Baja California Itinerary (2 weeks)
Welcome to our Baja California itinerary.
When looking for a real backpacking adventure, look no further than Mexico.
This country has it all, with fascinating cultures, incredible food and world-class sceneries all waiting for you.
Baja California Sur is no different, and here you’ll find some outstanding beaches and natural experiences on offer.
Baja Sur is also great for its blend of lively hubs such as Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, as well as its more remote, charming villages of San Carlos and beyond.
Backpacking Baja California
In this guide, we’ll explore the region of Baja California Sur with our personalized 2 weeks itinerary.
Getting around Baja California Sur
Like most destinations in Mexico, the best way to get around Baja California Sur will be by bus.
It’s by far the most inexpensive, and in general, the majority of the country is well connected by its bus routes.
Geographically, Baja California Sur is one long state (similar to that of Chile) and has the main highway running straight from the bottom and up until Baja California Norte.
With this itinerary, we’ll be taking the bus to get around to stay within the true backpacker lifestyle. When it comes to safety in Cabo San Lucas and other places mentioned, we recommend you follow our universal safety tips.
Other Things to know + Travel Tips
Of course, good preparation is key to making a good backpacking trip.
For this itinerary, we recommend a budget of $25 a day, so in total, you will need $350 for this itinerary.
This will cover all costs including where you’ll sleep, eat, some drinks and also local buses to get to activities.
It won’t, however, include flights into the region or long buses between destinations.
Another important consideration is what to pack. Baja is hot year-round, so you’ll want to pack lots of light clothes and also lots of quality sunscreen to protect your skin.
Baja California Sur Itinerary (2 weeks)
Let’s take a look at our customized 2-week itinerary of Baja California Sur.
Here we’ll include everything you can see and do, as well as how much time to spend in each destination.
Cabo San Lucas (Days 1-4)
Cabo San Lucas is by far the liveliest and most popular hub to visit in Baja California Sur and is a great place to kick-off our itinerary.
We recommend spending your first 3-4 days here, where you can have some beach time, see some awesome sights and enjoy its authentic nightlife.
Aim to stay near the Mariner, where there are many hostels and restaurants set-up. It’s also no more than a 10 minute walk to the beaches next to it.
The best things to do here include lounging on the beaches of Médano and Empacadora, or the more further and tranquil Playa del Amor.
On Médano there are also many opportunities to take part in water sports such as jet-skiing, as well as daily boat parties.
It’s also here where you can take a tour to visit the iconic Arch of Cabo San Lucas. We recommend heading on this all-inclusive tour where you will visit the arch, as well as go snorkeling and kayaking. When heading out for the night, we recommend heading to Cabo Wabo and El Squid Roe.
Todos Santos (Days 5-6)
This small town is located roughly an hour from Cabo, and is the place to head for great surfing and more relaxed vibes.
In fact, the surf is so good that it hosts annual competitions with competitors flying in from all over the globe. The town is pretty small (around half a mile in length) so it’s not really worth discussing where best to stay.
The beach is around a mile away, although you can find some accommodation options closer to the beach too.
Aside from the surfing, one of the best things to do in Todos Santos is to head to the isolated beach of Punta Lobos, which includes a beautiful scenic walk along the way.
You can also hire a buggy or off-roader with Omega Tours to explore more of the arid landscapes and more remote beaches. Those who want to learn how to surf can join a private lesson in nearby Playa Cerritos.
La Paz (Days 7-10)
The capital of the Baja Sur region, La Paz is one of the most popular destinations to visit this side of Mexico, and for very good reason too.
This city is easy to get to with domestic flights arriving from Mexico City and connects the region up well between the smaller destinations.
The best areas to stay here are within the districts of Esterito and the Zona Commercial, which are both close to the beach.
Some of the best things to do in the city include strolling along the Malecón which runs along the coast, visiting the charming La Paz Cathedral and also visiting the Serpentario where you can see many exotic animals such as: Iguanas, Birds and rare amphibians.
One of the best day trips to do here is to Isla Espiritu Santo, where you can see tonnes of exotic fish, and other species such as:
Humpback Whales, Snakes and the endemic Babisuri Cat.
