100% customisable travel idea
Mexican Lifestyle and the Pacific Mexico City and a road trip in Baja California
Mexico - Mexico City - Baja California
The other California
Your journey
You fly to Mexico City where you spend the first few days. From there, a quick flight gets you to southern Baja California in no time, to San Jose del Cabo to be precise. Everything runs smoothly, of course. Getting around the peninsula is so much easier with a rental car, which gives you the freedom to go where you want. To guide you, our mobile app will have saved your itinerary and will act as a GPS, adding recommandations located nearby. The hotels on your journey are all in a perfect location with a special touch that sets them apart from the run of the mill accommodation. In Mexico City, you take the pulse of the capital in a small, arty hotel with a relaxed atmosphere. In Cabo Pulmo, you stay just steps from the beach, in a hotel looking out over the wide open sea, with its own PADI dive centre. The ranch where you stay next is totally unique. With thousands of acres of unspoiled landscapes you can enjoy beautiful hikes against the backdrop of the sierra, along with delicious meals with an authentic local flavour. In La Paz, Spanish colonial style takes centre stage, with sea views. Finally, in Todos Santos, the journey ends on a particularly original note, in a collection of small, cheerfully eclectic casitas where hummingbirds flit around the gardens. To fill your days, we have planned several tours and some sightseeing. First you have a Mexico City market tour with a private guide and dinner at one of the capital’s top restaurants. We have taken care of the reservation. Then you enjoy a snorkelling trip in Cabo Pulmo National Park and a street art walk in La Paz. Finally, at Rancho Cacachilas, you take part in various activities to do with nature or life on the ranch. For any last-minute requests or slight hitches, you have the contact details of our on site Concierge, who can be reached at any time during your trip.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Welcome on arrival, private transfer, and three-night stay in the La Condesa district. Wide, tree-lined avenues, cafe terraces and art galleries set the scene. Stroll around to discover the neighbourhood’s beautiful Art Deco heritage. La Condesa is one of the most pleasant and safest neighbourhoods in Mexico City, home to young professionals and artists from all walks of life. Your hotel, both arty and welcoming, retains the charm of a guest house. The renovation of the building has preserved its character while adding a modern touch. Guests are greeted with a warm and friendly welcome, and the rooms are bright and comfortable. A cool, slightly bohemian atmosphere makes it the perfect place for easing into the Mexican vibe.
You have two days to explore Mexico as you wish. Whether you’re visiting or strolling, organising or just going with the flow.
Scheduled - In private: the Jamaica and Sonora markets. Open every day of the year, Jamaica is the most famous indoor market in Mexico City, and you can find everything there: flowers, vegetables, meat, kitchen utensils, etc. Here you have the chance to sample a thousand and one things - especially fruit - before heading to Sonora, a unique place in Mexico. This market is dedicated to herbalism and witchcraft. Indigenous shamans and healers practising traditional medicine come here to stock up on raw materials, found in abundance in the mysterious stalls of the slanderous (herbalists).
Optional - Bike ride through the Roma and La Condesa districts, in private.
Things to see and do - Dive into the capital’s past in the historic centre and visit its main iconic sites: the cathedral, the National Palace, the exterior of the Templo Mayor, Madero Street with its splendid UNESCO-listed buildings, the Casa de los Azulejos, the Postal Palace, and the esplanade of the Palace of Fine Arts; visit the National Museum of Anthropology, which houses the finest collections of pre-Columbian and folk art; stroll along the art galleries, bookshops, parks, and Art Deco buildings of Roma or La Condesa.
Just for you - In the evening, a table is reserved for you at a gourmet restaurant in>Mexico City
Private transfer to the airport and flight to San José del Cabo. Pick up your rental car and drive to the far south-east of the Baja California peninsula, where you will find Cabo Pulmo. An end-of-the-world atmosphere pervades this former pearl fishing village, where everything is done on foot, just steps from a protected reserve that has become a paradise for divers and nature lovers.
Two-night stay in accommodation that, while not reserved exclusively for them, will delight diving enthusiasts - it has its own PADI centre! True to its simple beach-side spirit, the accommodation focuses on comfort rather than sophisticated décor, offering comfortable bungalows equipped with everything you need. On site, a restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere serves classic Mexican dishes and ultra-fresh fish. And, most importantly, you are just steps away - literally - from the beach.
Scheduled -snorkelling. Cabo Pulmo National Park is one of the areas with the greatest variety of fish, turtles and sharks in the region. The many reefs teeming with life, reachable within minutes by boat, make this a paradise for lovers of marine diversity. With a guide and the right gear, you set out to discover this incredible aquatic life.
Things to see and do - Lounge like an iguana by the pool; start your day with a meditation session on the beach; learn to taste real quality tequila; stroll through the sandy little streets of Cabo Pulmo.
Drive north towards La Paz. On the way, you stop at Rancho Cacachilas for two nights. This magnificent 14,000-hectare (34,600-acre) ranch lies in the heart of the Sierra. It's a dream playground for nature lovers, walkers, and anyone seeking peace and quiet. Here you return to simple pleasures. You will stay in a comfortable tent with a view of the mountains or Las Ventanas Bay. The panorama is simply breathtaking. At the restaurant, the team cooks with produce from the kitchen garden. It’s tasty, fresh, and as local as it gets. A unique experience in this superb region of Mexico.
