In One Week

Mid-Baja

This trip takes you into the heart of Baja and showcases the region's wild, natural beauty. It's an especially appealing trip for those who prefer their travels with a generous dose of activity in the mix.

Day 1: Arrive in Loreto

Upon arrival in Loreto, you'll want to take the afternoon to explore this small, lovely town and stop in the Misión Nuestra Señora de Loreto, the first mission established in Baja, dating back to 1699, and in the Museo de las Misiones, which is next door. The town is remarkably easy to navigate, with one main road that runs parallel to the waterfront boardwalk. Most attractions are near the central square and old mission, but take the time to walk the short pedestrian-only length of Salvatierra to look at the wood homes that date back to the 1800s. For your first evening in town, I'd recommend dinner at Pachamama, an Argentinean restaurant on Zapata.

Day 2: Isla del Carmen

You'll need to arrange this trip through one of Loreto's tour companies, but plan on an enchanting day of kayaking, snorkeling, or hiking at Isla del Carmen, the largest of Loreto's offshore islands. Even if your preference is for water-bound activities, it would be a shame to miss a walk or nap on the white-sand beaches of this or Coronado Island.

Day 3: San Javier

Explore a bit of Baja's interior by visiting the Misión San Francisco Javier, about 2 hours from Loreto along the old Camino Real dirt road. From here, if you're traveling with an authorized guide, you can stop to view some of the indigenous cave paintings, or you may choose to combine your trip with a visit to Primer Agua for a picnic, swimming in the natural spring, or hiking the area.

Day 4: Whale-Watching in Magdalena Bay (or Alternate Exploration)

Although Magdalena Bay is on the opposite side of the peninsula (on the Pacific Coast), it's an easy trip and, once there, you can board a skiff and spend a few hours watching the gray whales that migrate to this area in large numbers. It's a remarkable sight. If you're traveling in months other than December to May, however, the whales won't be there, so you'll need to plan an alternate activity, perhaps a round of tennis or golf. For the truly adventurous, I'd pick the challenging 12-hour trip offered by C&C Tours to the foothills of the Guadalupe Mountains, where you'll hike over mountain, stream, and valley to view the mystical cave paintings.

Day 5: Kayaking, Fishing, or More Island Explorations

Use this day to explore more of what Loreto has to offer, whether it is offshore fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, hiking, or horseback riding. Loreto also is the ideal place to relax with your favorite beverage and get a feel for the intriguing expatriate culture.

Day 6: Mulegé & Santa Rosalía

Although Mulegé is closer to Loreto, I'd recommend driving to Santa Rosalía first and stopping in Mulegé on your return trip. Santa Rosalía is 61km (38 miles) north of Loreto. The main reason to visit Santa Rosalía is to view its historical sites of interest, including the Gustave Eiffel-designed Iglesia de Santa Barbara and the Museo Histórico Minero de Santa Rosalía. However, I would argue that the number-one attraction is the El Boleo bakery. If you prefer activities to sightseeing and the South Beach Diet to a carb wonderland, you may want to forego Santa Rosalía and concentrate your time in Mulegé instead, where you can visit, with a guide, the series of caves in La Trinidad, a remote ranch 29km (18 miles) west of Mulegé, or at San Borjitas. Literally an oasis in the desert, Mulegé is a small, slightly run-down town with a large English-speaking community, but beyond the Misión Santa Rosalía de Mulegé and the Museo Regional de Historía, the town itself doesn't offer much in the way of sightseeing. Time spent here generally revolves around visiting its lovely surrounding beaches or indulging in the famed Mulegé pig roast. The return trip from Mulegé to Loreto is 137km (85 miles), taking about an 1 1/2 hours.

Day 7: Departing Loreto

Use your final day to relax, or, if it's your pleasure, play a round of golf at the Campo de Golf Loreto or tennis at the Centro Tenístico Loreto. The Inn at Loreto Bay also has a full-service spa, so a body treatment may be just the thing to cap your stay.