Photo: Constanza S. Mora / Unsplash
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Leg 2 · Baja California & the Sea of Cortez

Mexico

Desert, coastline, colonial cities, and some of the best food on the planet — from Baja down to the highlands of the south.

What to see

5 stops we’re not missing

  1. 01

    Baja California & the Sea of Cortez

    A 1,200 km desert peninsula where cardón cactus meets turquoise water Cousteau called "the world’s aquarium."

  2. 02

    Oaxaca

    A colonial-and-Indigenous food capital, with the Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán on a hill above the valley.

  3. 03

    San Cristóbal de las Casas

    A cool highland colonial town in Chiapas, surrounded by Maya villages and cloud forest.

  4. 04

    Teotihuacán

    The vast pre-Aztec city near Mexico City, with the towering Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.

  5. 05

    Guanajuato

    A candy-colored colonial silver city of tunnels, plazas, and callejones.

! What to watch for

  • Some states carry cartel-related risk — avoid night driving and check current advisories (e.g. Tamaulipas, parts of Sinaloa/Michoacán/Guerrero)
  • Topes (aggressive speed bumps) appear without warning
  • Busy, assertive city traffic

⛽ Diesel & DEF

ULSD at major-brand highway Pemex stations, but some diesel still runs up to 500 ppm sulfur. DEF (Urea/Arla 32) is findable in cities and truck stops, scarce in rural areas.

🛂 Borders & permits

First real border: a Banjercito TIP (temporary import permit) plus a refundable deposit, and mandatory Mexican liability insurance. Keep the TIP cancellation receipt for when you leave.

Sources & further reading

Safety notes link to the live official travel advisory — always check it before you go.