB
Isla San Luis Gonzaga
Bahía San
Luis Gonzaga
30°
E
VALLE DE
L
Cataviña
Bring your camera on a desert hike
amid endemic blue palms and Cirios,
giant Cardon cacti—the world’s
largest cactus, and the boulder field
where centuries of wind has shaped
hills and valleys of smooth rock.
Isla San Luis
Punta Bufeo
S
Cataviña Cave Paintings
Ancient yet vivid figures of yellow,
red, and brown on walls and ceiling
of a small desert cave.
San Carlos
(SEA OF CORTEZ)
Punta Santa Isabel
Isla el Muerto
Isla Lobos
Isla Encantada
B AJ A
E
Punta San Antonio
Trincheras
GULF OF CALIFORNIA
C A L I F O R NI A
Bahía Rosario
Los Tanques
Puerto Lobos
E
lR
Puertecitos
SONORA
A
Puertecitos Hot Springs
Bask in your choice of these
geothermally-heated pools
cooled by tidal seawater.
U
ME .S.
XIC
O
I
RN
FO Z )
LI TE
CA O R
OF F C
LF A O
GU (SE
6447 ft
1965 m
NEW
MEXICO
ARIZONA
SINALOA
D
La Lobera
Peer over the edge of what appears to
be a vast seaside crater, actually a
collapsed cave, for a look at the sea
lions who reside deep below.
Cuauht´emoc
o
Nuevo Uruapan
El Rosario
Punta Baja
Magdalena
de Kino E
Punta San Fermin
K
CALIFORNIA
ENLARGED
FAR LEFT
N
30°
1
Oquitoa
Altar
A
Mama Espinosa’s
Known for lobster burritos
and warm hospitality
Atil
R
ar
os
orget about calling this 800-mile-long
peninsula Baja or "Lower" California. This
was California, named that way on maps
BAJA
long before the first mission bells pealed
CALIFORNIA
Isla
Guadalupe
over San Diego.
The early explorers may have put this peninsuBAJA
CALIFORNIA
la on the map, but they failed miserably in their
SUR
search for treasure. Thank goodness they didn’t
PACIFIC
make much of an impact on the land, most of
OCEAN
AREA
ENLARGED
which looks now as it did when Cortez abandoned the peninsula: stark, defiantly beautiful,
intimidating.
Yet the spines and barbs are just an evolutionary defense protecting
its gentler side. Walking in an arroyo after my first Baja summer
thunderstorm—hummingbirds probing ocotillo flowers, fat mesquite
pods dangling on the branch—I realized that this peninsula was a
sleeping beauty, needing only the kiss of water to awaken.
The Californios have always known this, and have managed a centuries-old balance of limited resources that could serve as a lesson to us
all. You might see some vacation developments threatening this balance,
places tilting more towards fantasy than reality. But remember, this
peninsula is the original California, and its California Dream isn’t makebelieve. It’s defined by the distinctive places you’ll find on this map,
judged by the people who actually live here as being the peninsula’s
most authentic treasures. Visiting them enriches your journey, and
sustains their future. They and their visitors agree with John Steinbeck:
"A dream hangs over the whole region.”
—Charlie Kulander, travel author
La Tubutama
O
San Quintín Bay
Blue and purple sea grass beds
provide winter habitat for the Pacific
black brant goose, and coastal
marshes shelter the light footed
clapper rail. Bring binoculars and
walk for miles on deserted beaches,
or view ruins of an old mill, now
home to a bayside restaurant.
F
31°
N
Cabo San Quintín
a
arí
ta M
n
a
aS
Bahí
TIR
Isla San Martín
 R
MA
GUADALUPE VALLEY WINE REGION
Wine producers of this temperate valley
harvest grapes that yield over eighty percent of Mexico’s wines. Stop at vineyards
and restaurants along the Wine Route—
pick up a map at Baja Tourism offices.
Sierra San Pedro Mártir
National Park
Snow falls on granite mountain
peaks rising abruptly out of sea and
desert. Climb to the highest point
on the peninsula for a view of both
coasts, and watch for golden
eagles and condors flying overhead.
UPPER GULF OF CALIFORNIA AND COLORADO
RIVER DELTA BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Wetlands and estuaries provide refuge for
the endangered Gulf of California harbor
porpoise and other endemic species.
Birdwatch in Montague and Pelicano
Islands. Tour Roca Consag by boat.
