BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR
Where the desert meets the sea
Traveling by car around the southern tip of Baja California offers a delightful mix of nature, secluded beaches, stunning scenery, exhilarating marine life, historic villages and world class Mexican cuisine. We have taken two trips to this amazing area and are planning to return this coming November and December. If you would like to be a part of our Humpback Whale Watching tour in Cabo December 14-18, please CONTACT US. This intimate tour is limited to just 6 participants and will be guided by John, Dawn and a marine biologist which makes this experience much more insightful. We will witness and learn a literal ton about the whales calving behavior and migratory patterns.
Whether you are based in Cabo, Todos Santos, La Paz or the East Cape, Southern Baja is loaded with beautiful beaches free of crowds. As you may have suspected, these secluded beaches are in very natural settings and often bring opportunities to see the local flora and fauna, which can be very strange and unfamiliar compared to what we experience day to day. For me it is the sharp contrast between the prickly, unforgiving landscape and the serene azure blue waters of the sea that I find so intriguing. When you consider the wealth of marine life supported by this ecosystem, no trip to Baja would be complete without an excursion into the ocean for snorkeling, scuba diving, kitesurfing, and so much more!
La Paz
One of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches is Playa Balandra near La Paz. In fact, Balandra is consistently ranked as Mexico’s most beautiful beach and for good reason! Visiting this beach during peak hours does require a reservation or can be combined with numerous tours booked in La Paz. Depending on the level of the tide, this protected lagoon can fluctuate with water considerably. A visit during high tide will allow for the best swimming opportunities while low tide offers endless wading in shallow clear water and easier access to the famous mushroom rock and other spots around the bay.
Considered one of Mexico's most beautiful beaches, Playa Balandra prints for sale
I captured this image of Balandra on our first morning in La Paz as a frontal system was moving over the area. Dramatic high clouds brought a depth to the sky and the early morning light allowed me to capture a myriad of color between the rusty red rock of the desert mountains to the countless shades of blue found within the bay. I had found this spot while studying the area on Google maps in preparation for our visit and found the trail easy to follow as it was an old road that also leads to some antennas and communications towers. Once I found a nice foreground subject, in this case a verdant green Organ Pipe cactus, I set up my tripod and composed the image. The beach park had not even opened for the day and the beach was completely empty, only a single sailboat was anchored offshore. In the distance rising from the Sea of Cortez is Isla Esperito Santu, a very colorful island close to La Paz.
Another beautiful beach that we found to be an incredible snorkeling spot (don’t mind the agua mala) was Playa El Carizalito. From La Paz the route begins following the same roads that would take you to Balandra but then turns south at a crossroads and eventually turns to a dirt two track winding through the cactus forest. We arrived to find a small old hut of sorts abandoned next to a small parking lot that was only large enough for a few cars. Directly below the parking area was a series of steps carved into the rock and earth, sometimes reinforced with sand bags, leading down to the playa below. A grove of palm trees graces this beach which is fairly uncommon for these areas but always appreciated! At high tide this beach would have minimal space to keep away from the lapping waves so check the tide charts should you plan a visit! The view from the top of the stairs really captured the feeling of this place and although most of this day was overcast I took advantage of a window of sunshine and sprinted back to the top of the hill to capture this midday shot! After feeling satisfied with the image I returned to snorkeling through the reefs and rocks below cataloging the numerous marine species we found in these aquamarine waters.
Playa Carrizalito prints for sale
Cabo Pulmo- The East Cape’s natural epicenter
Our first trip to Cabo Pulmo in 2024 was slightly rushed, having driven down for the day from Los Barrilles to go scuba diving in the Marine Reserve. We had to meet our scuba outfitter slightly after sunrise which limited my time for capturing photographs. We did spot some cool desert raptors (Cara Cara) with one sitting atop a cactus with a snake in its beak! I was only able to grab a quick iPhone shot for that encounter. After our dives we wet our appetite with a lunch at the regionally famous Tacos and Beer. This little beachside palapa is quite charming and they serve the best baja fried fish tacos anywhere! After a couple delicious margaritas we also enjoyed the afternoon at Playa Arbolita which I hope to shoot in better light on a future visit.
Returning in 2025 to visit a friend who was wintering in Cabo Pulmo we budgeted some extra time in Cabo Pulmo. On our first morning I woke early and drove into town to hike partway up a small mountain at the edge of the bay. Dawn and our dear friend Melanie would hike from the casa on the other end of the trail and we planned to meet. The sky was glowing above the Sea of Cortez as the sun slowly made its way above the horizon. I was still working on my composition, trying to find that perfect harmony and balance to frame with my camera. When I positioned myself behind this beautiful Cardon cactus knowing that its branches would create a slim shadow to align perfectly with my lens. The moment came quickly and I made the exposure and a moment later it was gone. So many prior attempts and failures lead into a moment like this and I was glad to have captured such a fleeting image!
