Baja California
Baja California Sur: beauty beyond compare – by Helen Iatrou
Exotic and mainly untouched, the biodiverse UNESCO-protected Sea of Cortez awaits adventurers keen on exploring waters that Jacques Cousteau described as the “World’s Aquarium”. Swim amid whales and sea turtles, unearth history at tranquil La Paz, and party at celebrity magnet Cabo San Lucas.
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Baja California Sur: beauty beyond compare – by Helen Iatrou
Highlights

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La Paz
Visit the La Paz Cultural Centre and take a guided tour of the former palace that now hosts art exhibitions and plays. If you visit in October or November, the PADI 5-Star Dive Centre, Cortez Expeditions, organizes dives off La Paz where you can dive with whale sharks. If you’re looking for local cuisine, try Bismarkcito and join savvy locals who flock to this spot for exceptional seafood.

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Bahia Balandra
Scale rust-hued cliffs and hillsides surrounding the beach and check out El Hongo de Balandra – an unusual, mushroom-shaped rock.

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Isla Espiritu Santo
Discover Ensenada Grande beach, one of Mexico’s most spectacular beaches, or go birdwatching and spot turkey vultures, great blue herons and frigate birds.

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Los Islotes
Admire tropical flora and fauna and dive beneath a natural arch in search of golden cup corals, king angelfish and seahorses. After, you can take the tender to a private cove for a late afternoon beach picnic.

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Isla San Francisco
Revel in views from above as you scale the island’s ridge for views of the bay below. At sunset, paddleboard in heaven and look out for bottlenose dolphins.

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Bahia Amortajada
Visit Isla Coyote and mingle with friendly fishermen who inhabit the island.

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Isla San José
Go for a bit of whale watching and keep your eyes peeled for breaching whales. Later, you can catch dinner by going clam-collecting at low tide or you can test your angling skills.

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Del Carmen Island
Beach-hop all day – choose between Norte Beach, San Julian Beach and Tortugueros Beach. You can also enjoy some amazing whale spotting, as humpbacks, grays and even blue whales pass through these waters.

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Isla Monserrate
While enjoying Isla Monserrate, don’t miss out on snorkeling in the island’s undersea caves. You can also explore Sierra de la Giganta – these impressive mountains form the backbone of southern and central Baja California.

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San Evaristo
Enjoy Lupe Sierra’s & Maggi Mae, where Lupe and his wife Maggi serve fine fish tacos at this beachfront shack. Later, you can stay overnight on the beach. Pitch a tent on San Evaristo’s beach and wake up to the sound of waves.

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Cabo San Lucas
Visit the former silver mining town of El Triunfo to sample craft beer, wine and artisanal cheeses. If you’re a seafood aficionado, visiting Edith Jimenez’s Tres Sirenas is a must.
Mexico Itinerary
DAY 1: La Paz
Your Baja California yacht charter journey starts at La Paz, the entrance to the marine life-filled Sea of Cortez. From October through to April, plankton-grazing whale sharks ply the balmy waters of the Bay of La Paz. Baja California Sur’s low-key capital boasts a cool boardwalk, beachside restaurants and a historic center with various attractions.
DAY 2: Bahia Balandra
Set your eyes on the aquamarine waters and pristine white sands of Bahia Balandra and you’ll understand why it ranks among Mexico’s most extraordinary beaches. Shallow, crystalline and wave-free, it feels more like a natural lake. More than a pretty face, it is a conservation zone whose mangroves attract an abundance of fish and birdlife.
DAY 3: Isla Espiritu Santo
Isla Espiritu Santo counts among the 244 uninhabited islands in the Gulf of California Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its global marine conservation significance. During a Mexico yacht charter in the Sea of Cortez, divers can expect to see Mexican goatfish, parrotfish, moray eels, manta rays and even hammerhead sharks. To reach its remote seashell-covered beaches, jump in a kayak.
DAY 4: Los Islotes
If Baja California Sur is the “Galapagos of North America”, Los Islotes is the prime location to observe its playful, curious California sea lions. A healthy 400-strong colony presides over the craggy rock islets, the males barking incessantly to establish territory while females fight to safeguard pups. Between June and August, it’s closed for mating season.
DAY 5: Isla San Francisco
Arriving at Isla San Francisco and stepping foot on its sand and shingle shores will make you feel like a contemporary Robinson Crusoe. The island features a gorgeous half-moon sweep of sheltered bay perfect for a refreshing dip. A beachcomber’s delight and a must-see during a Mexico yacht charter, there are countless shells of all shapes, sizes and colours.
DAY 6: Bahia Amortajada
Explore the vast mangrove lagoon for which exceedingly peaceful Bahia Amortajada is renowned. Forests of cardon cacti lie at the foot of soaring red mountains, contrasting with the deep-green mangrove foliage. Snorkel or kayak along the reef and watch pelicans swoop for the day’s catch.
DAY 7: Isla San José
Wild and out of the way, Isla San José receives few visitors. It’s blessed with sandy beaches and calm blue-green seas populated with sea birds, damselfish and butterfly fish. Natural pathways, known as arroyos, slice through sharp peaks and allow hikers access to the unique Sonoran desert.
DAY 8: Del Carmen Island
The most attractive of the five main islands that make up the Loreto Bay National Park, this petite patch of land is proof that good things come in small packages. During your Baja California yacht charter, think swimming in azure seas, canyon trekking and wildlife-spotting. Bighorn sheep are the real bosses of this rocky landscape though.
DAY 9: Isla Monserrate
Low-lying Isla Monserrate draws few cruisers as it’s vulnerable to changing winds. That only makes it even more attractive, considering it has beaches you need to see to believe. At Yellowstone beach, bathe in translucent waters, explore reefs and inspect sandstone cliffs.
DAY 10: San Evaristo
Back on the mainland, an insider secret awaits. This tiny, far-flung fishing hamlet looks out over a sprawling, sheltered bay enveloped in fine golden sand beach and interspersed with jagged outcrops. Its humble community works salt flats and supplies shrimps, clams and fish to La Paz using time-honored methods.
DAY 11: Cabo San Lucas
Lying at the peninsula’s southern tip, this former fishing town has transformed into a celebrity haunt thanks to fabulous beaches, fine seafood restaurants, upscale boutiques and bustling bars. Beyond the glitz, there are art galleries, thermal springs and waterfalls to explore during your Baja California yacht charter.