O
O
EDR
N P
Vicente Guerrero
E
San Quintín
Algodon
Valley of the Giants
You’ll need to crane your neck to
see the tops of these giant cardon
cacti that tower over the desert
Laguna Perceb´u landscape of this natural reserve.
S
PEDRO MARTIR
Camal´u
L´azaro C´ardenas E
Bahía San Felipe
(Devil’s Peak) 3096 m
ON THE PENINSULA, THE DREAM IS REAL
S´aric
eb
re
Ruben Jaramillo
Los Molinos
Roca Consag
L
Cabo Colonet
Bahía Colonet
San Felipe
Shrimp Festival
Santa Clara
La
s
31°
Highest point in
Baja California
Altar
Colonet
NA
117°
What is geotourism all about?
According to National Geographic, geotourism “sustains
or enhances the geographical character of a place—its
environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the wellbeing of its residents.” Geotravelers, then, are people who
like that idea, who enjoy authentic sense of place and
care about maintaining it. They find that relaxing and
having fun gets better—provides a richer experence—
when they get involved in the place and learn about
what goes on there.
Geotravelers soak up local culture, hire local guides,
buy local foods, protect the environment, and take pride
in discovering and observing local customs. Travel-spending choices can help or hurt, so geotravelers patronize
establishments that care about conservation, preservation, beautification, and benefits to local people.
SIERRA LA L
AGU
9:44 AM
Y
1/15/08
SUNSET ON SANTA CATALINA ISLAND
RALPH LEE HOPKINS
Baja map side
Bahía Los Frailes
Boca de la Vinorama
San Jos´e Viejo Santa Catarina
San José del Cabo
Candelaria
Punta Gorda
E
Festivities
San Jos´e
Migri˜no
G
del Cabo
23°
Bahía
San Jos´e
del Cabo
Cabo San Lucas EBahía San Lucas
Cabo Falso
CABO SAN LUCAS
FLORA AND FAUNA
PROTECTION AREA
23°
San José Estuary
This protected bird sanctuary is
home to more than 250 bird
species, including egrets, pelicans,
and frigatebirds. Wander the quiet
paths or kayak the lagoon.
109°
TODOS SANTOS
Sculptors, dancers, and surfers alike call this historic seaside town home. Start your day with
warm bread from family-owned Panadería Todos
Santos. Tour Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Todos
Santos Mission, built in 1786. Browse shelves of
hard-to-find books at Tecolote Bookstore.
110°
Baja theme side
1/15/08
10:08 AM
Page 1
Peninsula of
Baja California
LAND OF EPIC VISIONS AND UNEXPECTED TRAVELS
La Mesa
ARIZONA
AREA ENLARGED
Cuchuma Mountain
Stop and smell the lilacs,
artemisia, and sage, or birdwatch
for golden eagles and red-tailed
hawks. Find the rock-slab altar at
the peak of this mountain considered sacred to the Kumiai.
Lemon Grove
San Diego E
E
Coronado E
5
ENational City
CALIFORNIA
Family-friendly working ranch
with camping, cabins, and many
recreational activities
E
E
La Misi´on
E
E
San Antonio
Necua
E
Punta Banda
La
E
or
lvad
Sa
E
Maneadero
(Rodolfo S´anchez Taboada)
Geotraveler Tips
ISLAS DEL
A
S
I
N
E
P
D
N
P E
E
K
R
R
Í N
O
Punta Santa Rosa
S
BAJA
U
R
Digital cameras work best, as image quality does
not deteriorate in heat. Flash is prohibited
around cave paintings and in most museums.
Instead, boost ISO to 800 or 1200. For wildlife
photos, keeping your distance with a telephoto
lens reflects humane consideration and ensures
quality pictures.
L
C
E
A
El Coyote
A
N
C
Ba
E
hí
a
P
SUR
1
C
I
E
Co
D
San Buenaventura
O
San
Sebasti´an
E
Isla San Ildefonso
ci
E
ep
N
nc
Canyon La Trinidad
Prehistoric cave paintings well
worth the scenic yet challenging
canyon hike and river crossings to
get there. Your journey starts at
nearby Rancho la Trinidad to see
the larger-than-life figures, including a giant red deer and human
figure. Experienced guide required.
Weather
Punta Santa Teresa
O
CALIFORNIA
Bahía
Coyote
I. Coyote
´on
Bahía
San Nicol´as
ESanta
Rosalita
Cadej´e
San Nicol´as
E
E
L
Punta
P´ulpito
A
LA PUR ÍSIMA OASIS
Picnic under date palm trees, swim in the
river, or stroll the village streets. Thirteenhundred-foot rock formation El Pilón beckons serious rock climbers.
