Baja California Travel
Your Ultimate Guide to Baja Mexico
Baja California TRAVEL GUIDE CONTENTS
Quick Tips | Getting There | Top Destinations | Things to Do | Baja Tours | Baja Blogs | Baja Safety | FAQ
Baja California travel guide
Where is Baja California located?
Baja California Mexico, consists of two states that make up the Baja Peninsula on the country’s west coast — Baja California Sur (South) and Baja California (sometimes called Baja California Norte, or Baja North).
Baja California Mexico map
Baja California travel guide
Baja Mexico Travel: Baja Sur vs Baja Norte
Baja California Sur is undoubtedly the more popular state for tourism — though both Baja states have things to offer.
In Baja Sur, the famous beaches of Los Cabos (Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo) and La Paz await! There’s also whale watching in winters, and the pueblos magicos (Mexico magic towns) of Todos Santos and Loreto.
In the northern Baja Mexico state, there’s Valle de Guadalupe, AKA the “Napa Valley of Mexico,” and the lively beach towns like Rosarito, Ensenada and Tijuana.
There are also calmer beach towns like Puerto Nuevo and San Felipe, the Tecate pueblo magico, beautiful Bahía Concepción (Bay of Conception), and Mulegé (pronounced mu-lay-he), an oasis town on the Gulf of California.
Baja California Mexico: Know before you go
- 💰 Currency: Mexican Peso
- ⏰ Time Zone: Pacific Daylight Time (GMT-6)
- 🗣 Language: Spanish, though English is common, and you may even hear some indigenous languages
- 🎫 Mexico Visa: The vast majority of travelers do not need a visa for Mexico — this includes Americans, Canadians, Japanese and most Europeans. Head here to see if you need a Mexico travel visa.
- 🔌 Electricity Socket: You’ll mostly find Type A (two-prong) and Type B (three-prong) — the same as used in the United States. For visitors from other countries, you’ll need this universal travel adaptor.
- 📲 Mexico SIM Card: Wondering, Do I need a SIM card for Mexico? The answer is yes, every traveler will want a one for the reasons explained in this article all about the best Mexico SIM cards.
- 🚙 Car Rentals: The Mexico rental car process can be a bit daunting, and many people are apprehensive to drive in a foreign country. I get it! Check out this guide to Renting a Car in Mexico for info on the process.
Baja California travel guide
What’s the best airport for Baja Mexico?
Los Cabos International Airport (code: SJD) and Tijuana International Airport (code: TIJ) are the two largest airports in Baja California Mexico, and the ones most visitors will use.
If you’re going to Baja California Sur state, opt for Los Cabos Airport, and for Baja California state, use Tijuana Airport. There are also a few other smaller airports you can use, like the ones listed below.
✈️ Baja California Sur State
- Cabo San Lucas: Los Cabos International (code: SJD)
- San Jose del Cabo: Los Cabos International
- Todos Santos: Los Cabos International
- La Paz: La Paz International (code: LAP)
- Loreto: Loreto International (code: LTO)
✈️ Baja California State
- Tijuana: Tijuana Airport (code: TIJ)
- Ensenada: Tijuana International
- Rosarito: Tijuana International
- Valle de Guadalupe: Tijuana International
Baja California travel guide
Top Baja California Travel Destinations
Los Cabos & Cabo San Lucas, Baja Sur Mexico
Cabo San Lucas is a Mexican beach resort city on the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula. For decades now, it has been one of the top travel destinations in Mexico.
Just north, San Jose del Cabo, where the Cabo Airport is located, has a more chill vibe. Unlike Cabo San Lucas, this Baja beach town is known more for its art scene than its party scene.
Note: These two “cabos” are part of the Los Cabos Municipality.
La Paz, Baja Sur Mexico
La Paz has some of the best swimming beaches in Mexico outside of the Caribbean. As not all Baja beaches are great for swimming, La Paz stands out with its calm blue waters and soft white sand.
The best beaches in La Paz Mexico begin just outside of downtown, and continue for miles. Of them all, the undeniable star of the La Paz Mexico beach scene is picturesque Playa Balandra.
