Posted by SurfMexico Editor
Translated from article by Marisol Méndez Cervantes
Dear reader, on this occasion we will discuss the state of Baja California South, situated in the north-west of Mexico in the southern part of the peninsula with the same name.
To the north, this entity borders the state of Baja California, to the east is the sea of Cortez, to the south and west is the Pacific ocean; it contains 5 municipalities which are, from north to south, Mulegé, Loreto, Comondú, La Paz and Los Cabos. With 2,230 Kms. of coasts, Baja California South holds 17% of the country’s coastline, which represents an enormous potential for tourist resources.
There are attractive waters such as those of Mulegé, San Carlos and López Mateos and that of San José del Cabo. Lovely bays both in the Gulf and on the Pacific, lagoons such as
those at Ojo de Liebre and Juan Juan Ignacio, and the paradisical and solitary islands of the Gulf are of great ecological value.
There are three areas considered ecological reserves: the Sierra de la Laguna, characterized by its distinctive flora and fauna; the Viscaino Biosphere Reserve (Reserva de la Biosfera Viscaíno), the largest in Latin America with an area of 2,546,790 hectares, where, in addition to the grey whale, linx, puma, white pelicans, red-tailed falcons, fisher eagles as well as the Capo Palma coral reefs, are found, amongst many others.
Baja California Sur possesses the greater part of those attractions important to tourism: a benign climate with a mean temperature of 23 degrees Celsius, sport fishing and water sports, historical sites such as its Jesuit missions, archaeological zones, cave paintings, petroglyphs, fossilized deposits of shells and, perhaps most important, the hospitality and kindness of its people.
LA PAZ
Hotels in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
The Capital of the state, founded on May 3, 1535 by Hernan Cortez, is located on the beautiful Bay of La Paz. It is characterized by its marvelous sunsets. It offers fabulous beaches of white, soft sand such as Caromuel, El Caimancito, El Tesoro, Eréndira, Pichilingue, Balandra and El Tecolote; on most of them you can find services such as restaurants, bars, palapas, etc.
Exploring the city, one finds the Cathedral of Our Lady Peace and the town Theatre, with modern installations that house art galleries and the library. In the gardens surrounding the theatre is the Circle
of the Notables and the four windmills, symbol of the La Paz of old. In addition, don´t miss the Government and Legislative Palaces, the Museum of Anthropology and History and the Library of the Californias.
It is a must to take a walk along the malecón (harbor walk) and through the downtown area. An excursion to the Islands of Cerralvo and Espíritu Santo – both ecological paradises – or to Isla Partida, sanctuary of the sea wolves, is an unforgettable experience, especially for those who like to dive, row or simply sunbathe and swim in the transparent waters of their coves.
CABO SAN LUCAS
241 kms from La Paz lies this tourist port, known internationally for its monumental rock arch marking the end of the land and under which the waters of the Pacific unite with those of the Sea of Cortez. Its inhabitants are a gentle and very courteous people. The town sits upon a hilly formation which is part of the mountain range that runs down the peninsula, ending at the famous arch and in beautiful Cabo San Lucas Bay.
A romantic tour is to the arch in a glass-bottomed boat and a visit to the old lighthouse, a monument more than 100 years old. Cabo San Lucas offers spectacular sand cascades and coral reefs. The
beauty of the Amor, Médano and Hacienda beaches will draw you in to swim and above all the fishing tournaments will captivate you. The major attractions of Los Cabos are: Fishing (marlin, sailfish, swordfish and mahi mahi); Diving (at the famous sand cascades and black coral). Its white-sanded beaches
and blue waters against a desert landscape. The famous arch of Cabo San Lucas.
SAN JOSE DEL CABO
San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, hotels
This lovely and historic city, founded on April 8, 1730 by the Jesuit priest Nicolás Tamaral, is located 183 km south of La Paz. There starts the great tourist corridor, 33 kms in length, that ends in Cabo San Lucas. Among the attractions of this city are the inlets and backwaters, with a varied and dense vegetation, as well as endless species of animals which inhabit them. San José also has beautiful beaches such as Costa Azul, Santa María and Punta Palmilla, the latter ideal for windsurfing. Going through town one can visit the Church of San José, the House of Culture, the Municipal Palace, the Arts Garden and of course the downtown area with its shops and bazaars where one can purchase
items made from the black coral in the area.
BAHIAS DE LORETO
The municipality of Loreto has, all in all, the most numerous and loveliest bays in the state, converting it in a favorite place for ecological groups, boating fans and campers. Agua Verde, a set of large and beautiful rocky beaches divided by a cape, is accessed through a dirt road which is part of the Ciudad Insurgentes highway.
MULEGE
Hotels in Mulege, Baja California Sur
One of the prettiest town in Baja California South, Mulege is located 134 km north of Loreto. Perched on the banks of a river that runs into the Mulegé inlet, where it remains almost hidden in the vegetation
and palms, is Santa Rosalía de Mulegé Mission founded 1705 by the Jesuit priest Juan María de Basaldúa. The Mission has an interesting church, a building that was once the state penitenciary, famous for lacking bars and now converted into a museum, as well as various zones where important cave paintings and petroglyphs are to be found.
GUERRERO NEGRO
Guerrero Negro accommodations and hotels
Situated 143 km from San Ignacio, between the desert and the Pacific Ocean. It is characterized by its enormous salt flats, considered the largest in the world and which are the origin and life of this area. Few kilometers away is the Reserva de la Biosfera de Vizcaíno (Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve), to which the lagoon belongs.Ojo de Liebre is the natural refuge of the grey whale which, year after year since time immemorial, returns here to reproduce, a circumstance which has made Guerrero Negro internationally famous for the tourist. From here,too, can be taken excursions to the primitive paintings of the San Francisco mountains.
