Matador's Ultimate Guide to Baja California Sur

Jet set to this Mexican peninsula for ocean adventures ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Baja California Sur] Matador's Ultimate Guide to Baja California Sur Hi there, If you're anything like me, the start of January brings not just a week of writing the wrong year on a near-daily basis, but also a renewed enthusiasm for planning travel for the next year. And while anyone who reads Matador certainly loves exploring new places, there's something to be said for returning to places that really speak to you to do a deeper dive. For me, one of those places is La Paz, on Mexico's Baja Peninsula. It's an easy two-hour drive north of Los Cabos and feels far more relaxing than its neighbor to the south. While Los Cabos is known for luxury hotels, nightlife, and a strong tourism economy, La Paz isn't quite as crowded. It's a more even mix of domestic and international visitors, and most people are there for the [amazing outdoor]( draws. The Sea of Cortez has some of the best snorkeling and diving in North America, it's near other cute towns like Todos Santos, and La Paz's downtown area has more open-air seafood restaurants than it does nightclubs and expensive boutiques. I'm not sure there's a single place in La Paz where you need to wear anything dressier than flip-flops — it's my kind of town. I hope everyone can find somewhere new to explore this year, whether that's in a neighboring country, around the world, or just a small town an hour away from home — and if there's one thing we know about the US, it's that you don't have to [go far to find a great adventure]( Suzie Dundas Commissioning editor [Suzie Dundas Editor]( [GuideGeek]( Get Inspired [Pueblos Mágicos]( Seafood, Sustainability, and Sunsets: the Basics of Baja California Sur, Mexico This state is known for the lively Cabo San Lucas, but you'd be remiss to skip the smaller towns like Todos Santos or La Paz. Here are our recommendations on where to go. [READ MORE]( [La Paz]( 8 Adventurous Things To Do in La Paz, Mexico, That'll Make You Want To Skip Cabo La Paz is a reminder of what Mexico’s beach towns can be like before tourism reaches critical mass. Its growing popularity is slowly ushering in boutique hotels and hip eateries, but the city is still clinging to a particular type of traveler — one that wants to spend the majority of his or her time outside. [READ MORE]( [Flying devil rays]( How To Visit Isla Espiritu Santo, Mexico's Island of Flying Devil Rays Off the coast of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur lies a nature-lover's paradise, where you can explore vibrant coral reefs and swim with sea lions, dolphins, and manta rays. [READ MORE]( [camping on the coast]( 9 Crowd-Free Coastal Vacations in Mexico Avoiding the resort crowds doesn’t have to mean writing off Mexico’s coast. But Mexico’s coastline stretches roughly 5,800 miles across almost 20 states so choosing the right beach town might feel impossible. We just so happen to know where to find sun, sand, and surf sans crowds. These are nine of our top picks. [READ MORE]( [La Paz]( How To Plan a Trip To La Paz, Mexico Around La Paz, the capital city of Mexico’s Baja California Sur state, locals are known as Los Paceños. And they're proud to show off the culture, arts, and cuisine of their city — a trait that keeps the heart of La Paz beating strong. Here's what to see and do. [READ MORE]( [whale nose]( This Luxe Glamping Lodge in Mexico Will Make Your Whale-Watching Dreams Come True Whale-watching during the day and glamping by night. And with clear skies and zero light pollution, make sure you look up at night to see the stars dancing across the sky. [READ MORE]( Nature + Adventure [whale shark]( 7 Places To Swim With Whale Sharks in Mexico One of the most accessible places to see whale sharks is just a few minutes off the sea wall in La Paz. [READ MORE]( [school of fish]( Scuba Diving in Baja California Is One of Mexico's Best-Kept Secrets Nicknamed the world’s aquarium by Jacques Cousteau, this region is one of Mexico’s most impressive destinations for dive travel, yet it’s often overlooked by tourists in favor of the Yucatán. [READ MORE]( [Baja California Sur's Mountains]( Go Here, Not There: Baja California Sur's Mountains Deserve as Much Time as Its Beaches Just inland are towering mountains and expansive desert plains, beckoning adventurers eager to explore a more rugged side of Mexico while dodging the crowds that can clog up its more popular coastlines. [READ MORE]( Food + Culture [Cabo dining]( Why You Should Know Cabo Just as Much for Quality Dining as for Partying The tip of Baja California might not have the same cachet as a center of gastronomy like Oaxaca or Mexico City. Still, you'll be surprised by all the extremely delicious fine dining you'll find around you. [READ MORE]( [Rancho Cacachilas]( This Eco-Ranch in Mexico Has 34,000 Acres of Adventure, From Mountain Biking To Cheesemaking You’d be hard-pressed to find a more exciting, educational, beautiful, and beneficial property to give your hard-earned vacation dollars to. [READ MORE]( Epic Stays Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [Baja California Sur places to stay]( [Cabo places to stay]( [Cabo places to stay]( [Cabo places to stay]( [Cabo places to stay]( [Cabo places to stay]( [Cabo places to stay]( [Cabo places to stay]( [Epic Stays TikTok]( [Open email in your web browser and bookmark for your next trip]( FOLLOW US AND FIND YOUR NEXT #TRAVELSTOKE [Facebook]( [Linkedin]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [Pinterest]( [X.com]( [Threads]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. Or [unsubscribe from our newsletter.]( We'll be here when you need us! Copyright © 2023 Matador Network, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Matador Network, PO Box 7775, Suite 40021, San Francisco, CA 94120, United States