A Road Trip Down Baja
My 11-day road trip down Baja was full of sightseeing and new memories. I went with my dad and family friends who drove us in their SUV from our home in San Diego. This would be my big summer trip before starting eighth grade.
After we crossed the border, the trip began with a stop at Rosarito to convert our dollars to pesos. Then it was on to Ensenada to have breakfast. Next up would be a 12-hour road trip over the next two days.
A long drive on the first day delivered us to our first overnight destination -- San Ignacio. It was a quaint town with many shops, a large tropical lagoon, and both character and quirks. That night we settled down in a property with two houses as the town didn't have many hotel arrangements. It was a good area to be in and a night well spent.
Twelve more hours in the car took us to Mulege, a tropical town. The many palm trees and bodies of water make it a perfect place to view, although the heat was stifling. Soon after taking a dip in the clear turquoise waters, we headed on to Loreto, where we stayed at the La Mision Loreto Hotel, our first Mexico hotel and an excellent choice. The glistening pool was inviting, and the view of a line of palm trees against the vast body of water was spectacular. At the breakfast buffet they served everything from fruit and cereal to eggs done all kinds of ways and served with varieties of meat.
The experience was an enjoyable one, but after breakfast we headed out for La Paz. This was the city we were waiting for and the one we visited the longest. We stayed at The Marine Waterfront hotel, where we had a pier-side view and splashed in the fun pools. From walking downtown to the many restaurants, tourist attractions, beaches and our hotel, this was not a stop to miss.
One of our favorite spots here was Balandra Beach, one of the most popular beaches in the world and with good reason. We had to wake up early and wait in line because only a few hundred people are allowed there at a time. Vendors were selling umbrellas, food and drinks. Once we got in, we managed to snag a small palapa (open-sided structure with a thatched roof made from dried palm leaves) and then plunged into the water. We swam for hours, and along the way we even saw a few stingrays. I would recommend going there to anyone who is ever in La Paz. After a few hours, we returned to our hotel and had dinner downtown.
We were in for a treat the next day. Our resort in Todos Santos looked as if it were right out of a movie. The hotel was called La Poza Boutique Hotel, and it had the Pacific Ocean as its backyard. We weren't able to swim in it because the water was cold, choppy and dangerous, but the hotel had many pools to relax in, and the overall stay was fantastic -- another place I would recommend.
Our final destination and the point of the trip was Cabo San Lucas. Here we stayed at the Hacienda del Mar Hotel with an infinity pool that looked out at the ocean and poolside dining at several restaurants. If you're somebody who likes fancy hotels and wants to plan a calm vacation, Cabo San Lucas is the place to go. If your pleasures are simpler, one of the other stops on our itinerary will be sure to intrigue you.
This trip was worth the effort, but we were tired when we got home. I took tons of photos, and I got several opportunities to practice my Spanish with the people we met along the way. My dad and I flew back to San Diego from Cabo while our friends returned by way of another long drive. My advice for next time: Take a plane instead!
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WHEN YOU GO
La Mision Loreto Hotel: lamisionloreto.com
The Marine Waterfront Hotel: waterfronthotel.com.mx/en
La Poza Boutique Hotel: lapoza.com
Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos: haciendadelmar.com.mx
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Kalea Whitley is the niece of freelance writer Sharon Whitley Larsen. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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