Getting Oriented

Getting Oriented

Flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Sea of Cortez to the east, Baja California (also called Baja California Norte, or just Baja Norte) comprises the northern half of the Baja Peninsula. The majority of the pencil thin state is accessible by the Carretera Transpeninsular (Highway 1), but it's easy to feel as if you've gone far off the grid when a hundred miles of barren land stand between you and the nearest town or gas station. Embrace the feeling because Baja is really Mexico's wild, wild west, and still has the stark desert landscapes, secluded coves, and striking mountains to show for it.