Baja California Classic (100% paved)

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Route Overview

SOS - Slowers Olders Smarters

Cyclist tourist

999 mi.

44,296 ft.

This 100 % paved Baja California cycling route starts in San Diego, crosses into Mexico via the Tecate border, and zigzags between the Pacific Coast and Gulf Coast, passing Ensenada, San Felipe, Guerrero Negro, Loreto, and ending in La Paz. It offers coastal scenery, desert stretches, mountain climbs, whale watching in Guerrero Negro, and friendly towns, with options for wild camping, budget lodging, and affordable food options.

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Route Details

Baja California is the long peninsula that naturally extends southward from the U.S. state of California. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Sea of Cortez to the east. It is one of the most well-known bike touring routes in the world. While there is no strict rule on the choice of route, those traveling from the Arctic to Antarctica often pass through here.
The towns along the coast are all very charming and worth a stop — longer or shorter depending on your time and personal interest. I think the main attraction of Baja California is the whales in Guerrero Negro. On a calm, windless day, a whale-watching cruise tour will even give you the chance to touch them.

For clarity, the route I suggest is exclusively on paved roads and has nothing to do with the even more famous Baja Divide, apart from a few shared stopover towns.

A good starting point with a major international airport is San Diego, CA. If you prefer to avoid starting with climbs, I recommend beginning in Los Angeles, CA. From there to the border, you can enjoy four pleasant days on the Pacific Coast, which can help you get into shape before entering Mexico.

This is the journey from San Diego. To cross the border, there are two options: Tijuana (yes, the one from the Manu Chao song) and Tecate. Having done both, I recommend Tecate for the following reasons.

**Tijuana** – The route leads through Chula Vista, crosses the often heavily crowded border (keep in mind that Chula Vista is nicknamed “Chula Juana” by Mexicans due to its high Latino population—65% in 2022, according to Wikipedia), and then descends to La Misión before climbing towards El Salto and finally merging onto the MEX 1 highway. This route passes through the city of Tijuana and follows a heavily trafficked road.

**Tecate** – From San Diego, head towards Bonita, then follow US 94 to the turnoff for Tecate, where you @point[cross the border](d,62036.48). We may have been lucky, but when we obtained our visas, there was only one person ahead of us in line. US 94 has considerable traffic, but it decreases the higher you go. After crossing the border and passing through Tecate, you descend along the Ruta del vino (MEX 3) to @point[Guadalupe](d,130495.54), then continue to @point[El Sauzal](d,160109.04) and Ensenada.

@point[Ensenada](d,169517.33) is a large city on the Pacific coast. A few days’ ride from there takes you to the Sea of Cortez in @point[San Felipe](d,424980.09). Then, another mountain crossing leads to @point[Guerrero Negro](d,814012.28) on the Pacific side, followed by another climb to reach @point[Santa Rosalía](d,1030622.63), and then @point[Mulegé](d,1092083.43) and @point[Loreto](d,1226638.75). After more mountains, you finally reach @point[La Paz](d,1588665.49). We stopped here and did not ride the loop to Cabo San Lucas. This part of the journey is a personal choice. Our plan included other itineraries, so we took the ferry to Mazatlán to continue on the Mexican mainland.

From this description, it’s clear that my proposed route zigzags between the Pacific coast and the Gulf coast, crossing the mountains each time.

# General Tips
-	**Highway from Tijuana to Ensenada**: You may be told that to avoid the climb from La Misión to Cibolas del Mar, you can take the 1D toll highway. Bicycles are not allowed on this road. Some cyclists enter and go unnoticed, while others get fined.
-	**Food**: Restaurant prices (non-tourist ones) are low, making it unnecessary to cook for yourself. A couple of tacos provide a good protein intake and are tastier than Walmart noodles.
-	**Accommodation**: As of early 2025, a double room with a queen bed and a private bathroom in a clean guesthouse costs about 600 Pesos. There are dozens of wild camping spots in the desert. iOverlander is an excellent tool for finding them. Also, many roadside restaurants allow cyclists to pitch their tents on their property. Mexicans are very hospitable.
-	**Police**: We never had any issues. You’ll pass through many military checkpoints, but the personnel are always friendly. Baja California has many US tourists who spend money, so authorities ensure their safety.
-	**Safety**: We never felt in danger. A police officer once told us, “Ah! Cyclists? One was killed a few months ago.” Our Mexican cyclist friend responded, “If you go out at night, drink, and smoke certain things, trouble finds you easily.”
-	**Bicycles**: Despite thousands of potholes, the road is fully paved, and standard touring tires are sufficient.
-	**Water**: In some sections (e.g., Rancho Grande), water is scarce. Plan accordingly.
-	**Ferry**: If you want to continue south from La Paz, you must take a ferry. There are two companies: Baja Ferries and TMC. The former, while loading dozens of vehicles, appears to offer better service at a higher price. Note that passengers over 60 receive a discount. The companies have offices in the city as well.
-	**Traffic**: In Baja California, truck drivers respect cyclists 100%, and car drivers 80%. In Baja California Sur, car driver respect drops to 70%.
-	**Season**: Avoid summer unless you enjoy 45°C (113°F) heat—you’ll be in the desert.
-	**Clothing**: Nights can be cool. In Guadalupe in November, temperatures dropped to 5°C (41°F). In the desert, they ranged between 10-12°C (50-54°F) in March.
- **Communications**: Remember that speaking a little Spanish is always best. Few people speak English. Duolinguo is a good free application to study it.