The days follow a rhythm of explorations and activities with a guide and the ranch staff. You can choose from hiking and wildlife discovery, mule rides, mountain biking, cheese-making workshops, and bee-keeping.
Drive to La Paz and two-night stay on the Malecón, the seafront promenade. Your hotel is set in a beautiful two-storey colonial house, with a handful of spacious rooms and large windows. On sunny days, guests settle on the terrace to enjoy breakfast, looking out at the Sea of Cortez.
La Paz nestles in a bay overlooking the Sea of Cortez, surrounded by stunning beaches such as Bahía Balandra. Once a pearl-fishing town and now popular for sport fishing, it boasts a waterfront perfect for strolling. Amid its beautiful colonial buildings, you'll find the Museo Regional de Antropología e Historia de Baja California Sur.
Scheduled - Private walk focused on street art. Amélie, who is passionate about Southern Californian culture, shares the history of La Paz with you through the works of artists from across Mexico. With her, you go beyond the purely aesthetic side of urban murals, delving into topics deeply connected to local life, such as the daily experiences of fishermen and rancheros, as well as current conservation issues and the history of the peninsula’s first Indigenous peoples. This incredibly rich experience takes you to the heart of Baja California’s culture.
Optional - A day exploring Espíritu Santo, a paradise for sea lions.
Head straight south to reach the small coastal town of Todos Santos on the Pacific coast. On
the way, stop for lunch in the charming mining village of El Triunfo, home to several culinary gems.
Upon arrival in Todos Santos, settle in for two nights at the heart of a group of independent casitas, each perfectly equipped and uniquely decorated, with a delightful mix of local arts and crafts, wood, contemporary furniture, artworks and colourful mosaic walls. Each casita offers a lovely view of the ocean, and at sunset, you'll truly appreciate just how fortunate you are. On site, a pleasant swimming pool and a hot tub stand on a beautiful stone terrace, with several areas to relax, each with a view. Lush gardens surround the property, alive with flitting hummingbirds. All this is just a few minutes from the entertainment and shops of Todos Santos.
At the foot of the Sierra de la Laguna, vast coves typical of Baja California unfold. Endless beaches, shaped by the swell, are frequented by soaring vultures. The meeting of the desert and the ocean creates what Kino, the local fisherman in Steinbeck’s The Pearl, describes as “the uncertain air that magnified some things and blotted out others". Gigantic waves, mango and palm orchards, art galleries and craft workshops make up the setting of this little wild paradise nestled between the mountains and the ocean
. Optional - A horseback ride through the dunes at sunset.
Return the rental car at the airport and take your international flight back. Night on board, arrival the next day.
À la carte
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
Mexico City - Bike tour through the Roma and La Condesa neighbourhoods
The Roma and La Condesa neighbourhoods, in the west of the capital, experienced the opulence of the 1920s, and you can see it in the Art Deco architecture of their buildings and villas. These charming residential neighbourhoods now combine a bohemian atmosphere and a vibrant culture with trendy shops and bars. Discover all this and more on a private bike tour.
Optional extra
Espiritu Santo day tour
Just a few miles from La Paz, this gem, designated as a Biosphere Reserve, is the perfect place to observe the marine life that inhabits the crystal-clear waters of the Sea of Cortez. The wide variety of sea birds and the blue-footed boobies are remarkable, as is the colony of sea lions, the dolphins and the manta rays. You may even be lucky enough to see the sea lions up close.
Todos Santos - Sunset horseback ride
Nestled among old mango and palm orchards, with spectacular views of white sand beaches and overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Todos Santos region lends itself perfectly to horse riding. And not just any old horse. Here, you ride a criollo, a compact horse native to South and Central America.
Whale watching (December to March)
Mexico’s Pacific coasts receive an impressive number of visitors every year! Whales - grey, humpback, blue - and whale sharks, come here to breed. It’s a great opportunity to take a boat trip to get up close to these giants of the sea, with departures from La Paz or other ports on the Baja California peninsula.
With a few more days: Los Angeles
How about taking a short trip to California before heading to Baja California? You could always take a flight to Los Angeles to begin this wonderful Mexican journey with a few days in the City of Angels. The beauty of this extraordinary city, which is legendary in so many ways, comes from its setting. It sits on a coastal plain, surrounded by hills (home to Hollywood with its famous boulevard and Beverly Hills) and of course the ocean. LA hits you with the full force of its excess, its cultural dynamism and its perpetual buzz. Yet it has a relaxed vibe too. And all of this is bathed in sunshine for most of the year.
Why visit Mexico with Voyageurs du monde?
Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)
Let us create your tripA few of the advantages of travelling with us to Mexico
- Globally unique concierge service
- Wi-Fi: 1 GB/day included
- Gourmet Voyageurs
- Adjust your trip while travelling
- 24-hour assistance
- CO2 absorption