There are also the close-by beaches of Balandra and Pichilingue which are both fantastic options for a day of lounging around.
San Carlos (Days 11-12)
A small island joined to Baja Sur by just one coastal road, San Carlos is about as off the beaten path as you can get in this region!
Known mostly as a fishing community, this small town is great for really getting stuck into the authentic Bajan life that is much less present in the more touristy La Paz and Cabo San Lucas.
Due to its size you can walk everywhere with ease, so it doesn’t matter which part you stay in. The best things to do here include heading to the extreme south of the island where you’ll find a deserted beach.
Aside from being remote, it’s one of the best places to chill with a beer and watch some of the best crimson-red sunsets you can see in Mexico.
If you plan on staying longer, then you can do some hiking here, with Cerro El Vigía a great way to take in the fresh air of this lesser known area.
Loreto (Days 13-15)
Finishing up our itinerary we will be heading to Loreto, which is back on the east coast of Baja Sur.
Despite its small size, it’s well-connected with Mexico by air and you can even fly direct from some cities in Canada and The USA.
The best area to stay in Loreto is near the main plaza, where you’ll find all necessary amenities and tour providers within footsteps.
Walking along Loreto’s malecón is a must, where you can spot two islands which are both home to the Parque Nacional Bahía de Loreto.
Speaking of islands, be sure to head on a boat trip to Coronado where you can spot volcanic rock formations, dolphins and sea-lions chillin’ on the rocks.
When back in town it’s worth going to see the main church, which is known as the Misión Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó (a mouthful we know).
The old-stone church is great for a photo with the desert lying behind, which creates a really attractive contrast.
Best time to visit Baja California
We’ve spoken a lot about the best time to visit Mexico on this blog (George is absolutely obsessed with checking the weather when we travel).
The weather in Baja California is hot year-round, although the region has a clear dry and wet season where temperatures do also vary somewhat.
The dry season runs from November until June, where average temperatures range from 70-77°F, with highs of up to 89°F and lows of 61°F.
Rainfall is scarce during this time, with as little as 0-0.4mm falling throughout each month (April and May are the driest months to visit).
The wet season is both hotter and wetter, running from July until October. Average temperatures range from 80-83°F, with highs of up to 91°F and lows of 72°F. Rainfall does increase somewhat to between 1-3 inches of rainfall (September is the wettest month).
There are also lots of interesting events that happen throughout the year in Baja California. For surfer enthusiasts (and those who also simply like good music) then the Los Cabos Open of Surf held in mid-June is a must-visit, which is held in Los Cabos.
In November, Todos Santos plays home to the Festival de Cine, which is an event that showcases the very best cinematic projects from throughout the Latin American World.
Baja California Backpacking Tips
⬇️ Below you can find a list of our top recommendations for Baja California:
- 🛏️ – Ocean Tiger’s Dive House (Cabo San Lucas), Hostel Casa Esterito (La Paz).
- 🌮 – Lots of cheap eats around Calle Lázaro Cárdenas (Cabo San Lucas).
- 🏛️ – El Arco (Cabo San Lucas), Isla Espirito Santo (La Paz), Sierra de la Laguna. See this list of top rated tours in Baja California.
- 🍺 – Cabo is full of great bars and clubs. Our favorites are Cabo Wabo and Squid Roe.
- 💡 – Don’t limit your time to Cabo! Whilst it’s great fun, definitely look at spending time in either La Paz or Todos Santos as well.
Have you got travel insurance for Mexico?
Baja California Sur Itinerary
One of the best countries to backpack in Latin America, Mexico is always a good idea regardless of the season.
Baja California Sur is no exception, with its incredible stretch of world-class beaches, islands and nature just waiting to be explored.
In this itinerary-style guide, we’ve covered the very best destinations to visit in the region, how much time we recommend spending in each, what to see and also our own top tips.
Be sure to come back to this article whenever you need help planning or even to suggest your own tips once you’ve completed the adventure yourself.
Also, see our backpacking Mexico guide for more travel inspiration!
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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