ERosarito
Summer hurricanes get the publicity, but
Nor tes—the northerly gale-force winds of winter
on the Sea of Cortez—are a bigger hazard to
small craft. Listen to AM radio. If Santa Ana
winds are forecast in Southern California,
prepare for Nor tes whistling down the Gulf,
especially during the months of January and
February. VHF and single sideband radios
broadcast the latest weather reports.
Cultural Differences
G
Calafia
E
Golf
Hotels
Whenever possible, lodge at locally owned
independent hotels where your money trickles
through the local economy. Give preference also
to hotels that make a point of supporting local
conservation, communities, and culture. Laundry
squanders precious water; reuse towels and
sheets when practical.
San Juan
de los Planes
San Pedro
ESan
1
E
San Bartolo
Bahía de Las Palmas
E
Los
CALIFORNIA
19
Barriles
EBuena
Vista
SUR
ELa
EPunta
6824 ft
PA CIF IC
OCE AN
TROPIC OF CANCER
Colorada
Punta Arena
BIOSPHERE
Todos Santos E
Todos Santos Inn
Tranquil 19th-century hacienda with
heated pool, gardens, and wine bar
SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO
Meander the laid-back streets lined with
colonial buildings, bougainvillea, and
palms. Explore art galleries and boutiques.
Listen to live music on the town plaza.
RESERVE
Santiago
E
Cabo CABO PULMO
Cabo Pulmo EPulmo
Miraflores
Cadua˜no
Santiago
Tour the rebuilt mission church. Visit
the zoo and view parrots, coyotes,
reptiles, and native creatures.
Los
Frailes
E
E
1
T
A
PLAZA, SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO
JULIO RODRÍGUEZ R.
N
E
Jose
´
A
San Juan
Bautista Londo
Tía Licha’s
Step out onto your balcony to
watch the sunrise over the sea,
return inside for your traditional
Mexican breakfast (made by Tía
Licha herself), and set out for a
day on deserted beaches or
scenic mountains.
2080 m
K
a
1312 ft
400 m
Ribera
SIERRA LA LAGUNA
n
Sa
im
Punta Pescadero
Cactus Sanctuary
G
EL PILÓN, LA PURÍSIMA OASIS
FIDEICOMISO ESTATAL DE TURISMO BCS
ECardonal
Antonio
BAJA
A big chunk of a national park's revenue comes
from entrance fees. While tour outfitters usually
are responsible for paying their clients' fees, if
you are traveling independently, inquire locally
where to pay. Coastal parks have a very limited
fleet of patrol boats, but you can help out by
reporting park infractions such as a sea turtle
capture or a shrimp boats dragging nets in protected waters.
GULF OF CALIFORNIA
(SEA OF CORTEZ)
El Triunfo
After the 1750s discovery of gold
and silver, wealth-seeking
Europeans flocked here and built a
grand mining empire. The 130foot-tall main chimney still stands,
along with smelter and mine ruins.
1
El Pil´on
K
ESan Isidro
ELa Purísima
La Purísima Oasis
E
E
El Rosario E
Practice good etiquette at unprotected petrogylph and pictograph sites: don't take rubbings
or touch them with your hands. The oils on your
fingers can affect potential dating techniques
and accelerate their deterioration. Instead of
rubbings, use a camera to preserve the images
and shoot early or late, in oblique light, to
accentuate the design.
de
los Muertos
Ensenada de Muertos
1
National Parks
Visiting Archaeological Sites
24°N
EEnsenada
Stick to links with eco-focused management
systems including gray water irrigation and
saline-tolerant hybrid grass (the rare exception
here, not the rule).
I
s
rí
La Pu
Punta Arena de la Ventana
Bahía la Ventana
L A
Whether you're a local resident or foreign visitor,
allow plenty of social leeway to avoid cultural
misunderstandings. Visitors, carry a Spanish
dictionary, or at least a guidebook with a good
language glossary.
ESargento
es
R R A
S I E
A
5380 ft
1640 m
Photography
al
vo
S
R
Santa Rosalía
de Mulegé Mission
al
R
o
Punta Concepci´on
EMuleg´e
G
A
E
Mulegé
Part fishing town, part genuine
Mexican village, part scenic paradise. Explore the narrow streets or
comb the beach by day and camp
along the river under palm trees at
night. Don’t miss the folk dancers
at Hotel Serenidad’s pig roast or
the margaritas at Los Equipales.
