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Miraflores
Miraflores is a
quaint little town approximately 25 miles north of San Jose del Cabo.
This town is several hundred years old. Miraflores is known in the
area for the quality of the local leather products and the natural Hot
Springs located just outside of town. The Miraflores area also
produces some of the most incredible sweet basil to ever come out of
mother earth. This is a quiet, relaxing drive and a great way to
spend that extra 1/2 day by taking in a bit of the local history and
enjoying the unusually lush surroundings. The combination of a trip to
Miraflores and then proceeding on to Santiago for lunch makes for an
enjoyable and relaxing getaway.
SantiagoSantiago is a small
down-to-earth town approximately 35 miles north of San Jose del Cabo and
just 1 1/2 miles north of the Tropic of Cancer. Santiago dates back
to 1723 when an Italian padre built a mission there. The area is known
for farming, fruit orchards and a small zoo, the only one in Southern
Baja. There is also a small, very rustic, museum (open ??)
containing colonial artifacts and local fossils. There are many
working farms and ranches in the area, so do not be too surprised if you
see some real cowboys in this area. This area offers the option of
great day hikes into the mountains.
Buena Vista -
Los Barriles
Excellent sport fishing,
windsurfing and the tranquility of the beaches have made this area of the
East Cape famous. Development is creeping in, but at the normal Baja
pace...SLOW. Several resort hotels line the shore of the Sea of
Cortez offering those who prefer a more secluded vacation a comfortable
alternative to Los Cabos. There are some interesting side trips to
be made (nearby cave paintings and hikes up into the Sierra de La Laguna
mountains), some of which need the services of a local guide. To the north
of Los Barriles, along a sometimes treacherous road you will discover some
incredible beaches and a couple of "very remote" beach resorts. Los
Barriles is a great lunch or early dinner stop if you are on a day trip
from Los Cabos. 45 miles north of San Jose del Cabo.
San Bartolo
San Bartolo is a scenic
tropical village, complete with thatched roof homes, 10 miles north of Los
Barriles as you begin your climb into the hills. This is a great
place to stop and buy mangos, avocados, locally made candies and some of
the most incredible of the local treats, fruit filled empanadas. A
large, spring fed, arroyo runs along the base of the valley, and provides
this pleasant town with a bountiful supply of fresh water.
San Antonio
San Antonio, a mining
town in times past, is 18 miles north of San Bartolo. Silver was
discovered here in 1748. San Antonio served briefly as the capital
of South Baja in 1829 when Loreto was destroyed by a hurricane. It
is hard to believe that this small town once had a population of 10,000.
The unusual church, many old buildings and the remains of the exhausted
mines make San Antonio an ideal "out of the ordinary" photo stop. The
large smoke stack from one of the abandoned mines, which is dated
1890, dominates the town skyline.
El
Triunfo
Another small mining
town 4 1/2 miles north, El Triunfo is still home to some small scale
miners who work the local mountains. Gold and silver were first
discovered here in 1862. A hurricane in flooded all of the local
mines and the area was soon after left almost deserted. There is talk of
some larger mining operations returning to El Triunfo. The local
economy is now almost totally based around the basket weaving co-op which
sells the local fare in a couple of small shops. Take a look, if you
can find them open, they have some very nice merchandise. A few of the
town's old buildings, have been, or are in the process of being,
restored.
From El
Triunfo you need to make a decision on whether you want to continue on or head back
to Los Cabos. After you leave El Triunfo you can continue on another
12 miles where you will meet the Junction with Highway 19. From here
you can continue straight to La Paz or head south to Todos Santos and back
to Cabo San Lucas.
La Paz
La Paz is
located on the Sea of Cortez, 100 miles north of Cabo San Lucas and is the
capital of the state of Baja California Sur. La Paz, originally a
pirate's haven is the states largest city. Italian missionaries
built a church in La Paz over 500 years ago. A trip to La Paz is a
full day excursion which should include shopping, just strolling along the
malecon and lunch on the beach or in one of the many seaside restaurants.
You may want to plan an extra night into your itinerary just to enjoy one
of the famous La Paz sunsets, which can be some of the most picturesque
seen anywhere. The beaches north of La Paz include some incredible
coves where you will easily put the rigors of reality far behind
you. Carnival in La Paz, held on the six days before Ash Wednesday,
is one giant party with colorful parades, street dancing, carnival rides,
entertainment, games and a great family atmosphere.
Todos Santos
Todos Santos
is approximately 50 miles north of Cabo San Lucas on highway 19 (South
Baja map). This is a beautiful one-hour drive through the
mountains and along the ruggedly beautiful Pacific coast. This small
town has a history dating back to the early 1700s and was originally the
location of a Jesuit mission and plantations that produced sugar cane and
mangos. At one time this area supported eight sugar mills. Today
Todos Santos is known for being somewhat of an artists colony with several
shops featuring the work of local artists. Todos Santos is also
known for the quality of the local fresh fruits and vegetables, hand made
furniture and some good surfing nearby. Todos Santos is a nice stop
on a one-day tour of the southern tip of Baja California Sur.
Browsing the colorful shops and lunch at one of the outstanding
restaurants will prove to be time well spent.
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