Valle de Guadalupe, Baja Mexico
Mexico has a few wine regions, though none more popular than Valle de Guadalupe, AKA The Napa of Mexico. It has about 100 vineyards and wineries — much more than Queretaro State, the second biggest Mexico wine region.
The closest beach town to Valle de Guadalupe is Ensenada Mexico. It is just two hours from the U.S.-Mexico border, and among the best party beach towns in Mexico and Baja.
Baja California travel guide
Best places & things to do in Baja Mexico
There is a seemingly endless amount of things to do in Baja California Mexico, one of the top vacation spots in Mexico.
The majority of them involve being in, on, or near the water — though there’s a lot to see in the surrounding deserts as well. Click on any image below to learn more.
Baja California travel guide
Best Baja Mexico tours
Tours in Baja Mexico are a great way to see the peninsula — and unless you’re planning to rent a car in Mexico, this is the best way to get around because transportation fees add up quickly! 💡 Note: If you do want to have a car in Baja, make sure to check out this guide to Renting a Car in Cabo.
Baja California travel guide
Is Baja safe for travelers?
According to experts, you are statistically quite safe while visiting Mexico.
In fact, the Baja Peninsula is one of the safest parts in Mexico — though some parts are safer than others — for example, you’ll want to exercise extra caution in Tijuana, which has good parts, and bad parts. Now, that’s not to say bad things don’t happen in other parts of Baja; they do.
Millions of Americans go to Mexico on vacation every year, so if we play the numbers game, the number of incidents is very small… When I’m asked if Mexico is a safe place to go travel on vacation, my response is yes.
—Carlos Barron, FBI Veteran (source: Forbes)
As with traveling anywhere, follow general travel safety like not walking home alone at night, watching your alcohol consumption and staying aware of yourself and surroundings.
For an added safety measure, pack these travel safety items, dress in a way so your Mexico outfits blend in with the locals, and buy a Mexico SIM card.
A few places in Baja California are big party destinations, like Cabo San Lucas, Tijuana and Ensenada, and safety can go out the window when there’s alcohol involved, so be mindful.
If you want to venture off the beaten path, do some research to make sure there aren’t any travel warnings where you’re headed — especially if you’re doing a Baja road trip.
Baja California travel guide
What’s the best travel insurance for Mexico?
This is a question I get a lot as a Mexico travel writer and Mexico expat. To determine which Mexico travel insurance is best for you, consider factors like the policy’s total cost, your deductible, the coverage you need, your medical benefits, etc.
🏆 In general, I only ever recommend three companies to purchase Mexico travel insurance from:
- World Nomads — For general travelers and adventure travelers.
- SafetyWing — For general travelers and digital nomads in Mexico.
- Travel Insurance Master — Mexico travel insurance search tool, for those who want to compare policies.
- 👉 Click on any of the links above to get a FREE quote on your policy!
Baja California travel guide
Baja Blogs: Learn more about Mexico travel 🇲🇽
Baja California Travel: Frequently Asked Questions
Can you drink the water in Baja Mexico?
No — Unfiltered Mexico tap water is not safe for human consumption. However, you will need to keep drinking water and to stay extra hydrated, as Mexico is quite close to the Equator. In fact, dehydration is one of the most common ways people get sick in Mexico.
So what can you do?
- If you’re renting a home with a kitchen, you can boil the water before drinking it.
- You can keep buying bottled water — Though this gets expensive, and is horrible for the planet!
- Use the Water-To-Go Filterable Bottle. This refillable bottle not only keeps you hydrated, but also filters your water so you don’t get sick in Mexico, and is good for the planet ♻️ Get 15% OFF with code SOLO15!
The Water-To-Go Bottle has a built-in, three-stage filtration system that removes 99.9999% of all water-borne contaminants. These include bacteria, microplastics, viruses, heavy metals, chemicals and more. I personally own one, as you can drink Mexico water from any source (even the tap), and be completely safe.
🧳 Mexico Packing list
Wondering what else you need on your packing list for Mexico? Check out this guide — Ultimate Packing List for Mexico + FREE Checklist Download!
