The Cape Loop

At the far southern tip of Baja California Sur, the Cape Loop awaits. With a perfect mix of oceanfront trails, white sand beaches, fishing villages, and mountain tracks, the Cape Loop is one of the best ways to experience Baja, overland style!

Route Overview

Trip Length & Season

Adventure Rating:  Epic Trip Length:  324 miles, 4-8 days Season:  Year round, but Fall through Spring typically provides the best weather. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90F and can exceed 100F when traveling inland.

Digital Maps & GPX Files

Download Digital Mapping Files

• Cape Loop

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Technical Ratings & Terrain

Avg Technical Rating: 2-3

Peak Technical Rating: 4-5

Typical Terrain: Sandy dirt roads, narrow rocky dirt trails, and some pavement to connect dirt sections.

Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans

Recommended Vehicle: High clearance 4x4

Recommended Moto: Given some of the sections of the more moderate terrain on this track, a dual sport bike is recommended.

Adventure Vans: Sprinter 4x4s should be able to manage the section from Santa Anita along the eastern Cape to La Paz. You can certainly try some of the dirt trails on the west side (we recommend the highway), but be prepared to turn around.

Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear

Fuel:

• La Paz to San Antonio 35mi

• San Antonio to Todos Santos 75mi

• Todos Santos to San Jose del Cabo 60mi

• San Jose del Cabo to La Ribera 55mi

• La Ribera to gas station near La Ventana 35mi

• La Ventana to La Paz 35 mi

Provisions: Provisions can be obtained in the same general vicinity as fuel. Gear: n/a

Alternative Routes

n/a

Camping Recommendations

The best places for camping are northeast of Todos Santos along the pacific, the numerous beaches and campsites along Camino Cabo Este, and the beaches to the east of el Tecolote near La Paz. For the interior dirt tracks that cut across the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, ranchos are likely your best bet- and don't be afraid to inquire with locals about camping, you'd be surprise how many will let you camp on their land for a meager fee.

Discovery Points

1. La Paz

2. El Triunfo

3. Sierra de La Laguna Biosphere

4. Boca el Palmerito

5. Tortugueros Las Playitas

6. Mision Santa Rosa de Todos Santos

7. Todos Santos

8. Pozas Budistas

9. Camino Cabo Este

10. Boca del Salado

11. Playa Los Frailes

12. Cabo Pulmo National Park

13. La Ribera

14. Playa Palo Blanquito (snorkeling)

15. Camino Rancho Isidro

16. Playa Pulguero Tepetates

17. Bahia Puerto Balandra

Land Managers & Other Resources

Land Managers

• Sierra La Luna Biosphere Reserve

Other Resources

• Baja Bound 

Permits & Papers

Canadians and Americans are required to obtain a Mexican tourist card (FMM) and Mexican auto insurance before driving into Mexico. BajaBound.com is a fantastic resource covering all of the ins and outs of the process, which really isn't as tedious as you might think! Check out Baja Bound's FAQ page on entering/exiting Mexico.

Adventure Badge  OTG has partnered with All Roads Taken to offer an adventure badge for this route. >> Buy your adventure badge today!

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Route Details

The southern tip of Baja, rather than being just a place for tourists in Cabo San Lucas, is rich in beauty and culture. Travelers who want to revel in the lively La Paz, explore the artsy Todos Santos, or get lost in old town San Jose del Cabo, will find Baja Sur a great place to experience Mexican culture in the authentic Baja style.

Many of the dirt sections of this route follow the same track as the popular bikepacking route, the Baja Divide. Travelers should be on the lookout for bicyclists as well as motorcycles while navigating the dirt roads.

