Instagram

Top 5 beaches of Baja California

-
Snorkelers and sea lovers from all over the world, rejoice!

There is an (almost) secret place where you will be able to admire exceptional seabeds and some of the most beautiful animals in the world without having to deal with big groups or hordes of tourists!

Sea of Cortez
Sea of Cortèz

I am talking about Baja California, that thin strip of arid and wild land divided by the Sea of Cortèz from the rest of the Mexican mainland and located south of the much more popular US state of California.

A surprising mix of landscapes of unreal beauty that is not yet a popular destination among Europeans and that still offers untouched nature, white beaches touched by turquoise waters and a full immersion into Mexican life!

Here is a selection of the top 5 beaches, that we explored during our road trip along the Baja California Sur.

PLAYA ARMENTA


We found this beach quite randomly and it became our favourite spot. North of Loreto and South of Mulegé, this beach is a solitary stretch of white and fine sand covered in beautiful shells. It is a real paradise, with perfectly calm waters that are a snorkeler's dream.

Coming from Loreto you will find an unpaved passage on the right, a few kilometers before the Playa El Requeson (which we didn't like too much as, compared to Armenta is much more touristy).

A place that should be kept as a secret....

Playa Armenta
Playa Armenta


Playa Armenta
Playa Armenta


shells on Playa Armenta
Shells on Playa Armenta

PLAYA EL SALTITO

This is an awesome secluded beach not far from La Paz.
The slightly bumpy drive to the beach is an interesting experience itself; it will bring you to explore the beauty of the desert, the different types of cacti and some breathtaking views of the sea over the bay.

The road to Playa El Saltito
The road to Playa El Saltito


Cactus
Cactus


Playa El Saltito
Playa El Saltito

A calm beach with clear waters, excellent for swimming and snorkeling.
From April to December, here, you will be able to admire the exceptional phenomenon of the bioluminescence at night.

PLAYA EL BURRO

One of the many beautiful beaches in the Bahia Concepcion. 
This lovely and clean beach, surrounded by mountains and millions of cacti, offers crystal clear waters filled with colorful fishes.

A place to find rest and absolute silence.

Playa El Burro
Playa El Burro


Fishes in the Sea of Cortez
Fishes in the Sea of Cortez

This is the only beach, in the area, that hosts a restaurant.

PLAYA EL COYOTE

Clearly, the Bahia de Concepcion in the Sea of Cortez is a magnificent succession of astonishing and non-touristy beaches. And, Playa El Coyote is one of them!

It may be very hot at certain times of the year due to the surrounding rock formations  that block the wind, but the water is so transparent that it's going to be hard to find something like that anywhere else in the world!!

You'll find the occasional campers and caravans of US travelers that make a timely stop, but the view is truly remarkable and the atmosphere extremely relaxed.

Playa El Coyote
Playa El Coyote

Corals on Playa El Coyote
Corals on Playa El Coyote

PLAYA BALANDRA

Less than a hour drive from La Paz, this is a quite popular beach but that still keeps its untouched and secluded charm. A long stretch of white fine sand that creates a natural bay filled with shallow turquoise waters.

This is really a magical place, no big resorts, no food stalls or any infrastructure nothing more that some sun umbrellas. The water is knee height, which means that you can walk across the bay easily and maybe reach one of the other smaller castaway coves along the bay.

If for some reasons you can't make it there during the day, at least don't miss the spectacular sunset colours! (my picture has no filters and has not been photo shopped in any way.

Sunset at Playa Balandra
Sunset at Playa Balandra


TIPS:

If you want to explore the beaches of Bahia Concepcion, I suggest you to choose a place to stay in Loreto a lively little town with the oldest Jesuit mission of the whole Baja; while Mulegé may be closer to the beaches, it does not offer a good choice of accommodations or restaurants and it looks quite run down.

Location: Baja California Sur, Mexico

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Italy off the beaten path: Donnafugata Castle

-
Image
The Donnafugata Castle is a sumptuous noble residence located 15 kilometers from Ragusa .  Donnafugata Castle The name of this castle probably derives from the Arabic "ayn as-jafaiat" which means source of health, referring to the presence of a source of pure water. Donnafugata Castle According to others, however, the title Donnafugata is linked to the legend of Bianca of Navarre, widow of the king of Sicily, that was imprisoned within the walls of the castle by the perfidious Bernardo Cabrera, lord of the County of Modica. The queen managed to escape through the tunnels, thus becoming the escaped woman (literally translated as 'donna fugata') for all. Donnafugata Castle Originally the fiefdom included a hunting estate, and an ancient Arab-Norman watchtower, but it was the baron of Donnafugata Corrado Arezzo de Spuches, who gave the structure its present appearance: a unique mix of sumptuous halls, elegant bedrooms and playful and original architectural details. Donna...
Read more

French fairy tales

-
Image
If every serious fairytale has a castle, then France is the quintessential fairytale country, considering the ridiculous amount of Chateaux in the country. And if a lack of knowledge had made us think that they were merely located on the Loire banks or used as accommodations by the wealthy wine producers of Bordeaux, a 2 weeks trip on the road in Southern France proved us completely wrong. We encountered plenty of castles of various ages and architectural styles; some of them were closed as December is low season but we still managed to visit most of them and were lucky enough to have guides all by ourselves giving us private tours! We started form the Perigord Vert and the Chateau de Bourdeilles , which is itself a double castle, including a medieval building and a Renaissance one, both very well preserved and accessible for a €7 per head. Chateau de Bourdeilles The medieval part is of course much more austere, while the Renaissance building has still plenty of decoration, furnish...
Read more

Your perfect 3-days travel itinerary in the Dordogne Valley

-
Image
The Dordogne is the quintessential French destination offering the perfect blend of culture, nature, typical stone villages, busy farmers markets, plenty of good food and wine ....basically a dream coming through. It is also the area where the ancient Cro-Magnon men left their traces many centuries ago creating the most peculiar examples of rock art in the world. With such a rich heritage, and so many things to do and see, it may be difficult to organise your visit and fit everything in, so we decided to put together a few suggested itineraries to give you some ideas and inspiration depending on the time you have available. This is our recommendations for a 3 days itinerary. 3 DAYS IN THE DORDOGNE (we have to admit that it's not much but you can still have a taste of this beautiful region). Day One No doubt that your first day in the Dordogne should start with the exploration of the medieval city centre of Sarlat . Possibly choose to do it on a Wednesday ...
Read more