Baja California travel guide
What’s the best time to visit Baja Mexico?
With its desert climate, Baja is basically a year-round destination. Its weather is similar to that of San Diego, California — which is pretty much perfect all year long — so you can expect warm, sunny days, and cool, crispy nights on your trip.
There is a short Baja rainy season from about mid-July to September, but other than that, Baja is ideal all year.
For the best value: You’ll get the most bang for your buck in the summers, from July to September. This is the rainy season, but with its desert climate, it doesn’t rain too much in Cabo.
Besides the rains, it is quite humid in the summers, but if you don’t mind the non-ideal weather, you will enjoy lower prices and smaller crowds.
When is the Baja whale season?
Winter is the best time to see whales in Baja, Mexico — whether that’s the friendly gray whales in Magdalena Bay, or the giant humpback whales in Cabo Pulmo National Park near Cabo San Lucas.
🗣 Mexico Language
Mexico Fun Fact: There’s actually no official language of Mexico!
Spanish is the most widely-spoken, so some mistakenly say Spanish is the official language of Mexico. However, the government actually recognizes 68 national languages, including the Nahuatl Aztec language, and the Maya language.
💰 Mexico Currency
Mexican Peso — Exchange rates vary, but have hovered around $18-21 pesos to $1 USD for about the last decade. You will find some places that take U.S. dollars, but usually at an unfavorable rate, so stick to using pesos in Mexico.
☀️ Mexico Weather
Mexico is a big country — the 7th largest on Earth, in fact! It’s hard to generalize the weather in Mexico, because it will vary greatly by where you’re traveling.
In general, temperatures are mostly mild everywhere all year long, though summers on the coast are hot and humid, and winters in Central and Northern Mexico are on the colder side. Throughout the whole country, the rainy season runs from (about) April through September.
✈️ Mexico Busy Season & Slow Season
• Mexico Busy Season: The busy season in Mexico runs October to March, as this is the dry season and you’ll get the best weather. December is the busiest month for tourism in Mexico.
• Mexico Slow Season: If you don’t mind some rain, you’ll often find the best travel deal during the Mexico slow season of April to September. Do keep in mind that June 1-November 1 is Hurricane Season, and Mexico beaches are all susceptible.
• Mexico Shoulder Season: The shoulder season is that magical time when prices are still low and the weather is good. The Mexico shoulder season is from about mid-October to November and January to early-April.
🧳 Download your FREE Mexico Packing Checklist here!
Check out this Ultimate Packing List for Mexico — so you know what to pack and what NOT to pack for Mexico! This article offers advice on packing for Mexico cities, and packing for a Mexico beach vacation.
Beyond what Mexico outfits and clothing you’ll want to bring, here are a few extra things to consider:
• Filterable Water Bottle: Mexico is close to the Equator, so you’ll need to stay extra hydrated. In fact, dehydration is one of the most common ways people get sick in Mexico.
A filterable, refillable water bottle not only keeps you hydrated, but also filters your water so you don’t get sick in Mexico.
The Water-To-Go Bottle has a built-in, three-stage filtration system that removes 99.9999% of all water-borne contaminants. These include bacteria, microplastics, viruses, heavy metals and chemicals.
• Mexico SIM Card: Want to be able to use your phone in Mexico?! Of course you do! Pick up a TELCEL Mexico SIM card before your trip, and swap it out on the plane while you’re waiting to exit, so you have phone and data service the second you arrive in Mexico.
• Anti-Hangover Meds: Planning to party hardy?! Make sure you’re not wasting any of your precious travel time with a hangover. Liquid I.V. has about 70,000 reviews on Amazon, and is considered the best defense against a hangover.
• Sun Hat: No matter if you’re headed to the beach or a city, you’ll want to wear a hat to shield yourself from the strong Mexican sun. This cute sun hat is the perfect stylish and practical accessory for your Mexico vacation.
• Sunscreen: As you’ll want to reapply a few times throughout the day, a light, Mineral-Based Sunscreen is ideal.
