It's not just cactus and desert in Baja! There's a big gay seene too. Photo by Tomas Castelazo - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, Link

The Baja California peninsula is split up into two states, Baja California (the Northern part) and Baja California Sur (the southern part). Separating them are not only hundreds of miles of desert but completely different vibes. Tijuana and Mexicali are bustling busy cities which take advantage of their border locations and have a gritty urban feel. As you go south things slow down substantially, perking up a little again in La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur.

We've split up our destination pages into the following:

• Baja California (Norte) - Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenada, Tecate and Rosarita are all covered here

• Baja California Sur - The capital La Paz has a growing and vibrant gay community and there are miles of quiet beaches in the state including the resorts of Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos y Todos Santos.