Rosarito Beach lies a scant sixteen miles south of the U.S. border, on the Pacific coast.  The beach here stretches for 5 miles and is one of the nicer beaches in northern Baja.  Rosarito Beach has earned a reputation as a party town and they do their best in Rosarito to live up to their reputation.  This small town has more than its fair share of bars, nightclubs and restaurants where you can drink, eat, drink, party and drink some more. 

There is a peaceful side to the town, although you would never know it if you arrived during the five weeks, or so, of spring break.  The Rosarito Beach Hotel has been an institution in northern Baja since 1927 and remains a class act to this day.  This is one of the places that prospered from the prohibition era in the U.S., as hordes of people arrived from Southern California and points beyond to relax and enjoy legal cocktails and also the gambling that was available for a while.  The hotel has a great restaurant, two pools, a spa, a newly built pier, some great suites and a really wonderful bar that is a great place to catch the sunset.

Horseback riding, ATV rentals, fishing, bicycle rentals, cruising the all of great taco stands are but a few of the activities available here. Shopping for arts and crafts, pottery, hand made rustic style furniture and of course silver items from all over México is a good way to pass some time. There is an 18 hole golf course a few miles to the north at Real del Mar and Fox studios has an active set location (tours available) several miles to the south. 

Puerto Nuevo…one of the main reasons people make the drive to Rosarito Beach, isn’t really in Rosarito Beach.  Puerto Nuevo, also known as Lobster Village is located 11 miles south of the Rosarito Beach hotel and is a major destination by itself.  All of the thirty plus restaurants in Puerto Nuevo specialize in one item…Lobster!  Many of these restaurants also have other items on their menu, most notably fresh fish, but the real attraction in Puerto Nuevo is the inexpensive lobster dinners.  Be aware that this village of restaurants and gift shops can get very busy, especially on weekends.  There is a turn-off from the toll road and a large parking lot that is usually full on weekends.  Another 7 miles to the south is La Fonda Restaurant, Bar and Hotel, another area landmark known for its delightful cliff side dining where you will get exquisite prime rib or steaks along with great margaritas, served above the Pacific in a very romantic setting.

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The name Saltillo is familiar around the world, not because the city is so famous, but the hand made floor tiles produced here are very famous and highly sought after.   Saltillo is a pleasant city that located about an hour west of Monterrey by road and is the capital of the state of Coahuila.  Other than the famous Saltillo tile the city is know for producing high quality serapes that are very popular with shoppers the world over.  There are many shops that specialize in serapes in downtown Saltillo but if you want a serape that is made using the original techniques, not mass produced, you will have to search them out,  Ask at the tourist office for locations that sell the best serapes.

The cathedral, which was started in 1745 and finally finished in 1801, is the most noticeable landmark in the centro histórico.  There are many colonial era buildings nearby.  A beautiful fountain adds a touch of serenity to Plaza de Armas, the main plaza, which is a great place to relax and take in the sights and sounds of the city.  Saltillo also offers visitors a "Tourism Tram" that, for a modest fee, you can take to various locations, depart and board again several times to visit the various local attractions and some very interesting museums.      

Located in the jungles of the tropical southern highlands, San Cristóbal de las Casas is a small appealing town with a lot of charm, a lot of Indian influence and some pretty amazing architecture.   There are no giant factories, industrial zones or other pollution producing enterprises, this is the edge of the rainforest and the indigenous culture is prevalent  throughout  the region.  As a matter of fact this whole region has really changed very little (in comparison to other areas in México) over the years.  This is a city of pastel buildings and homes, tranquil plazas, market places, art galleries and many small malls selling typical crafts and clothing.

The cathedral, located on one side of the main town plaza, was begun in 1528.  The Church of San Francisco located on Calle Libertad, near the center of town, was once part of a Franciscan Monastery. With a simple façade and roof of tiles and wooden beams, this church holds an incredible collection of colonial art.  The Santo Domingo Church and Ex-Convent is an elaborate baroque building, built on the site of the original adobe church that dates to 1547. Featuring a glowing pink façade and extravagant ornamentation, the golden carvings and paintings in its interior make it the city's most beautiful church. The Ex-Convent of Santo Domingo now houses an excellent museum of Mayan culture, and serves as a market place there the local indigenous artisans set up there wares.  Always ask permission  before taking photos of local Indians as many believe that photos are harmful to their souls.

The city is surrounded by archaeological treasures and indigenous villages which produce a wealth of crafts.  Each village clings to its own colorful history, culture and traditions a touch of mystery.  In the quaint streets and the surrounding villages the regional Indians still wear traditional clothing and sell their wares, ranging from crafts and textiles with intricate coloring and designs, to fruits, flowers and vegetables.  Tours to the outlying villages are easily arranged, as are hikes into the cloud forest.  Other areas of interest available to tour are Agua Azul, a mesmerizing lake with beautiful waterfalls, there is an incredibly picturesque string of lakes known as Lagunas de Montebello and just 6 miles from the city you can find the San Cristóbal Recreational Park with its interesting caverns.  Horse back tours are also available.  For tour information inquire at the tourist office located a block from the main plaza. 