Headed to the beach? Do your part to practice responsible tourism in Mexico by only using an eco-friendly reef safe sunscreen while swimming. You can even ditch the sunscreen altogether and opt for a long sleeve swimsuit (AKA rash guard) instead.
• Bug Repellent: Mosquitoes are common throughout Mexico — especially on the beaches! REPEL Insect Repellent is an eco-friendly brand that’s DEET-free and plant based, with a pleasant lemon and eucalyptus scent. Don’t want to use a spray? Pick up some Mosquito Repellent Bracelets.
The vast majority of travelers do not need a visa for Mexico — this includes Americans, Canadians, and most Europeans. Head here to see if you need a Mexico travel visa.
🤔 What is the mexico FMM?
When you go through Customs & Immigration to enter the country, you’ll receive your Forma Migratoria Multiple, or FMM Tourist Card (sometimes listed as FMT). If you’re coming by plane or cruise ship, there is no charge; for those driving across the border, the FMM costs about $30USD.
In most circumstances, all visitors get a 180-day (six month) visa — so you can legally stay up to six months!
🚨 Have your FMM on you at all times
Keep in mind that though it’s called an FMM card, it’s actually just a small piece of paper. Keep your FMM on you at all times in your wallet, as this proves your legal status in Mexico. It’s rare, but if an officer stops you, they can ask to see your FMM.
🎫 Don’t lose your FMM!
You need to have your FMM on you at all times, as proof of your legal status in the country.
Be sure to keep track of your FMM, as you’ll have to give it back to an Immigration officer at the airport, cruise port, or land crossing when you’re leaving the country.
If you lose your FMM, there is a $600 peso ($30 USD) cost to replace it, and some paperwork you’ll need to fill out before you can leave the country.
If you’re flying home, plan to arrive at the airport about one hour earlier than you normally would to do the paperwork and pay the fine.
As this question doesn’t have a yes/no answer (I wish it did!), I do my best to answer it in depth in this article, Is Mexico Safe for Travelers Right Now? However, for the most part, Mexico is actually statistically quite safe for all travelers — including solo travelers.
Check my Solo Female Mexico Travel page for more info.
💃 Mexico solo travel guides
Mexico is a big country, and it has plenty of amazing solo female travel destinations — like the ones featured in this article, Mexico Solo Travel: 20 Safe Destinations for Female Travelers.
In it, you’ll get recommendations of places to visit in Mexico, from solo travelers who have actually been to them.
🎧 solo travel podcasts
• Ep. 34 | Planning your first Mexico solo trip
• Ep. 40 | Tips for safe solo travel in Mexico
• Ep. 53 | 30 Solo female travel tips, Pt. 1
To answer the question, Is it safe to drive in Mexico? — YES, it’s considered safe to rent a car and drive in Mexico.
As the country is quite large, road trips are a great way to see a lot in a little time, and especially popular in the Yucatan Peninsula and Baja California Peninsula.
The one caveat to Mexico driving safety is that you’ll be in a foreign country, unfamiliar with their laws and customs. Head here for a complete guide to Renting A Car in Mexico: Everything You Need to Know, where you’ll also get 10 useful Mexico driving tips!
🚙💨 Looking for the best Mexico car rental company? Discover Cars works with both local Mexican companies and international companies to get you the best rates. Not only do I recommend them — I also use them!
As a general rule, you’ll want to know at least a few words of Spanish when visiting anywhere in Mexico. This is both a sign of respect, and will also help you have a better, smoother trip.
If you stick to the more touristic places in Mexico, you should be fine with basic Spanish. For those planning to venture off the beaten path, be advised most people in pueblos (small towns) speak little to no English.
🗣 Here are some options:
- Brush up on your Spanish: Use a language-learning program like Rocket Spanish, so you’re confident, and conversational, before your trip.
- Download the Google Translate App: For this to work at all times, you’ll need a Mexico SIM card with data — as the app won’t work when you’re off-WiFi.
- Travel with a Mexico phrasebook: This Lonely Planet Spanish Phrasebook is an Amazon best seller, and a great non-digital language assistant!
- Save this infographic an image on your phone. This way, you have access to these common words, phrases and questions, even when you’re off-WiFi.
