Baja California

"Capital of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, La Paz is an eco-tourist magnet, surrounded by protected islands in the Sea of Cortes, white sand beaches with rich birdlife, and seas teeming with fish and mammals. The area used to be a pearl diving center till the 1930s and compared with Cabo and other nearby areas, it still feels a bit sleepy, but in a good way. Stroll along the palm-fringed three-and-a-half mile Malecon that runs from the Marina de la Paz in the south to Playa Coromuel in the north. Local artists sell their wares along this boardwalk and you can meet whale-watching operators and surf instructors as well as fellow kayakers, hikers, bikers, and divers too. La Paz also has a beautiful colonial cathedral and a fascinating little reptile museum and conservation center (El Serpentario de la Paz) that is staffed completely by volunteers who are striving to protect local reptiles and other species. See your lizards and snakes up close here rather than in the wild. Safer for you and them! In partnership with Adventure Travel Trade Association"