I saw the truck right in front of us on a two-lane road. I screamed frantically at my sister to slow down while trying to press an imaginary brake pedal on my co-pilot seat. Clearly, she did not break or listen, and so our car ended facing some trees and sand out of the road. It had been a long while since the last time I went on a family trip. My sister is the kind of party person who loves staying at a pool, sipping a mojito. My mom loves resorts with a SPA, and I prefer boutique hotels with local experiences away from all the hustle and bustle. Could we survive a week together on a road trip to Baja?
We began our adventure in San José del Cabo, where we rented a car and drove up to La Paz. This road trip from San José to La Paz is totally worth it. If you have ever used Bumble and seen the question: ¿mountain or beach? This route has it all, from deserts to blue ocean waters and high mountains. It is dangerous though, my sister almost made us crash.
La Paz is a Mexican port town with the typical Mexican church, stores, seafood restaurants, and trendy bars. As soon as we arrived there, I felt like it had my name on it. Following the coastline, within a 20-minute drive, in Playa Pichilingue, we took a boat ride to the EspÃritu Santo Island. I can still listen to my sister, "Hey, are you dizzy? no throwing up!". To her disappointment, I was actually very busy looking at the beautiful beaches where it is possible to swim, walk, or just sit and relax. Unlike any other beach destination in Mexico, you can swim next to sea lions on this island! These animals like to have fun and will be swimming next to you while you snorkel around. What an out of this world experience!
Another breath-taking beach next to La Paz is Playa El Tecolote and Playa Balandra. These are white sand beaches with no waves at all. The ocean seems to become a blue lagoon, and the water is at a perfect temperature to swim. Here you can relax, enjoy the sun, friends and family, a good book and delicious seafood.
Sadly, after spending some days exploring La Paz, the road trip continued. We could follow up to Loreto or take the highway to Todos Santos. We decided on the latter: "All Saints", a colorful Mexican town where many Americans and Canadians have opened different art galleries. Also, it is said that the famous Hotel California that inspired the famous song is located in this town.
After Todos Santos, we made several stops along the highway to Cabo San Lucas. In my opinion, Cabo San Lucas resembles Cancun these days because you have the perfect beach combo: affordable hotels, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and shopping. To me, Cabo reflects precisely what my sister is looking for on holiday, so if you like to enjoy nature and local life, then better stay in La Paz.
We did not stay in Cabo. My mom loves to relax and avoid the party people. So, to enjoy some days in a resort and relax at a higher price, a fabulous option is the corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. There are many resorts in this area, and many of them belong to The Luxury Collection Hotels like the One and Only Palmilla Resort. It is a great option to stay here and enjoy the hotel's different activities. My mom loved this corridor and our hotel. While my sister enjoyed soaking up the sun and the happy hour at the pool, my mom enjoyed her massage. And me? I hopped on a local bus to discover San José del Cabo.
Traveling with my mom and sister can be exhausting sometimes. Still, this time even with that minor car accident where no one got injured, it was gratifying. Spending time together out of the routine can bring us to our nerves, but Baja gave us the best stories for life! So next time you are thinking of traveling to Mexico, Go Baja!