We decided to do a road trip and go whale watching to get away from winter. Perfect timing since the whales in Cabo San Lucas are actively preparing for their migration back to their feeding grounds. Also… the cacti out there are everywhere. Apparently Baja is full of cardón cactus, which are the largest cactus in the world & they honestly look like full on trees :)
I can’t even be detailed enough, we did so much and it was amazing.
A lot of people we know tried to stop us from going to Mexico, and even people at the resort were surprised we rented a car and drove around. I get it, with everything you hear online. But the truth is, with proper research and awareness, we didn’t feel affected by any of it.
All I can say is if you wait until nothing is going on in the world to travel, you’re not going anywhere.
Live life, be cautious, but don’t let it shrink your world.
**Cabo San Lucas**
• We stayed at a really nice all-inclusive Marriott property, Hacienda Del Mar. It worked great for us traveling with a toddler. Beautiful property, although we were gone about 85% of the time lol • We rented a car and definitely recommend it if you’re confident driving. It makes it much easier to get out of town. Just be mindful of livestock at night • We did a private whale watching tour, which was easier with a toddler and also just fit where we are in life right now. I recommend choosing your tour carefully. Look for one with a marine biologist who can actually explain the marine life and knows how to properly approach wildlife • We also did another private tour for sunset to see Land’s End • Hiked Mt. Solmar with the dogs, and Enrique the dog trainer is amazing. You get a completely different angle of Land’s End and the views over Pedregal are beautiful • Hung out at Playa Chileno for a beach day
**San José del Cabo**
• Street art decorates the walls, colonial buildings line the cobblestone streets, and there are galleries everywhere • The art district is beautiful, I loved the papel picado flags • Every Thursday night from November to June there’s an Art Walk and I definitely recommend it • My husband bought a souvenir from Juan Sotomayor and his work is mind-blowing
**Todos Santos and Los Cerritos**
• Walked around the town • Visited the iconic Hotel California • Ate at Tequila’s Sunrise and tried chile relleno stuffed with shrimp, and it was sooo good • Drove to Los Cerritos, hung out at the beach, and watched surfers until sunset
**La Paz**
• Almost a 3-hour drive from our hotel • Bummed we weren’t able to do a boat tour to Isla Espíritu Santo because of wind conditions, but still worth the trip • Drove to Balandra and hung out at Playa Tecolote overlooking Isla Espíritu Santo until sunset
**Sol de Mayo, Los Barriles, and East Cape**
• On our last day we just drove around, passed the Tropic of Cancer marker, and ended up at an oasis off the beaten path • Drove to Santiago, Miraflores, Los Barriles, East Cape had dinner by the beach, and watched more whales from the beach during sunset
And if you’ve been thinking about Baja… just go. Be a responsible traveler too, respect the culture, respect the people, and respect the nature you’re there to experience.
