The finger of desert that separates the Pacific Ocean from the Sea of Cortes is an area of impressive rugged beauty, combining some stunning desert landscapes with acres of blue sky and clean beaches. On the southern tip of Baja California are two small and very different towns, San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Picturesque and historic San Jose del Cabo still looks like the 18th century mission town it once was. Cabo San Lucas, where the Pacific meets the warm waters of the Sea of Cortes, is home to world class marlin fishing and offers a more upbeat vibe. In between the two towns lies a stunning seacoast corridor, home to elegant hotels and luxury retreats, championship golf courses, golden beaches and dramatic red rock formations.
It is also possible to explore the length of this peninsula by hiring a car, stopping in simple comfortable lodges and taking turns off the main road to explore small national parks, ancient cave paintings and enjoy the awe-inspiring and ever-changing desert landscape. The town of Loreto, half way down the peninsula, is a fascinating place, one of the most historic areas in Baja and the best place for grey whale watching. La Paz is also a good place to take Sea of Cortes trips or take the ferry to Topolobampo near Los Mochis to combine this region with a trip through the Copper Canyon by train.
Enthusiasts of all watersports will love this area of Mexico - snorkelling, scuba diving, surfing, kayaking and legendary deep sea fishing are widely available. Perhaps most famous of all is the whale and dolphin watching especially in the Sea of Cortes that separates the peninsula from the mainland. The best time of year for seeing the California gray whales is late December to early April.
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