A different world: this may be the only way to describe Baja California in Mexico. This peninsula is 800 miles long, between the Pacific Ocean and the sea of Cortez, and we could easily go from one coast to the other, since they are only 50 miles apart. But that would be if we didn’t have to zigzag through mountain ranges or cross deserts where it is possible not to see anyone for miles. This landscape of desolation is fascinating.
As though we needed to spend some moments in silence before reaching the seaside resorts in the south of the Peninsula. Who wouldn’t say yes to scuba diving in some of the most beautiful dive sites or to observing the gray whales?
The climate varies a lot across this region, from the snow-covered mountains in the San Pedro Mártir national park to the stifling heat of the coastal areas of the sea of Cortez. Baja California essentially offers desert landscapes, but nonetheless, there is a diversity of landscapes. Indeed, the desert is always different, the flora changes and the number of cactus species seems to be endless. If the coast of the sea of Cortez offers beaches with transparent waters, the ocean is a lot less peaceful.
Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park is located north of the peninsula. It peaks over 3000 meters above sea-level and often experiences cold and snow. Also north of the peninsula are border cities like Tijuana that oscillate between distractions for Americans looking for exotic sensations and industries looking for cheap labor.
South of the peninsula, the tourism industry is in full swing. The opalescent color of the sea, the sandy beaches, and the rich waters that offer great fishing promise attract American tourists. However, it is in the center of the peninsula, in the desert and mountainous areas, that one can find the profound beauty of Baja California. Among the forests of cactus and the mineral mountain ranges, the feeling of solitude reaches an intensity that only unspoiled and untamed nature can procure.
