10 Must-Visit Spots on a Baja Road Trip
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Last updated on January 3, 2026
If you’re planning a Baja road trip this year, this guide will share 10 places you absolutely cannot miss on your trip for an epic adventure!
After spending a blissful four months exploring the Baja California Peninsula in our RV, we can confidently say there’s truly no place better than Baja.
It’s one of the few places in North America where you can camp on pristine beaches, drink natural wine, swim with sea lions, get up close and personal to grey whales, and visit charming towns with great cuisine.
We drove over 2,200 miles during our four-month trip, visiting all of the top destinations on the Baja Peninsula. And today, I’m sharing 10 of the best stops you simply can’t miss on a Baja road trip!
Table of Contents
The 10 top Baja road trip destinations
This post doesn’t dive into the logistics of taking a Baja road trip. We cover all the details like mandatory Mexican insurance for your vehicle, how to cross the border, driving in Baja, camping costs, internet, and safety in our 90-page digital guide.
We have sold hundreds of copies of our guide, helping countless people plan a better Baja road trip. But you can also get loads more recommendations in our two-hour film recapping our four-month Baja road trip.
However, if you don’t have two hours to kill, here are 10 of the best destinations to visit.
1. Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California
Valle de Guadalupe is a tiny town roughly 2 hours south of San Diego, California. This region is often referred to as the “Napa of Mexico” because it’s where approximately 90% of all Mexican wine comes from.
There are just over 200 different wineries to visit in this region, producing stellar wines along with incredible, fine dining and Michelin-rated restaurants.
I definitely recommend spending at least three days in Valle de Guadalupe. If you’re flexible on time, stop in Ensenada as well. It’s a cool ocean-side town with incredible seafood about 45 minutes from Valle.
We stopped in Valle de Guadalupe twice on our Baja road trip because we loved it so much. If you want to learn more about Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, we share detailed guides below.
- Complete Guide to Visiting Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico
- 10 Amazing Valle de Guadalupe Wineries You Have to Visit
- 15 Best Restaurants in Valle de Guadalupe (Right Now)
2. Guerrero Negro, Baja California
Guerrero Negro is a salt mining town located on the border of Baja California (the state to the north of Baja) and Baja California Sur. The town is pretty sleepy and is mostly an industrial area.
However, its neighboring lagoon, Ojo de Libre, is home to thousands of grey whales in winter and a popular destination for tourists on a Baja road trip!
From January to March, visitors can get up close and personal with the grey whales in Ojo de Libre lagoon. This isn’t a normal whale-watching tour you might have experienced elsewhere. Since these creatures are friendly in nature, they often approach the boats requesting kisses and pets!
🐋 This was one of our favorite experiences of our entire Baja road trip and is a must if you’re coming here in the winter season. Learn all about how to see grey whales in Baja here.
3. Cataviña Desert, Baja California
The Cataviña Desert is another epic must-visit destination on any Baja road trip. While it appears barren at first glance, it’s home to some of the tallest cacti in the world, ancient petroglyphs, and has amazing free camping.
We stayed 3 nights in Cataviña and wished we could have stayed longer. A must-visit stop, even if you simply drive through this enchanting desert, is the petroglyphs painted inside a cave by the indigenous peoples of Baja!
Want more help planning your Baja road trip? Grab our digital guide!
This 90-page digital guide includes the perfect Baja road trip itinerary to 18 incredible destinations along the Baja California Peninsula. Plus, you’ll gain access to our custom Google Map with 150+ unique and top activities throughout Mexico.
This Baja road trip guide is a ONE-STOP SHOP for everything you want and need to know about traveling Baja California in a van, fifth wheel, trailer, or RV.
4. Loreto, Baja California Sur
Loreto quickly became one of the favorite places we visited in all of Baja California Sur. This small town has a super laid-back vibe to it and is home to gorgeous beaches along its national park, fantastic food, and tons of history.
You can take a boat tour to a national preserve, whale watch, visit an old Benedictine monastery, or simply enjoy the charm of this pueblo magico. This was another destination we stopped at twice because we enjoyed it so much during our first visit.
5. Mulege, Baja California Sur
Mulege is a tiny town in Baja California Sur along the Bay of California. This area is one of the most popular places to visit on a Baja road trip thanks to its epic beach camping. There are tons of small beaches to camp with truly the most incredible waterfront views.
Many people stop in Mulege and turn back around to the US border. But rather than making this your final destination, it’s worth continuing further down Baja California Sur.
You can camp here without limit, but spaces do fill up on popular beaches! If you’re doing this Baja road trip in a car, and not an RV, van, or trailer, feel free to visit for the day and grab lunch. And don’t miss a stop at Birotes Everybody for the best first tacos in Baja, as well as Mulege Brewing, one of the few breweries along the peninsula.
6. Todos Santos, Baja California Sur
Todos Santos is one of the top places to visit in Mexico right now. This artsy town has become a popular expat destination for young creatives to start their own business. You can find dozens of international restaurants, zen retreats, authentic street carts, art galleries, breweries, and more.
