Baja California Sur in Mexico: 1-Week Van Itinerary
Article updated on 08.05.26
Between desert landscapes, wild beaches, giant cacti, and turquoise water, Baja California Sur is the perfect destination for a van road trip. Distances remain relatively short, there are countless places to sleep by the ocean, and every day brings completely different scenery.
This 1-week itinerary lets you explore a large part of the southern Baja peninsula: hot springs, snorkeling, surfing, remote beaches, and small Mexican villages, all at your own pace, with many nights spent right by the water.
Our tips for a roadtrip in Baja California Sur
1. Rent a van
To explore Baja, a van is clearly the best option. Many beaches allow wild camping or offer simple beachfront parking spots to stay overnight.
We picked up our vehicle from VanBaja in San José del Cabo. They offer different types of vans and camper setups depending on your travel style, from compact vehicles to larger fully equipped vans for longer autonomous trips.
2. Buy groceries before leaving
The easiest option is to do a large grocery run in San José del Cabo right after picking up the van. We recommend supermarkets such as Chedraui, Soriana, Walmart, Ley or La Comer to get more choices.
A large part of the road trip then goes through isolated areas where only small convenience stores are available for basic supplies.
Small useful detail: in many supermarkets, someone packs your groceries at checkout. It’s common to leave a few pesos as a tip.
3. Bring large water containers
With the heat and long days outside, you’ll quickly go through a lot of water in Baja. The easiest option is to buy one or several large water jugs at the beginning of the trip.
You’ll then find many “Agua Purificada” refill stations in villages where you can refill them cheaply.
4. Always fill up your gas tank
Gas stations can be quite far apart depending on the area, and some are not always open.
The best habit is to fill up whenever you can, especially before heading to the southeast coast or more remote areas.
Useful tips in Mexico:
- say “lleno” to ask for a full tank
- an employee fills the tank for you
- you usually stay in the car
- always check that the pump is reset to zero before fueling starts
- card payments are usually accepted, but always verify the displayed amount before paying
Very often, the attendant will also clean your windshield. Leaving a few pesos as a tip is common.
5. Download the iOverlander app
The iOverlander app is extremely useful for van travel in Baja. You’ll find:
- camping spots
- recent road condition updates
- water refill spots
- showers
- gas stations
- tips from other travelers
Very useful for finding last-minute camping spots or checking whether a road is accessible.
6. Download offline maps
Phone signal is often very limited in Baja Sur, especially outside towns.
We strongly recommend downloading offline Google Maps before leaving. It helps a lot for navigation, especially on dirt roads and remote beaches.
7. Phone & Internet
To get mobile service in Mexico, the easiest options are:
- buying a local Telcel SIM card
- getting an eSIM before your trip
Coverage still varies a lot depending on the region.
If you work remotely or need reliable internet, VanBaja also offers Starlink rental. Definitely a luxury, but honestly super practical to have internet almost everywhere during the road trip.
1-Week Baja California Sur itinerary
Day 1: San José del Cabo → Santiago
🚐 Around 1 hour drive
After picking up the van from VanBaja and buying groceries in San José del Cabo, head towards Santiago for a relaxed start to the trip.
The goal is to enjoy the Santa Rita hot springs for a first peaceful evening. The place has several natural hot pools in a calm desert setting.
It’s possible to sleep directly at Rancho Santa Rita.
Practical info (May 2026):
- 230 MXN for hot springs access + day parking
- 200 MXN per person for camping
Day 2: Sol de Mayo & El Saltito
In the morning, leave early to reach the Sol de Mayo waterfall. The site opens around 9am and it’s best to avoid weekends because it gets crowded quickly.
A short walk leads to a beautiful waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation. The water is cold, perfect in Baja’s heat.
Practical info (May 2026):
- 250 MXN per person
In the afternoon, head to El Saltito for a completely different atmosphere. Here it’s all about snorkeling and sunset with your feet in the sand.
The spot remains quite wild and peaceful in the evening.