# Route
**NOTE** Below are our steps, each point is described as follows: City of arrival length_approximate_stage x positive elevation gain (TECATE 60 km x 1200 meters); some notes. 
* @slice[**TECATE**](d,0,63284.5) 60 x 1 200 - Leaving San Diego, there is a lot of traffic, then less and less until the border. Shoulder nonexistent. Arrive in Tecate (as in every city in Mexico) before dark.
* @slice[**GUADALUPE**](d,63925.9,130758.6) 45 x 250 - Easy climbs, very interesting “Ruta del vino” road.
* @slice[**ENSENADA**](d,130306.5,171972.7) 90 x 900 - The closer you get to the sea, the more traffic. In Ensenada it's all there.
* @slice[**OJOS NEGROS**](d,168986,213644.3) 50 x 1 100 - Tough stage, lots of traffic to get out of Ensenada, then decreases.
* @slice[**LAZARO CARDENAS**](d,210676.2,298628.2) 85 x 800 - Nice stage, 30 km of light climbing, then about ten downhill.
* @slice[**SAN FELIPE**](d,298322.3,424788.2) 120 x 500 - Fifty km of descent interrupted by about ten falsoplanes.
* @slice[**PUERTECITOS**](d,425395.6,511026.9) 90 x 500 - Few opportunities for stops. In Delicias small village with refreshment possibilities. In Puertecitos, just off the main road there is a campsite, better the second one in the village, on the bay, canopy, electricity in the evening, restaurant nearby. To go out the next day continue in the village, go up and near the exit there is a market.
* @slice[**RANCHO GRANDE**](d,511323,582859) 75 x 700 - Store and camping reception on road, then 1.6 km to the beach, you can sleep under *palapas*.
* @slice[**PUNTA PRIETA**](d,582707,698150.9) 120 x 1000 - Long stage. 40 km uphill, about 20 km 1-2%. At intersection with MEX 1, nice restaurant, then deserted to destination.
* @slice[**GUERRERO NEGRO**](d,697093.2,814383.5) 120 x 750 - Easy, but boring.
* @slice[**VIZCAINO**](d,815381.4,887779.6) 75 x 250 - The boredom continues.
* @slice[**SAN INGNACIO**](d,887700.7,957011.8) 75 x 450 - Easy. The small town is in an oasis.
* @slice[**SANTA ROSALIA**](d,955640.5,1031108.9) 74 x 800 - Mountain, but not difficult.
* @slice[**MULEGÉ**](d,1029678.6,1092768.8) 63 x 500 - Up and down, but not difficult.
* @slice[**RESTAURANTE LAS PALMAS**](d,1090337.5,1165309.2) 73 x 1000 - To avoid long stage, truck stop restaurant, free camping for those who consume, free Internet.
* @slice[**LORETO**](d,1164841.2,1227319.7) 62 x 500 - Up and down easy.
* @slice[**RESTAURANTE EL PARGUITO**](d,1225136.1,1282955.2) 60 x 800 - Climb for 10 km max 8%, short stage.
* @slice[**CIUDAD CONSTITUCION**](d,1280973.3,1373332.7) 94 x 400 - Nice descent, then flat from Ciudad Insurgentes. Possible sandstorms.
* @slice[**LAS POCITAS**](d,1371953.5,1471298.1) 100 x 350 - Easy though long.
* @slice[**LA PAZ**](d,1470480.1,1607104.9) 110 x 900 - Continuous up and down, hope for favorable wind.
#
We traveled through Baja in the spring of 2025 — here you’ll find our collection: [https://ridewithgps.com/collections/2705056](https://ridewithgps.com/collections/2705056)

Baja California Classic

Route Overview

Route Details

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Baja California Classic

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