Baja California is a truly unique travel destination. The world’s second longest peninsula, its relative isolation from the rest of Mexico gives it a distinct identity from the rest of the country in terms of its history and culture, as well its unparalleled diversity in geography and wildlife, both on land and at sea.
To the west is the Pacific Ocean, which famously provides the winter breeding grounds for grey whales, the peaceful resort of Ensenada, with its neighbouring wine-producing region, and bohemian Todos Santos. To the east lies the Sea of Cortés, a World Heritage Site described by UNESCO as a place of “striking natural beauty”, and by Jacques Cousteau as the “world’s aquarium”. The east coast features a number of idyllic bays, including Bahía de los Ángeles and Bahía Concepción, as well as the appropriately named La Paz, the former French mining port of Santa Rosalía, and Loreto, which was established in the seventeenth century as the first capital of the Californias.
Inland the peninsula features some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable, from the Valle de Los Cirios, with its towering cactus and giant boulders, to the Sierra de San Francisco, where the giant prehistoric cave paintings constitute another World Heritage Site. Missions constructed under the direction of Spanish Conquistadores form another important historical feature of the peninsula.
Running the length of the peninsula is the highway ‘Carretera Federal 1’, which winds its 1,063 mile route from the US Border at Tijuana all the way to the iconic ‘El Arco’ landmark at the southern tip, in the commercial resort of Cabo San Lucas. Completed as recently as 1973, this well-maintained two lane highway enables easy connection between the key locations from north to south.
Now Baja by Bus is pleased to offer travellers the opportunity to tour the length of this magnificent piece of land, to visit the most significant and interesting places en route, and to sample some of the history and culture of this extraordinary destination. We tour in a comfortable fully air-conditioned vehicle, with expert English-speaking guides, over a leisurely nine night/ten day trip.
We are a husband and wife team, working in partnership with the best providers of accommodation, transport and activities on the peninsula. Originally from Great Britain, I first came to visit Baja California in April 2008, and came back to live here four months later! My wife Norma has lived here all her life, apart from when she spent a year in London studying English. When we married in 2009 we looked for a Baja tour for our honeymoon. We wanted to travel the length of the peninsula, stopping off on the way, but couldn't find the right tour for us, so we created our own. Now we're pleased to be able to offer our tour as a package. Come and explore the “other” Mexico, come with us and travel Baja by Bus.
Ian, Baja by Bus.
The beauty of Baja California is that much of it is such an unspoilt wilderness, and we'd like to keep it that way. This is why we take measures to minimise the impact of our tours on the area. Group sizes are strictly limited, and we aim to leave no trace of our visit behind us, especially when we leave the main highway.
We are a small company based in Baja California, and as a matter of principle all our trading partners are based on the peninsula. This means when we go on a boat excursion the operator is local to the area and the guides are local experts in the marine biology of the area. When we go into the mountains to look at cave paintings the guides are from the sierra, and registered with the National Institute of Archaeology and History (INAH). The hotels we use are not part of international chains, and they serve local produce in their restaurants. This means the economic benefits of our tours remain on the peninsula.
