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Day 1, Monday. San Diego to Ensenada (125 miles)
We'll cross the border at Tecate, about 50 miles east of San Diego, and take the
long way to Ensenada. Between Tecate and Ensenada we'll ride through the Guadalupe
Valley, the largest wine producing region in all of Mexico. Ensenada is not as much
a tourist town as it is a genuine Mexican city, offering all of the services you
would expect in a big town — supermarkets, hospitals, plenty of shopping,
and much more. We can visit Hussong's Cantina, opened in 1892, where it's hard to
beat the margaritas and live mariachis that help make this one of the most famous
bars in the world. Ensenada is the last big stop for loading up on the essentials
that start to get scarce as we enter Baja's wide open spaces. From here to Cabo
San Lucas you can pretty much forget about TV and mobile phones.
Day 2, Tuesday. Ensenada to Cataviña
(235 miles)
 South of Ensenada, we'll pass through several small
agricultural towns separated by fun and twisty roads. From El Rosario the road turns
inland into the central desert region. Near Cataviña we'll see many wonders
of nature — an idyllic oasis of cactus, smooth lava stones, glistening pools,
and a desert strewn with house-sized boulders.
Day 3, Wednesday. Cataviña
to San Ignacio (240 miles)
From Catavina, we'll continue south through the central desert until we again return
to the Pacific near Guerrero Negro and the huge evaporative salt ponds. The highway
again turns inland toward the small village of San Ignacio, finding it off to the
side of the road where a plantation-size mass of palm trees sits atop an underground
source of water at the end of a huge arroyo. A short distance from our hotel is
the Town Square, surrounded by laurel trees and the scene of the town's activity.
This early 16th century mission is a magnificent structure with walls four foot
thick. Most of Baja’s missions have either been destroyed or are down miles
of unpaved road, so this mission is a real treat.
Day 4, Thursday. San Ignacio to
Loreto (180 miles)
We'll head east from San Ignacio and get our first glimpse of the Sea of Cortez
near Santa Rosalía. After lunch in Mulege, we'll ride along beautiful Bahia
Conception before passing the inspiring scenery of the Sierra La Giganta mountain
range near Loreto. Loreto is considered the oldest human settlement on the peninsula
of Baja California dating back nearly 12,000 years. Loreto has come a long way from
the dusty days when the blacktop first came to town in 1972. With its sweet water
oasis and arid climate, the weather in Loreto is marvelous with more than 300 sunny
days and a year-round temperature averaging in the 80’s (F). Loreto is the
historical capital of Baja California, Jesuit Padre Juan Maria de Salvatierra founded
the Mission of Nuestra Senora de Loreto in 1697. It was the first mission and later
capital of the Californias.
Day 5, Friday. Loreto to La Paz (230 miles)
 South of Loreto the road turns inland as we emerge from the mountains
to a huge agricultural valley near Ciudad Constitución. Then the road leads
us again into the mountains as we near La Paz, situated on a wide bay of the Sea
of Cortez. As the capital of Baja California Sur, La Paz has a population of 160,000,
but has the flavor and charm of a much smaller town. It's a beautiful town with
a wide walkway along the bay. People are friendly, nobody stares, hustles, or begs.
In spring and late fall the climate is perfect, with temperatures in the low 80's.
Day 6, Saturday. La Paz to Cabo
San Lucas (135 miles)
The minute we leave La Paz, nature takes over. It's an austere, uninhabited, uncluttered
landscape of desert and sea. Barren hills and mountains studded with forests of
giant Cardon cacti tumble down to the Sea of Cortez. Our final destination is Cabo
San Lucas, located on the same latitude as Hawaii, at the southern tip of the Baja
California Peninsula west of mainland Mexico and approximately 1,000 miles south
of San Diego.
Day 7, Sunday. Cabo San Lucas
Relax for a day and enjoy beautiful Cabo San Lucas before catching your flight home.
With a world class marina in the center of town, Cabo remains somewhat clear of
franchises and its night life is no doubt the best in a thousand miles.
Cabo has excellent beaches, upscale shopping, very good restaurants, world-class
golf courses, and quality water sports facilities.
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