EChametla
AD
I
Bahía Santa In´es
NT
27°N
PI
S
PROTECTION AREA
E
B
La Paz
BALANDRA BEACH
Wade through the opalescent blue-green
water of this shallow bay and view 12-foottall “Mushroom Rock,” a well-known landmark and symbol of La Paz. With its mangroves and mountain backdrop, this public
beach, threatened by development, is a
focal point for conservation efforts.
ISLAS DEL
GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA
FLORA AND FAUNA
PROTECTION AREA
LA
(SEA OF CORTEZ)
Isla Santa In´es
El Centenario
Tam
GULF OF CALIFORNIA
San Jos´e
Ede Magdalena
A long-term rental in an integrated community
proclaims your compatibility with local culture,
and avoids the tourist bubble that dwelling in
high-end resorts consigns you to. Buying into a
new housing development in a remote, pristine
area will speed its deterioration. Nor should you
buy into a place on your first trip when you’re
wearing rose-tinted glasses; stay nearby a couple
of times. Check for year-round electricity, hurricane protection, insurance, waste and sewage
disposal, and especially potable water. Seek a
house that fits into the desert surroundings,
aesthetically, culturally, ecologically.
Stick to trails that have been around for decades
if not centuries. The desert ecology is easily
scarred by errant footsteps. (And getting lost is a
real danger.) As a custodian of the wild, be
proactive and clean up after others who have
gone before you.
Península
El Mogote
Ens e nad a
La Pa z
RA
Real Estate
FLORA AND FAUNA
Campsites
Isla
Cerralvo
rr
E
Bring small denomination Mexican bills, especially
to rural areas where it may be impossible to break
a 500-peso note. You'll get the best exchange rate
at the ATMs found in all the larger cities.
ER
San Marcos
Money
Ba hí a de
La Paz
Ce
GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA
EPichilingue
l
Lucas
Leave footprints, not trash. Shells and driftwood
are part of the fragile beach habitat; leave them
in their place. Keep in mind that campfires can
scar beaches for years and are illegal on the
Gulf's islands. Finally, Mexico maintains a public
right-of-way from the mean high tide line to 66
feet inland, even in front of exclusive resorts.
(Local beach peddlers know this!)
SI
SANTA ROSALÍA DE MULEGÉ MISSION
Step inside the picturesque 18th-century
lime and stone church to see the original
statue of Saint Rosalía. Outside, follow the
rocky steps for a panorama of the surrounding hills, river, and palm tree forest.
Isla San Marcos
EEl Tecolote
Balandra
Beach
On the Beach
To Mazatl´an
na
Punta San Lucas
Seeking real regional cuisine? Skip pre-trip provisioning; you'll find everything you need prowling
the peninsula's modern supermarkets found in all
the larger cities, and things you’ve never heard of
at roadside stands and mini-mercados. Don't
miss the specialties of the smaller towns: sweet
raisins, pitahaya fruit, dates, Mission grape wine.
FERRY
El Angel Azul
Bright, traditional colors fill the guestrooms of this family-owned B&B,
originally the town’s courthouse and
recently restored. Step under the
hacienda-style arches into the garden
and enjoy a traditional Mexican
breakfast before taking a short walk
to the waterfront.
Punta Lupona
Punta Dispensa
BALANDRA BEACH
TRAVIS ROWAN / ALAMY
ESanta Rosalía
Food
ARCHIPÍELAGO DE
ESPÍRITU SANTO
NATIONAL
PARK
A
ymas
a
To Gu
Isla Ballena
Isla
Espíritu
Santo
Ca
MISSION OF SANTA ROSALÍA DE MULEGÉ
MARCO REGALIA / ALAMY
Y
FERR
Isla Partida
Desert Ecology
Ironwood trees are the Florence Nightingales of
the desert, nursing hundreds of plant species
under their shade canopies. Wood from these
rapidly disappearing trees, some 800 years old,
have been converted to woodcarvings and
mesquite charcoal. Admire the trees, but avoid
purchasing their carvings or their charcoal. Keep
ATVs and similar off-road vehicles on established
roads and paths, doing otherwise violates regulations and scars the land for years, even decades.
BETWEEN LA PAZ AND SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO
110°W
L A
G U
N
Focus on what's authentic. Not only will you gain
greater cultural insight, your targeted pesos will
help local communities conserve local tradition
and protect natural resources. Baja Californios
typically respond with enthusiasm and heartfelt
hospitality to any traveler curious about their
daily lives.