It’s also home to some fantastic beaches known for surfing. We could spend an entire season in Todos Santos, but at a minimum, plan two to three days there. Book a room at Cien Palmas in town and hike Sugar Port Trail, relaxing on some of its beautiful beaches, and eating your way through town (the food here is amazing).
7. La Paz, Baja California Sur
La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, making it one of the busiest and most populous cities on the Peninsula. Despite that, it’s still a tranquil beachside retreat home to Balandra Beach, voted one of the prettiest beaches in the world, and a national park.
It’s the spot to swim with sea lions or whale sharks (depending on the season) and eat some of Baja’s incredible seafood. If you want to learn more about La Paz, Baja California Sur, check out my blog posts below.
- 10 Amazing Things to do in La Paz
- How to swim with sea lions in La Paz
- Is Balandra Beach worth visiting?
8. La Ventana Baja, California Sur
La Ventana is a rustic village on the Bay of California known for world-renowned kite surfing. The name La Ventana means window. The town is exposed to an opening (aka a window) between two islands offshore. During the day, strong winds funnel through this opening, making it the ideal place for kite surfing.
Even if you aren’t a kite surfer, there is plenty to do, see, and enjoy here. At low tide, you can relax in natural hot springs right along the ocean. It’s also home to one of our favorite camping spots in all of Baja!
9. Los Barriles, Baja California Sur
Los Barriles is a 45-minute drive from La Ventana and is another popular beach town for water activities like kite surfing, sport fishing, and ATVing. It’s a great base camp for exploring Cabo Pulmo National Park, home to one of Baja’s most incredible coral reefs. You can also visit the nearby waterfall oasis and hot springs!
10. Los Cabos, Baja California Sur
The last spot we recommend adding to your Baja road trip itinerary is Los Cabos. The term Los Cabos is used to describe the area surrounding Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, which are around a 45-minute drive from each other.
Cabo San Lucas is mostly home to fancy all-inclusive resorts, while San Jose del Cabo has a more laid-back feel to it, with a colorful historic center. If you’re looking for fun tours around the Cabo area, here are a few to consider.
What to bring on a Baja road trip
Baja is a remote peninsula. In many ways, it feels more like an island than a peninsula. Make sure you bring any replacement parts that could be difficult to come by for your vehicle down there. We always have a backup electrical plug in case we lose one, or something goes wrong with the electricity when plugged in.
Since Baja is an outdoor lover’s dream, make sure you have all of the fun toys with you to enjoy it fully. Have basic items like swimwear, towels, and chairs to enjoy the views as you are camping. We also stock up on specialty foods, medications, and pet food before crossing the Mexico border.
Below are a few of the top things to bring on a Baja road trip. 🛒 Shop our entire Mexico must-have list on Amazon here). 🙌🏼
- Inflatable paddle board (another option is an inflatable kayak)
- Snorkel gear
- Reef safe sunscreen
- Sun shirt to keep your arms and shoulders protected while you’re out and about.
- Tire repair kit
- Tire pump (we aired down our tires frequently to avoid getting stuck in soft sand. Now you can re-air the tires easily).
- Recovery gear to get you unstuck in the sand (it will happen if you beach camp. I promise.)
- Starlink (cell reception is extremely limited in Baja. This was the only way we could stay connected without worry.)
- Surfboard: We don’t surf, but if you’re into surfing, you’ll definitely want to bring yours!
- Wetsuit: The water on both sides (the Bay of California and the Pacific Ocean) is cold year-round. If you plan to do lots of water sports on your Baja road trip, bring a wetsuit.
- Solar set up on your RV. We boondocked 80% of the time in Baja. Having a solar setup on your RV allows you to generate free power from the sun and use that energy freely.
- Travel insurance. Health care is really affordable in Baja Mexico, but it’s nice to have travel insurance just in case something serious happens while abroad. We use Safety Wing. Get a quote with them here!
A Baja road trip isn’t easy. The road conditions in Mexico can be brutal, and Baja’s remoteness means things like cell reception and internet connectivity can be challenging. But every challenge is worth it. Hopefully, this guide has inspired you to visit some new places on your upcoming trip and get a better idea of what to bring on your Baja road trip!
- Is Baja California Safe to RV?
- 8 Things You Need for Crossing the Mexico Border in a Car or RV
- Everything You Need to Know About Driving in Mexico
- 7 Best Baja California Beaches
- How to Stay Connected RVing Mexico (Mobile Internet in Mexico)
- 6 Fantastic Baja RV Parks You Don’t Want to Miss
Frequently Asked Questions about a Baja Road Trip
When is the best time to do a Baja road trip?
Winter is the best time for a Baja road trip due to this region’s warm days and cool evenings. Most people begin their journey south in January and return before Easter week (Semana Santa).
Is it safe to take a Baja road trip?
Yes, it is safe to take a Baja road trip in your van, RV, trailer, or car. Always check advisory warnings for areas of increased activity and stay aware of your surroundings when traveling.
What do I need for a Baja road trip?
Visitors planning a Baja road trip need to have a valid passport, driver’s license, vehicle registration, and Mexican liability insurance. Mexican liability insurance is in addition to your home coverage and is required by law in Mexico.
