Driving paved road from Highway 1 to Bahia de Los Angeles...

Forget about all of the rumors that you've heard that the road from Mexico Federal Highway 1 to the scenic town of Bahia de Los Angeles is rough, dirt and requires four wheel drive, as that's just not true, as of my visit to Bahia de Los Angeles, in October, 2007. I found the road paved, smooth, and generally in better condition than Federal Highway 1, the Baja California transpenninsular highway. If you're planning on driving your motor home or fifth wheeler into Bahia de Los Angeles, you won't have a problem, as the road is in excellent condition. However, its still a 42-mile drive from Highway 1 to Bahia de Los Angeles, which equates to about an hours travel time, if you don't stop to take photos of the beautiful, desert scenery.

Photo: This is known as "Punta Prieta," where the 42-mile road takes off from Mexico Federal Highway 1, to the scenic town of Bahia de Los Angeles. This photo was shot through my windshield, as I was about to make the left hand turn, to Bahia.

Gasoline isn't a problem when you're visiting town, as there is a full-service Pemex gas station, located on the west side of town, before you arrive at the traffic circle, marked by the iconic sailboat sculpture that graces the traffic circle. If your vehicle is acting up, the town's mechanic is located just east of the Pemex station, and just looking at the assortment of vehicles and equipment that he has on hand, I guess that he can fix almost anything. The town of Bahia de Los Angeles offers basic services, and more, but if you're interested in five star motels or destination resorts, you'd better head south to Cabo San Lucas, as Bahia is somewhat more primitive.

Photo: Check out the cactus, which populate the alluvial fans that head toward the spectacular desert mountains. The photo features Mesa Tinajas Colorades in the background, and it's located about 10 miles east of Punta Prieta, on the road to Bahia de Los Angeles.

Photo: Mature cardón cactus, greasewood and salt cedar frame this view of a spectacular desert mountain.

The road to Bahia de Los Angeles heads east from Mexico Federal Highway 1, and KM post 282, and is plainly marked by a big green, highway sign, at the junction called Parador Punta Prieta. You'd have to be asleep at the wheel or drunk, and neither of which conditions are recommenced on the friendly highways of the Mexican state of Baja California, as the state police, just like their cousins north of the border, are watching out for drunk drivers. When you see the highway sign pointing you east to Bahia do Los Angeles, simply follow it, take the left turn, and watch out for northbound traffic. When you successfully make your turn, you're on your way to Bahia de Los Angeles, which is 42 miles to your east.

Photo: If you like cactus, this is the place to be, as I photograph Joshua trees, a boojum, a few staghorn cholla populate the photo, with a cardón at the extreme right of the photo. The desert mountain range Mesa Luz de Mexico is in the background.

The road to Bahia de Los Angeles makes a beeline, almost dead-on, due-east toward the town, and the beautiful Sea of Cortez. During my visit, in early October, 2007, the road was well-paved, well-marked, and a pleasure to drive, was in much better condition than Federal Highway 1. Traffic could be described as minimal to non-existent as during the drive from the highway junction to the town, I encountered little traffic. The road is smooth and easy to drive using a passenger car, but it follows the "lay of the land," so don't expect cuts, fills, and other engineering marvels found on an Interstate highway.

Photo: Turkey vultures should receive recognition, and maybe should be voted the town bird, as they are everywhere on the road to Bahia de Los Angeles, and in the town itself. Amid a field of boojum cactus, this fellow assumes a classic pose, as he perches on a cardón cactus. Note fellow vulture and visiting raven at the lower right of the photo.

You could easily drive from Highway 1 to Bahia de Los Angeles in an hour, but who wants to, as the desert scenery is, frankly speaking, spectacular. As you drive the road, you're constantly being treated to views of desolate, craggy desert mountains, covered with every variety of cactus found in Baja California, and the Viscano Desert. You'll see massive organ pipe and boojum cactus, standing over 30 feet tall, along with ocotillos, yuccas, pitahayas, cardons, barrel cactus, and more, along with the most amazing rock gardens that you've ever encountered.

Photo: Amid a spectacular forest of boojum cactus, a couple of wild horses cross the road, just west of the turnoff to the 4WD road to Misión San Borja. Although my Toyota Camry is quite robust, I didn't attempt the trip to the mission, as the trip requires four wheel drive.

I had the treat to drive this beautiful road in late afternoon, so I was able to enjoy the golden color of late afternoon sun, and take advantage of the shadows, that only early morning, or late afternoon hours have to offer to the photographer. Even though I was trying to get into town early, I couldn't help stopping every couple of miles to take photos of the beautiful, rugged, stark desert scenery. If you can spare the time, I recommend that you travel this road in the early morning, or early afternoon, and give yourself at least a couple of hours, and bring your digital camera, and be prepared to take a lot of photos. The scenery is, simply, breathtaking...

Photo: Looking west toward Highway 1, just west of the turnoff to Misión San Borja, this photo shows how the road to Bahia de Los Angeles follows the "lay of the land," yet its well-maintained, easy to drive, and can be driven by any vehicle in reasonably good condition. Note the spectaculor cactus forests and the "mesas" in the background.

Late afternoons, as you approach the town of Bahia de Los Angeles, you'll be treated spectacular views of the azure blue Sea of Cortez, and the sun will be at your back, which is a photographer's dream. About three miles west of town, there is a hill that commands a spectacular view of the sea and town, and even has dirt roads where you can pull off the paved road, get out your camera, and take photos of the view of the beautiful Sea of Cortez, and the town of Bahia de Los Angeles.

Photo: The traffic circle, and the stylized sail sculpture, and a government sign greet you, as you arrive at Bahia de Los Angeles. Actually the sign points you into the sea, to get to town, you need to turn right (south) as you pass the traffic circle. Within a few feet south of the traffic circle, you'll be in town. Just to the right of the sign, you can barely see restaurant Reyna de Palapa, where I enjoyed breakfast during my visit.

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