Palenque
See also:  Archaeological Sites
     

Palenque, six hours to the north of San Cristóbal de las Casas by bus, is one of México's most impressive archaeological compounds. Palenque is set in the lush green jungle of the rain forest and is an incredible experience for anyone even slightly interested in archaeology.  There is a modern visitors center, a museum, a restaurant, an interesting library and folk art shops.  There is a small town nearby with all ranges of accommodations for those who may wish to spend more than one day. 

San Felipe is located In Baja Norte, on the northwestern shores of the Sea of Cortez just 124 miles south of the Mexicali/Calexico border crossing.  San Felipe has long been a favorite destination for visitors from the southwestern United States, unlike it’s counterparts on the Pacific coast (Rosarita Beach and Ensenada) this charming fishing village has somehow managed to retain most of its original charming allure.  After all, the quaintness, quietness, great fishing and friendly locals are what made this area so popular in the first place.

Fishing was what put San Felipe on the map and fishing remains one of the areas most popular attractions.  Fishing is done mostly out of the good old Mexican panga, available at the north end of the Malecon, along restaurant row.  There are also a few larger sportfishing boats available for day trips and a couple of long range boats that charter for three days and head south for the better fishing that is available near San Luis Gonzaga and the Midriff islands.  Other attractions tend to be getting dirty, as in dune buggies, motorcycles and ATV’s on the sand dunes and wide open desert, so plentiful here.  ATV’s and other types of off road vehicles are available rent in numerous locations in San Felipe.

San Felipe is a great place to relax and just pass time at a slower pace than most people are used to.  Eat great seafood along the Malecon (try a different restaurant each day during your stay), stroll leisurely through town, taking in the shops or go beachcombing. 

San Felipe is just now really starting to grow a bit more sophisticated, with several new U.S. style developments, resorts and even a golf course on the shores of the Sea of Cortez, just a few minutes north of town. 

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In sharp contrast to the desert scrub, prickly cactus and volcanic rock that completely surround the area, the palm covered oasis of San Ignacio is a welcome sight to travelers.  The date palms and some citrus orchards were planted by the Jesuits, who built a mission here in 1728.  A whale skeleton on Highway 1 marks the halfway point on the long drive from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas and also marks the turnoff into the small town of San Ignacio. 

The beautiful lagoon on the road into town is actually part of the Río San Ignacio, one of only two real rivers in the entire state of Baja California Sur.  The lagoon looks more like a lake than a river and is a reminder of how dry much of the rest of Baja really is.  There is a small restaurant (snack bar) on the shore which is a pleasant spot to enjoy a snack and a cold drink.   

The church that is  the major attraction of this small village, was built by Dominican missionaries and completed in 1786.  The church was constructed entirely of volcanic rock that is so prevalent in the area.  San Ignacio is very small, even by Baja standards, with a population of less than 1500.  The church dominates the town square that makes up the major portion of the town.  The San Ignacio town square is great place to stop, after a long drive, and grab a taco, maybe some refreshing ice cream or to have a pleasant picnic in the shade.

San Ignacio is the gateway to the whale watching area of the distant (40 miles) Laguna San Ignacio on the shores of the Pacific ocean.  This area is the only lagoon visited by the California gray whales, that is still undeveloped.  Whale watching tours can be arranged at the plaza.  Another activity, based in San Ignacio, that is rapidly gaining in popularity is an excursion to the cave paintings of San Francisco de la Sierra.  Tours to the cave paintings may also be arranged in the plaza in San Ignacio.

San José del Cabo
 

Charming is the word most often used when someone is asked to describe San José del Cabo.  The old buildings of the historic center, the overwhelming presence of the Parroquia San José church along with the inviting atmosphere of the main plaza, all share in the responsibility for this very appropriate description of the city,  San José del Cabo instills a sense of old Mexican charm into the harsh desert landscape and beautiful coastline that surround the city.  Old customs and traditions prevail here and time seems to be nothing more than a symbol of the modern world...a symbol that is very easily ignored by many of the locals and visitors alike. 

San José del Cabo was officially founded as a mission in 1730.  The first expeditions to explore the area were carried out by Cortés, as early as 1535.  The rich and colorful history of San José del Cabo includes pirates, Jesuit missionaries and Indian uprisings.

Airport code for San Jose del Cabo: SJD

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For more information visit: AllAboutSanJosedelCabo.com, the complete travel guide to San José del Cabo.