Getting Here and Around

The cities with major airports that receive commercial flights into Baja are Tijuana, Loreto, La Paz, and Los Cabos. Small planes fly less regularly into Ensenada, Guerrero Negro, and Isla Cedros.

The 1,609 km (1,000 mi) of winding road of Highway 1 connects northern and southern Baja from one end to the other. Although finding your way might be simple, the actual act of driving it is a little trickier. Narrow lanes, dips, speed bumps, and military stops (where you will usually be waved on with little more than a quick question) force you to drive carefully.

Beware the long stretches of desert road with no cell-phone reception or gas stations. Road hazards aside, the scenery and the stops are a treat.

If you're driving into Baja California from San Diego during peak hours, you might try heading 35 km (19 mi) east to the much less congested border crossing at Tecate. From there, Highway 3 takes you south through the Valle de Guadalupe to Ensenada.

Highway 3 continues southeast from Ensenada over the San Martír pass, where it meets Highway 5. From here, you can head north to Mexicali or south to San Felipe, where the road ends.

You'll almost certainly need a car to see Baja Norte: public transportation is infrequent and only serves the major hubs. If you're driving in from the United States, purchase Mexican insurance (required) from any of the brokers near the border.

Pack plenty of water and make sure your tires are in good shape: although the major highways are well maintained, a number of smaller roads are unpaved.