Our adventure begins and ends in La Paz (DP), and while the route can be traveled in either direction, the guide takes a counter-clockwise approach, working from the Pacific side (west coast) to the Sea of Cortez side (east coast). Take Highway 1 south to the quaint village of El Triunfo (DP), an old silver mining town with cobblestone streets and many Spanish Colonial style buildings. The mission-style orange and red church stands out from the surrounding mountains and buildings and is definitely worth a quick visit. Trace your tracks back onto Highway 1 until the route deviates onto the good stuff—the dirt. The southern tip of Baja is a mixture of desert and subtropical climate zones, and travelers will see these two zones begin to intermingle on this section of the route. Pass through the quaint township of El Rosario, which is also home to a cactus sanctuary. We'll work our way south through the rugged hills and mountains, filled with a plethora of creeks and drainages, until popping out onto the pavement of Highway 19.

Once on Highway 19, follow the track north until it splits to the west on another paved road to the pueblo of Meliton Albanez Dominguez. Shortly after reaching town, the pavement turns to a wide and dusty dirt road. We’ll make a beeline to the white sands of Boca el Palmerito (DP), which is a great place to set up camp. From here, drivers can either drive along the beach or follow the official track on the dirt road above the beach. Just north of Todos Santos sits Tortugueros Las Playitas (DP), which releases sea turtle hatchlings into the ocean from December through April most years. Todos Santos (DP) and the local mission (DP) are certainly worth exploring. Todos Santos has a thriving artist community that is evident from its many galleries.

From Todos Santos, we'll jump back onto dirt and cut east across the Sierra de la Laguna mountains. It’s through these rugged mountains that the subtropical climate zones come to life, and with some local knowledge, a traveler may even find a swimming hole or waterfall. Along this leg of the route, Pozas Budistas (DP) is your best bet to find a nice soaking pool (the wet season in Baja typically runs from late June through October). Continue following the dirt track through the mountains, which is definitely one of the lesser-maintained tracks on this adventure. The route pops out north of Santa Anita and the Los Cabos Airport, cutting east across the cacti-filled desert lowlands until meeting Camino Cabo Este along the Sea of Cortez.

Camino Cabo Este (East Cape Road) is a favorite among locals and travelers alike. The wide dirt road affords some of the best seaside views, numerous fishing towns, and a few tourist outposts along the way. Despite its popularity, the Eastern Cape is filled with spectacular beaches, many of which are free to camp on. And don't forget about the marine life. If you don't mind spending a few pesos, consider hiring a guide to take you snorkeling at Cabo Pulmo National Park. Just note it can be costly as you'll be hiring a boat in addition to renting the gear. If you are on a budget, consider bringing your own scuba gear (purchased back in town at Walmart or Costco) and heading to the waters around Playa el Arbolito, which is reported to be top-notch for snorkeling.

As you make your way up the coast to La Ribera (DP), the trappings of capitalism come into display as a number of large resorts come into view. But no worries, as you pass through town, the luxuries of modern life quickly disappear as you get back on the bumpy, dirt washboard roads of Baja. El Cardonal Reef is another popular location for snorkeling, filled with a kaleidoscope of colors and Moray eels and parrotfish lurking in the shallows.

From the East Cape, the route heads inland to the west. Dirt roads eventually give way to pavement until the track veers off onto a semi-circle into the backcountry filled with ranchos and farms. This portion of the route crosses numerous desert washes. Despite the rough trails, this section is filled with quite a few homesteads, so be on the lookout for cattle and people when you least expect them. The road improves dramatically upon reaching Camino Rancho Isidro (DP), the main thoroughfare through these parts, but it is still dirt (thank God!). The route works its way north, eventually jumping back onto the highway towards La Paz. But before heading back to the big city, we'll travel to some of the lesser-known beaches just north of town.

Follow the pavement towards El Coyote, which eventually turns into a wide dirt road. Before reaching El Coyote beach, veer off to the left through a rugged desert wash. The trail pops out just east of the turquoise waters of Playa Pulguero Tepetates (DP). The nearby Playa Venetia and Playa Levana are both worth exploring. Once you make it to Playa el Tecolote, you've made it back to the tourist trap. The adventure ends at the absolutely stunning Bahia Puerto Balandra (DP). While your vehicle may be constrained to a parking lot while visiting Playa Balandra, if you venture out on foot or by sea (kayak, SUP), you can definitely find some respite far away from the crowds who never seem to stray far from the main beach area.

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