Isla Tortuga
dr
Pe
ALTO GOLFO DE CALIFORNIA
Y DELTA DEL RÍO COLORADO
How to Help the Baja California Region
Retain Its Character
ra
Sier cisco
To n Fran
Sa
n
Sa
32°N
5
Isla
Montague
Bufadora
112°W
Tres Vírgenes
Santa Barbara Church
The town’s main tourist attraction is
the all-steel church that was prefabricated in France before being shipped
to the current site in pieces.
Laguna Hanson
1857 Constitution National Park
Hike through pine forests, go mountain
biking, or camp beside fresh-water
Hanson’s Lagoon in this park named in
honor of the 1857 signing of Mexico’s
constitution.
BIOSPHERE RESERVE
GUADALUPE CANYON
Explore desert landscape and palm groves
at the foot of granite mountains. Swim in
spring-fed pools. Tour prehistoric rock art
sites. Unwind in the private outdoor hot
tub at your campsite.
Ejido Luis E. Johnson
E
BIOSPHERE RESERVE
15
ESan
NATIONAL PARK
Z
n
Sa
Cucapá Community Museum
The Cucapá have inhabited this
region for 3,000 years and today
struggle to subsist in a severely
environmentally degraded area.
The museum recounts their history
and exhibits traditional handicrafts
and clothing.
E
Bahía
Todos Santos
SONORA
dy
R
Ensenada
ar
A
3
Ensenada
GRAN DESIERTO DE ALTAR
Guadalupe Canyon
1857 CONSTITUTION
Huerta
E
B. S´anchez
J U
E
15
15
1
Carranza
15
0 mi
Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve
Gray whales frequent coastal
lagoons and fruit-bearing cacti
color the inland arid landscape of
Mexico’s largest protected area.
View cave paintings—there are
more than 200 in the Sierra San
Francisco, hike the desert, or
explore islands and wetlands.
E
Colonia
A
R R
S I E
Ojos Negros
Isla de Todos Santos
E
Guadalupe Victoria
CALIFORNIA
San Antonio de las Minas
BETWEEN SANTA ROSALÍA AND MULEGÉ
CUESTA
DEL INFIERNO
BAJA
E
Punta San Miguel
La Bufadora
At the rocky tip of Punta Banda
peninsula, water shoots upward as
far as 80 feet above sea level,
making this the second largest
marine geyser in the world.
HUSSONG’S CANTINA, ENSENADA
CLAUDE VOGEL
San Antonio Necua
Indigenous Community
Take a guided hike, go horseback
riding, or learn basket-weaving at this
Kumiai Indian community. Learn about
medicinal plant uses, hear traditional
music, and camp at the Siñao Kuatay
Kumiai Recreational Center.
Marcos
Punta Ensenada
ITE
DS
TAT
ES
MEX
ICO
Le´on
EL PINACATE Y
E
La
PA C I FI C
OCEAN
UN
2
Tajo Canyon
Spectacular El Trono Blanco,
Mexico’s tallest monolith at 1,970
feet, rises out of a rugged boulderand palm-tree-strewn gorge.
Climbing and hiking this rugged landscape is not for the faint of heart.
3
Punta Salsipuedes
San Luis
Río Colorado
E
Luis
Francisco Zarco
ESan
E
Salada
H
Biannual ride along
scenic coastal highway
Guadalupe Valley Community
Museum
Locally made Indian crafts and
memorabilia from early Russian
immigrants, all housed in a 1905
Russian cottage.
0 km
ENuevo
Laguna
Las Calabazas
Rosarito Ensenada 50 Mile
Fun Bicycle Ride
0 mi
Laguna Salada
Deposits left from Gulf floods create
exceptionally salty waters in this
shallow, hour-glass-shaped basin.
La Rumorosa Grade
Keep one eye on the steep, winding
highway and another on the impressive mountain scenery as you
descend 4,000 exhilarating feet.
Delta E
Puerto Nuevo
Self-proclaimed “Lobster Capital of
Baja” and home to 30-plus restaurants all serving the same dish:
Puerto Nuevo lobster—crustaceans
pan-fried in lard and served with
San Jos´e
beans, rice, and tortillas.
