Baja's Value as a Tourist Destination

Baja Mexico. A place I know well in the winter. We come here for tradition, wind, different experiences, and family. The town we go to, Los Barilles, has slowly over the last quarter-decade turned into more and more of a tourist town, although it still retains some of it's authenticity for now. When we are down in Mexico, it's clear to see the popularity of Los Barilles, as on any given windy day from the middle of December to the middle of January, there are some 50 kite boarders and 5-10 windsurfers on the water. There is even a "Lord of the Wind Showdown" with thousands of U.S dollars for prize money, as a testament to the "consistent north winds blowing and the warm water", which attracts beginners and experts alike. There really are prime conditions, as evidenced by the handful of Kite board schools and participants.

(View of the beach with two kites ready for use)

Hotels and restaurants prosper at this time of year with the influx of sports enthusiasts, and each year more and more restaurants pop up. Baja Expeditions tells of many other activities to do as well, and they help in facilitating these adventures. Whale watching, kayaking, camping, and sailing are all popular activities to participate in while visiting Baja, thanks to the natural wildlife and habitats. Don't go to Baja to relax in a posh hotel, because then you are missing out on the reality and the point of the trip--you are there to experience the rawness of the nature (wildlife, the elements, ect.). Interact with with the sea life, go snorkeling, ride an ATV across the beach.
You can also go fishing, but for this the prime season is in the summer. The Sea of Cortez is abundant with Marlin, Dorado, Tuna, Roosterfish, and all other types of desirable sporting game. At all times of the year you can hire a boat to take you out to sea to fulfill all the fishing dreams you have. Companies like Awesome Sportfishing are locally staffed and ready to help you catch the best fish out there for prices around $100-$300 per day. Los Barilles is a very small town, yet many people whom I've talked with about our vacations know about the town, and a good portion have been there themselves. They talk about fishing for and catching Marlin, and even my cousin has been there in a way totally unrelated to us (she went with a friend). Every neighbor who fishes (neighbors in the campground) has many stories and pictures about the time they caught eight Dorados in a day, one after another. Anyways, it is a prime location for sport fishing, and it draws a lot of people. I even caught a fish even though I was fishing off-season and from the beach.
 
(Small Needlefish which I caught off the beach)

Baja, and specifically Los Barilles is a great place to experience the natural world, except with less regulations than anywhere in the U.S. ATV rental shops, gift shops, restaurants, kite boarding schools, hotels, and assorted services make Baja a very inviting and welcoming place for tourists. The natural wildlife, overall geography, and Mexican culture do the rest. So come on down, with bar, camera, pole, spear, or board in hand. (But don't tell anyone else about it, we don't want it getting too crowded.)