Laid-Back Baja California Sur

You made it to Mexico – and not a moment too soon, as the adventure starts right now. Well, once you've arrived in Cabo San Lucas – the nearest airport is Cabo San Lucas (CSL) or San Jose del Cabo (SJD) – and checked into your hotel. Then, it’s on with the swimsuit and off to the tip of Baja California Sur on a boat trip, where wave-carved archways and towering columns of rock make a scenic playground for sea lions. You’ll get the chance to splash about yourself, with a stop at Playa de los Amantes (Lovers Beach) – although couples should be wary of spending too long on the conjoining Playa del Divorcio. Back on dry land, you’ll meet our Local Insider for a guided tour of glittery Cabo San Lucas, before ending the day with a welcome dinner at top-notch seafood restaurant, Lorenzillo’s Los Cabos.  

After breakfast at your hotel, it’s all aboard the beach bus (not its official name, but it sounds good, right?) to the state capital of La Paz – but not before making a couple of stops along the way. First, you’ll disembark at Playa Los Cerritos, a wild, windswept stretch of sand, where you can watch long-haired surfers try to tame Pacific breakers like cowboys on broncos. From here, it’s on to colonial-flavored Todos Santos, with its galleries stuffed with locally produced art. Our Local Insider will lead you on a tour of its colorful streets, festooned with papel picado (cut-paper bunting), before returning you to your transport for the last leg to La Paz. Your final stop is this fun-loving harbor city, where you’ll be shown around the key sights by our Local Insider, before checking into your hotel.  

Today is yours to spend however you like. Breakfast in your hotel, then spend the morning exploring the streets of La Paz, followed by a late afternoon hike to the remote, romantic beaches of Balandra, culminating in a stunning sunset. Or, opt to join our wildlife-focused activities, starting with a trip to visit the sea lion colony on the volcanic island Espíritu Santo. Or, how about spotting the flumes of grey whales in the narrow strait of Adolfo López Mateos? Hop aboard a speedy panga skiff to get within soaking distance of these majestic animals. Alternatively, go snorkeling with gentle whale sharks in Bahía La Paz. Whatever you choose, you’ll make lifelong memories.  

But not before breakfast, which you’ll have at your hotel. Then, it’s all aboard to Buena Vista, on the east coast of the peninsula, stopping enroute for a half-day excursion to the historic mining towns of El Triunfo and San Antonio. Wander the time-gnawed streets, before jumping back on the bus to the Rancho Ecologico Sol de Mayo. This wild desert ranch may look sun-baked and barren at first, but hike down to the river that runs through it, and you’ll find a green oasis of palm trees, saguaro cacti and other shrubs, culminating in a waterfall tumbling into an emerald-green pool. Once you’ve splashed about to your satisfaction, pile back onto the bus for the final leg to the quiet fishing town of Buena Vista, where your hotel awaits. 

This morning, after breakfast at your hotel, there’s time for one last soak in the sun before the lunchtime transfer back to Cabo San Lucas. You'll then be taken to San Jose del Cabo airport (SJD), where this particular adventure concludes.