Located in the southern part of the Baja Peninsula, Baja California Sur is a premier destination that lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California – also known as the Sea of Cortez. It has nearly 1400 miles of stunning coastlines, with many beaches including those at Magdalena, Ballenas, La Paz, San Carlos, Asunción and Concepción. The landscape is rich and varied, ranging from the volcanic Giganta Mountains in the east, which rise to nearly 2000 feet, through to coastal plains on the west side that offer spectacular desert views. The area also has a number of protected wildlife reserves and marine parks that host the region’s unique and varied animal and plant life.
Baja California was originally home to indigenous nomadic cultures, such as the Pericú, Guaycura and Cochimi. There is still evidence of their presence to be found in cave paintings in mountainous regions throughout the area. The Spanish first arrived in 1534, and then in force with Hernán Cortés’ arrival in 1535. A colony was established there but the inhabitants had to withdraw to Acapulco as they came under attack from the local inhabitants. It wasn’t until the arrival of Jesuit missionaries in 1697 that a European presence was firmly established. The Baja Peninsula was split into two territories in 1804, with the northern portion, La Alta, having its capital at Monterey, and the southern area, La Baja, being governed from Loreto. Loreto was then destroyed by storms in 1830, and La Paz became the new capital. The Baja was further divided in two in 1888, with the lower portion becoming Baja California Sur. It wasn’t until 1974 that this Mexican territory became a state.
Today, Baja California Sur is home to a little more than 600,000 people spread across the region. Tourists flock to the southern end of the peninsula, and particularly to the neighboring cities of San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. This area is known for its wonderful beaches, scuba diving and marine life, including pods of whales that give birth to their calves in the temperate waters of the Sea of Cortez, before starting their 6000 mile migration back to the frigid waters of Alaska and Siberia. The area is also a major sports fishing destination, including being home to the world’s richest marlin fishing tournament. The area offers many upscale restaurants and hotels, such as the Park Royal Los Cabos, which is operated by Royal Holiday. You can find out more about Royal Holiday on LinkedIn.
In addition to sampling beaches and vibrant nightlife, there are lots of other activities to keep visitors interested in San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas – collectively known as Los Cabos. For example, tourists can hire horses and go on a guided expedition into the nearby desert. There are also activities such as parasailing on the area’s beaches, as well as flyboarding, where a water-powered jet pack propels the flyboarder up to 30 feet into the air, where they are able to control their flight using handheld control jets.
This post was supported by Royal Holiday.
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