Add Cabo Pulmo to your collection today
Playa Las Palmas and its wild horses
Our trip began on the Pacific coast surf beach of Los Cerritos. Nestled along the coast an hour north of Cabo, Cerritos hosts a mild surf break and an old Spanish Mission. Just a few kilometers north is the bustling tourist area of Todos Santos, a chic mix of colonial old world charm, art, and open air markets This area is becoming a mecca for wellness seekers, yogis and social media influencers.
One one of our days there we ventured to Playa Las Palmas, a unique wild beach situated next to a desert palm oasis. It is a short hike from the narrow but passable road we drove in from. The palm grove had recently burned when we were there but it appeared the damage was mostly contained to the low growth. I had read of the band of wild horses that call this beach home and right on queue they appeared as we entered the beach and crossed a small sandy stream. The horses appeared quite friendly at first but that changed rather quickly! A couple walking in behind us shared some food with the dominant male and he became a bit aggressive with their picnic basket! It was a bit of a scene and out of respect for their privacy I will not share any images of that encounter.
Cabo San Lucas
No trip to southern Baja would be complete without spending some time in Cabo San Lucas. This dramatic landscape inspired developers to transform what was a sleeping fishing harbor into a world class international tourist destination today. The main harbor is where most adventures depart and just beyond the harbor lies the famous “Lands End’ and El Arco de Cabo San Lucas. We stayed on Medano beach, the expansive crescent shaped white sand beach that arcs northeast from the harbor unbroken for miles. My plan was to be close to the harbor for excursions as well as to find and photograph views of the arch from shore. Between a day of scuba diving and a whale tour (it was humpback season) I managed to get a few nice shots of the arch.
Working from Medano Beach I was surprised at how well concealed the arch was from that perspective! So many advertisements and promotions for Cabo give the illusion that the arch is clearly visible up and down this area but in reality the angle makes it impossible. One evening as the light became quite rich I set off on the beach trying to change my perspective enough to capture the shot. I walked for a long way as this beach is absolutely huge! While I didn’t find the angle I had hoped for, the light was beautiful and “Two Seas” was captured.
Bring home the magic of Cabo with Two Seas
Still searching for the right angle I returned to the maps and looked for other potential spots. The next evening I set off to my new spot and found the angle I was seeking. The light didn’t quite hit me but I enjoyed the view and watching all of the sunset cruises move about in the water. This seemed like a sunrise location so I returned again and this time I found a much less chaotic scene as first light illuminated the rocks rising from the Sea of Cortez. I used a special panoramic technique to capture 5 frames which I stitched together to create a very sharp hi-res file for printing. Land’s End is sure to be a favorite for my collectors that love this area of the world!
Land's End 100 Limited Edition / 5 Artist Proof
Traveling to Baja California in late fall can come with some bonuses. The weather is cooling and many flowers and greenery are still in full bloom from the late summer monsoons. The ocean temperatures are still warm and whales are beginning their migration to these waters where they will birth their offspring. In addition to all of this, a wildlife spectacle is brewing a little ways north on the Pacific coast in Magdelena Bay. Activity usually peaks in November as billions of sardines congregate attracting an A list of apex predators including Blue Striped Marlin, Sea Lions, Sailfish, Pelagic Sharks, Common Dolphins, Mahi Mahi, Sea birds and even migrating whales join in the feast! It is the Blue Striped Marlin that many tours focus on seeing in action and we were lucky to have a few encounters despite conditions not being optimal on the day we were there.
Blue Marlin with beams of light. 100 Limited Edition / 5 Artist Proof
Travel Experiences
I am very keen to return to Southern Baja for more of these types of experiences and I have been busy fostering relationships with reputable guides and outfitters in Cabo and Mag Bay. Currently I have an intimate week of whale watching for up to 6 guests based at the beautiful Club La Pacifica by Hilton in Cabo San Lucas. We will take numerous boat tours into the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean accompanied by a marine biologist. Our tours will be arranged to take advantage of the best light and peak activity with both sunrise and sunset cruises. The outfitter is top rated and can guarantee very intimate sightings placing us in incredible proximity to some of the most insane breaching activity you will ever see! Please CONTACT US for more information if this interests you.
While the sardine run in Mag Bay is another spectacle of nature not to be missed, we are monitoring conditions in the Pacific to determine the effects of El Nino on this year’s migration. A trip might be possible in late November so please email if you would like to join our waiting list for this adventurous activity in the open ocean!