October & November Travel in Baja Sur

As a year round resident of Baja Sur, fall is my favorite time of year, so I'm getting ready for a little vacation. Usually by the second week of October the heat and humidity that limit enjoyment of the wonders of the Baja outdoors will abate. Statistically, our Baja hurricane season ends with the same breath of cooler, dryer air which comes between the 7th and the 15th of October. Those of us that live here year round emerge from our air condition seclusion and have even been know to comment that the temperatures in the low 80°’s feel ‘a bit brisk.’

There are a lot of factors that make this a great time to visit Baja Sur, foremost is of course, the weather. Most parts of the States and Canada have headed into winter weather patterns. If you haven’t yet had enough ‘summer’ where you live, our little paradise offers

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Fall is a great time to rent a luxury condo or villa. For those wanting more privacy than a resort may offer or those traveling as small groups, a luxury villa makes a lot of sense. Our friends at Cabo Luxury Villas have a variety of rentals to choose from for just a few days or longer.

James at Cortez Club says the diving is still marvelous through the end of November. Whale sharks have returned to the La Paz area in the late weeks of September, making a great attraction for those seeking adventure above or below the waterline.

Cabo Sports can set you up with personal watercraft, parasailing, snorkeling trips and ATV adventures in Los Cabos. With the water being warm and the weather just perfect it is a great time to explore life beyond Medano Beach. Sunset sails that take you to two seas (Sea of Cortez and the Pacific) aboard the Spin Doctor are outstanding at this time of year. It’s rare that you even need a light jacket after the sun goes down in a beautiful lightshow over the Pacific.

summer for another two months, at least! Our humidity will drop and the daytime highs will return to the upper 80°’s. The nights will cool off very nicely too, with the lows dropping into the mid 70°’s

This makes it particularly nice for evening strolls around town and open air dining, popular at many Baja culinary establishments. One of my favorite fall evening activities is to wander the Malecón in La Paz and enjoy an ice cream from ‘La Fuente’, (the Fountain) near the municipal pier.

If you are looking for a restaurant to enjoy outdoor dining, there are many to choose from in Baja Sur. In Cabo San Lucas we highly recommend The Stop Light, located next to Squid Roe and across from Puerto Paraiso. There you can people watch or enjoy street performers while dining on great food at a very reasonable price.

La Paz has grown to have several excellent culinary offerings. Café Milano is very proud of their AAA approved cuisine. Their Italian food is excellent and décor has captured that Euro-bistro feel. De Vina Uva offers Nuevo Mexican food with one of the best waterfront views of La Paz. Sunset dining on the walkway is beautiful well into December.

For those with the yen for water borne adventure the Sea of Cortez is still a delightful temperature well into November. Water temps are in the 80°’s and it’s easy to wade right in. If you are into fishing, they are still biting at this time of year. In Cabo things start to rock again with what is billed as the richest fishing tournament in the world – the Bisbee. Up here in La Paz our two fishing fleets Mosquito Fleet and Baja Fisherman’s Fleet are still pulling in the big ones. The days are cooler and the sun is less brutal than in the heat of summer. It makes for a wonderful day on the water – fish or no.

Carlos, from Club El Moro in La Paz gave me another excellent reason to invite you all to join us here in Baja. As Carlos said, “We have spent the summer months making improvements to our facilities, pruning our gardens and preparing for another travel season. We’re all ready now and anxious to see some smiling faces enjoying our slice of paradise.” You will find this true at most of the tourist businesses around Baja, particularly where the hot summer months also mean a drought of travelers. You will find a lot of smiling faces ready to help you have a great time on your vacation – they’ve missed you!

The Aero California debacle caused the travel season to end prematurely for many La Paz businesses this spring. Now, Alaska Airlines is suppose to begin service from LAX to La Paz. For those in the San Diego area you can venture across the border and fly Air Avolar very reasonably (around $259RT I heard) direct to La Paz . We are hoping for service from United and one other large airline this fall as well. Hopes are high for an exciting travel season here in La Paz.

This fall also means a green desert. With the rains the hillsides of Baja Sur have come back to life. The cacti are swollen and the desert is abloom with color not seen since 2003-2004. Renting a car from Budget can prove both an economical way to avoid Cabo taxis or get to your destination in La Paz. The deserts are absolutely beautiful right now and a drive around the Baja Sur Loop will take you through the best of it. The roads are in pretty good shape, with only some small problems on the East Cape side. (Road Report) Absolutely remember to bring your camera!

From an investment perspective October will also put you one step ahead if you are interested in Baja real estate. The growth in Baja from Rosarito Beach to Cabo has been gaining momentum for years. But a lot of people, like myself, believe this season will bring a Baja Land Rush without precedent. Real estate people have spent the summer months signing up new inventory. Projects like the Loreto Bay are attracting buyers from around the world for their unique approach to creating residential developments that minimize their impact on what people have come to love about Baja. Getting down here early may be the best way to insure the best selection and values.

It may change with this article in the BajaInsider, but October is also a great time to beat the tourist rush. Despite the fact that the weather is so outstanding at this time of year, it is largely undiscovered by travelers.

So pack you shorts, golf clubs, fishing pole, snorkeling gear, water wings or whatever else you need to have a great time and come join us. The weather is great, the peninsula is green and the Baja travel merchants are anxious to show you a wonderful time!

-Tomas

Additional Resources

La Paz Activities
Cabo Activities
Baja Road Report
Baja Mileage Chart
Baja Fishing Reports
Baja Real Estate
Cabo is Booming