Ede la Zorra
ESan Luis
NATIONAL PARK
E
Bahía Los Frailes
SIERRA
LA TRIN
IDAD
Punta Descanso
UTE
ARIZONA
2
BIGHORN SHEEP, GUADALUPE CANYON
MIGUEL ANGEL DE LA CUEVA / WWW.PLANETAPENINSULA.ORG
BIK
E RO
Ju´arez
Hermosillo E
3
4199 ft
1280 m K
Cerro Gordo
Rosarito Beach Hotel
Former Prohibition watering hole
for Hollywood royalty. Take in the
lobby’s panoramic murals or the
view of the beach from the bar.
Family-owned since the 1920s.
Rumorosa
Vallecitos
Hike through pine forests and agave
groves to locate several prehistoric
rock paintings. On the winter solstice, a sunbeam enters the cave of
red-colored “El Diablito,” or “Little
Devil,” and illuminates only the
figure’s eyes.
Juntas de Neji-Kumeyaay
Indigenous Community
E
Puebla
o
Valle de las Palmas
Playas de Rosarito E
EBenito
E
5
ELa
Rancho Ojai R.V. Park
G
Puerto Nuevo
Bahía Descanso
6365 ft K
1940 m Volc´an Las
Ciudad Morelos E
G
ad
San Antonio
del Mar
Islas Coronado
0 km
Mexicali
2
Tecate
Tijuana Cultural Center
Considered Baja California’s most
important cultural center, this modern
landmark is home to a concert hall,
IMAX theater, and the Museum of the
Californias. Allow yourself time in the
museum to see the maps, photographs,
tools, and other artifacts that recount
the peninsula’s rich history.
EL VIZCAÍNO BIOSPHERE RESERVE
ELigurta
B
ATES
UNITED ST
CO
MEXI
E
ELa Joya
ENSENADA
Grab a fish taco or scope out the catch of
the day at the lively Fish Market. Kick back
with a cerveza at legendary Hussong’s
Cantina, where Bing Crosby crooned and
John Wayne tipped his hat. Meander
opulent halls of the Riviera de Ensenada
Civic & Cultural Center, once a famed hotel
and casino frequented by celebrities such
as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
Yuma E
ESomerton
Tijuana
AREA
ENLARGED
Los
Algodones
E
Imperial Beach
E
BAJA
CALIFORNIA
SUR
E
Winterhaven
E
Calexico E
EJacumba
AREA
ENLARGED
PA C I F I C
OCEAN
8
8
ol
or
A
IA
N
R )
FO EZ
LI RT
CA CO
OF OF
E
(S
LF
EChula Vista
Tijuana
Walk the lively Avenida Revolución,
Tijuana’s main street, known by
Tijuanans as “La Revu.” Head to Jai
Alai Fronton Palace, which formerly
housed fast-paced Basque ball
games and exhibits impressive
Moorish architecture.
SONORA
Heber E
po
GU
BAJA
CALIFORNIA
115°
Cultural Investigations Center and
Museum of the Autonomous
University of Baja California
View local history exhibits, sculptures and crafts from indigenous
peoples, regional artwork, and more.
C
ITE
D
ME STAT
XIC
O ES
117°
E
To
F
Top ERRY
olo
bam
UN
BETWEEN TIJUANA AND ENSENADA
116°W
SAND DUNES, ISLA MAGDALENA, BAHÍA MAGDALENA
STEPHEN COHEN
DOLPHINS, GULF OF CALIFORNIA
SVEN-OLOF LINDBLAD
CALIFORNIA
Rosalía, you may witness a shimmering mirage of islands
disappearing right before your eyes. You will have
learned a most important lesson: nothing here is what it
seems. It doesn’t matter how you travel—by car or
kayak, sailboat or mountain bike—the wind-whipped
seas, searing heat, mysterious currents, unmarked roads
and trails will interfere with your planned journey,
pulling you towards the unexpected. You can plan your
route, but don’t expect to always follow it.
—Charlie Kulander, travel author
A Quixotic spirit runs through this peninsula. The
rancheros, for example, barely wrest their livelihoods
from an intractable desert, yet name their ranches in
keeping with their epic visions: Rancho Esperanza,
Rancho Progreso, Rancho El Imposible. Hope, Progress,
The Impossible. The clean ocean air washing across
the peninsula lets you see clearly into the sublime
heart of the desert, yet as you drop down the hairpin
Cuesta del Infierno into the furnace-blast heat of Santa
E
Boca
de
la Vinorama
ESanta
G
Catarina
San Jos´e Viejo E
del Cabo
San Jos´e ESan José
E
del Cabo
Playa
Bahía San Jos´e del Cabo
0 mi
0 km
15
15
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.