Day 3: Playa Balandra & Agua Caliente in La Ventana
🚐 Around 1h30 drive
Day three starts at Playa Balandra, probably the most famous beach in Baja Sur. Very touristy, but honestly still worth visiting at least once. The water is incredibly turquoise, calm, and shallow.
Access works with time slots and tickets must be booked online before arrival since there’s almost no signal at the entrance.
Practical info (May 2026):
- 150 MXN per person
- reservation https://descubreanp.conanp.gob.mx/es/conanp/ANP?suri=9
- first slot: 8am–12pm
- second slot: 1pm–5pm
Besides enjoying the beach, you can hike a bit above the bay for beautiful panoramic views.
Then continue to Playa Agua Caliente. At low tide, a small natural hot spring appears directly on the beach. You can easily spot it thanks to the rocks arranged by locals, creating small natural pools.
The snorkeling there is also really nice.
Warning: don’t continue further south on the dirt road toward the palapas without checking the road on foot first. Some sections are difficult and turning around can be complicated.
Day 4: Marine Safari in La Ventana & Punta Arena
🚐 Around 50 min drive
This day is dedicated to a boat trip from La Ventana to observe marine wildlife.
Depending on the season and your luck, you may see:
- dolphins
- mobulas
- whales
- tropical fish
- sometimes even orcas
We booked the tour with Hamza from Wild Baja Adventures. He speaks French, English, and Spanish. espagnol.
In the evening, head to Punta Arena de La Ventana to sleep by the ocean. The lighthouse is a great sunrise spot and wild camping is very popular there.
Day 5: Cabo Pulmo & Snorkeling
🚐 Around 2h45 drive
Next stop: Cabo Pulmo National Park, one of the best snorkeling spots in Baja Sur.
We recommend one of these two places to sleep and snorkel:
Playa Arbolito
Beautiful snorkeling spot but paid access.
Practical info (May 2026):
- 120 MXN day parking
- overnight stay possible for 240 MXN per person
Los Frailes
A quieter and free alternative, with snorkeling at the end of the beach near the small hill.
Day 6: Surfing on the East Cape
🚐 Around 50 min drive
Head to the East Cape to surf at Nine Palms and La Fortuna.
These spots work especially well at high tide with reef point break waves.
You can sleep for free directly in the parking areas facing the ocean.
The atmosphere is very relaxed, often with surfers and vans staying there for several days.
Day 7: Cerritos & Todos Santos
🚐 Around 1h50 drive
For the last full day, head to Cerritos.
The beach is known for its beginner-friendly beach break. The atmosphere is more lively than on the East Cape, with several cafés and restaurants nearby.
You can sleep:
- directly in the parking lot
- in a campground (~300 MXN/night)
Then stop in Todos Santos for coffee and a bit of shopping.
If you still have some time, sunset at Playa Punta Lobos is absolutely worth it. At the end of the day, fishermen often return with their catch, surrounded by dozens of pelicans.
Small tip: hike up the small hill above the beach for an amazing sunset view.
You can sleep in the parking lot, but the smell from the fish can be quite intense…
Day 8: Playa Las Palmas & Return to San José del Cabo
Before returning the van, make one last stop at Playa Las Palmas near Todos Santos.
The walk crosses a small palm grove before reaching a long wild beach. A perfect place for one final morning walk before driving back to San José del Cabo.
Important: toll roads around San José del Cabo only accept cash (pesos or USD).
One week roadtrip in Baja Sur
In just one week, this itinerary already allows you to experience a wide variety of landscapes in Baja California Sur: desert beaches, snorkeling, surfing, desert scenery, hot springs, and small coastal villages.
The pace stays quite relaxed, with few long driving days and lots of time spent outdoors.
Baja California is also an amazing destination for van travel, with plenty of freedom to sleep by the ocean and explore at your own pace.
To find all the spots, campgrounds, cafés, and GPS points mentioned in this article, download our free Google Map.
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