Santiago

It's said that Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra were once regulars in the tiny town of Santiago, where children play in the small zócalo, and large stretches of palms have been left largely undeveloped. So little happens here that you will run out of sights to see in a matter of hours, but the small-town feel, the beautiful weather, and the leafy surroundings have been attracting visitors—who just want to get away—for years.

So have we mentioned yet that there aren't very many sights? But Santiago does hold one surprise: If you're traveling down Highway 1, one of the first signs that you're nearing the town is the image of an elephant; indeed Santiago is home to one of only five zoos on the peninsula (the others are all in northern Baja). It is also a nice place to stop and enjoy a good meal.

Just after the turnoff at Km 85 on Highway 1, the entrance into town is by way of a dirt path created by a former brook, now dried up during most months. Be very careful taking this path during the rainy season, when it can again run flush with water. Locals claim that all cars can pass, but that the easiest way to drive through the brook is to stay to either side of the small stream that forms during winter months. Even so, this small stretch of road is not for the faint of heart, and is easiest to drive over with the light of day, and the reassurance of traffic.