The Best Swimming in Mexico

This Cenote will be the first recommendation from a local, if you’re looking for the grandeur of the famous Grand Cenote, but minus the crowds. The name comes from the two large underground caves connected by a very large, complex cavern, complete with the deepest known cave passage in Quintana R...

Just 25km north of Tulum and 39km south of Playa del Carmen lies Akumal Bay. Despite its proximity to the big vacation destinations and massive resorts, Akumal remains relatively quiet. There are several ways to get there, the easiest being by rental car which are insanely cheap in Mexico. Parkin...

You start outside of San Felipe, Baja California at kilometer 181 and drive on a mostly dirt roads for 33 miles to reach the trailhead. A 4x4 vehicle isn't necessarily needed but you will cross a dry lake bed and sandy sections that could be tricky. There is no cell service out here. You can find...

A cenote is a a natural sinkhole that appears when bedrock collapses and exposes groundwater beneath. The exposed water can be above ground, or in a series of underground caves and rivers. The Yucatan Peninsula is somewhat known for cenotes, and a trip to the area isn't complete without a swim in...

Cross over into Baja via the East crossing and into Mexicali. Head South on the MX Highway 5 past San Felipe (196 KM from the boarder), which is a great stop for tacos FYI,  until you reach Puertecitos (282 KM).  This little town is a great stop while traveling through the East side of Baja...qui...

Playa Balandra is one of the best beaches in Mexico. It is perfect for chilling on the white, soft sand or swimming in the clear water. There are many sections of beach within the bay, so the beach nearest to the parking lot is usually the most crowded and you will need to take a boat across the ...

Bahia San Luis Gonzaga or "Gonzaga Bay" is an absolute treasure and for many it is the first big expansive and empty-feeling section of Baja they reach as they head south down Highway 5. The wide bay is set against a backdrop of massive cacti and features a huge sand spit that leads out to Isla S...

A cenote is a a natural sinkhole that appears when bedrock collapses and exposes groundwater beneath. The exposed water can be above ground, or in a series of underground caves and rivers. The Yucatan Peninsula is somewhat known for cenotes, and a trip to the area isn't complete without a swim in...

Punta Baja is an old fishing camp and (mostly) summertime surf spot at the end of a dirt road about 40 minutes drive south west of El Rosario. Amenities and cel service are almost non-existent. There is a tiny market and restaurant that is rarely if ever open. You can sometimes buy fresh fish, ab...

To say that Bahía de Los Angeles is remote is an understatement. It has one gas station, two "restaurants", no cell service, and one absolutely picturesque volcanic island just offshore, Isla Coronado. It is Baja in all its rustic glory.While there are a couple of campos where you can rent a pala...

In order to get from the city of Puebla, you have to cross the dam of Valsequillo. Once you have crossed, you must drive to the third town called "El Aguacate". When you're in town you must follow the road and keep you on the left for 4.5 miles, since then you must go out on a dirt road just wher...

Of the nine or so beaches where you can camp and/or find lodging along the eastern shore of Bahía de Concepcíon in Baja, El Requeson is arguably the most beautiful. It has no facilities, no cell service, and no amenities other than the occasional local vendor who may (or may not) come by in the m...

Bahía de Concepcion on the eastern side of Baja California is one of the most iconic and beautiful places on the peninsula. It and its beaches are *why* people drive for two days out into the middle of nowhere. It is a place that makes Baja, Baja. Bill's Beach, so named for a Canadian man who cam...

Baja is one glorious gorgeous empty beach after another and some of the more geophysically remarkable can be experienced if you have a 4WD vehicle (though the best they say are only accessible by kayak). The Agua Verde isthmus is right next to the tiny fishing village of Puerto Agua Verde but is ...

While there is not much development to the cenote beyond an entrance booth and a short tiled path leading to the cenote, it's a great visit for the more adventurous crowd. Cenote Calavera consists of three holes that visitors can jump into: the large opening, and two smaller holes. About 3m below...

Caleta Almeja is why explorers and adventurers go to Baja. And then go back again and again. The little bay is absolutely teaming with sea life and the setting is absolutely breathtaking. Getting there is the hardest part. It is *at least* a two day drive from the US-Mexico border and about 2 hou...