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 Travel & Outdoors | February 2008 
Desert and Sea Beckon in Baja California
 CanWest News
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| | Drive coastal route from Tijuana in 25 hours | | |
The Baja California Peninsula - 1,290 kilometres long and varying from 48 to 160 kilometres in width - extends south from the border at San Ysidro (a community in the city of San Diego) and runs parallel with mainland Mexico.
Between the bustle of Tijuana, a stone's throw from San Diego, and the tourist mecca of Cabo San Lucas, on the peninsula's southernmost tip, lies a land of desert and sea, much of it wild and isolated.
Heading down Highway 1, you can explore the coast along the Golfo de California (Sea of Cortes), or venture inland on rugged, rock-strewn 4WD routes.
Baja California's climate is similar to that of southern California, with warm summer days and balmy nights.
Winter evenings in Baja's north can be chilly, but temperatures rarely drop below 4 C.
Down south, in Cabo San Lucas, the weather is warm all year. Daytime highs are around 27 C in winter but can soar to 38 C in summer.
In October, the waters of the Pacific and the Sea of Cortes have been warmed by summer's heat to between 24 and 27 C, ideal for swimming and snorkelling. High season is considered October through April, when most B.C. RVers go down.
To drive from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas takes about 25 hours. The speed limit is 80 km/h.
You'll need to present proof of citizenship and a photo ID at the Mexican border. At the crossing you'll also be able to purchase a tourist card, or FM-T, which is required for stays longer than 72 hours.
You should get car insurance for Mexico - Canadian and U.S. insurance is not valid there. If you did not make arrangements from home, you can still buy insurance at the border, usually at slightly higher rates.
Highway 1 is in mostly good condition, but the road can be narrow in places, sometimes with no shoulder.
Worries about Mexican banditos are often exaggerated, but you may want to avoid driving at night, as cattle could cross the road unexpectedly as there are few fences and livestock grazes freely, on the road - and off. |
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