Introduction

An unearthly combination of desert and seascapes along the southern tip of the planet’s fourth longest peninsula, Baja California Sur is a land of stark contrasts. Graced with soaring mountains and majestic deserts surrounded by brilliantly hued waters, it’s simultaneously hard to get to and quite accessible. A daunting 1,000-mile-long desert road, Transpeninsular Highway 1, has served many, but the international airports and deep harbors have given the jet-set crowd easy access to its hedonistic pleasures.

Of this region’s innumerable pleasures, two stand out: fishing and golfing. Los Cabos is famed for its acrobatic billfish and world-class golf. For those whose interests lie elsewhere, there are adventures: you can get close to gray whales off the Pacific coast, hike through the desert to see ancient cave paintings, stroll pristine beaches, swim with playful sea lions near La Paz, or dive at the Cabo Pulmo coral reef. If you’re after more throttling adventures, many ATV (all-terrain vehicle) tours head to the more desolate parts of the peninsula. Looking to relax and re-energize? A growing number of first-class spas offer both traditional and cutting-edge treatments.

Nature-lovers will love Baja, one of the last great wild places on earth. It has a fascinating diversity of wildlife, including numerous reptiles and one of the highest concentrations of bird species in North America. And there are the jaw-dropping displays of the 25 species of cetaceans that ply the waters just offshore.