10 Things to do in San Ignacio, Baja California by a travel expert
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So you are trying to learn about the best things to do in San Ignacio, Baja California?
This article is for you!
San Ignacio is a little known place, so if you heard little about this town, you are not alone. I too, knew very little about San Ignacio, a desert town that’s a gateway to adventure, and has no crowds.
From whale watching to exploring ancient cave paintings to kayaking and camping, this small town has plenty of outdoor activities. It also boasts a rich history as it is home to one of the most beautiful missions in Baja California.
Despite the mix of culture and outdoor activities, San Ignacio is still under the radar. Many travelers treat it just as a pit stop, as they drive from Guerrero Negro toward Rosalia and Mulege.
San Ignacio is surrounded by stunning desert scenery, including palm-filled oases, rugged mountains, and pristine beaches along the Sea of Cortez. It’s a popular destination for eco-tourism, birdwatching, and exploring the nearby cave paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco.
As someone who enjoys the outdoors, I loved San Ignacio, and if you want to explore a fun destination where mass tourism hasn’t arrived, you will love San Ignacio!
Where is San Ignacio Baja California?
San Ignacio is in the Mulegé Municipality of the northern part of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. San Ignacio is known for its beautiful river, historic mission, and the surrounding natural attractions, such as the Sierra de San Francisco rock art sites in the nearby Sierra de San Francisco mountains.
Distances to San Ignacio, Baja California
- Guerrero Negro to San Ignacio – 1 hr 54 min – 150 km – 93 miles
- Santa Rosalia to San Ignacio – 1 hr 5 min – 76.7 km – 48 miles
- Mulege to San Ignacio – 1 hr 52 min – 137.8 km – 86 miles
- Loreto to San Ignacio – 3 hr 37 min – 272 km – 169 miles
- La Paz to San Ignacio – 8 hr – 627 km -390 miles
San Ignacio Baja California Sur Map
How do you get to San Ignacio Mexico?
You can get to Sna Ignacio by car or by bus. You can also fly to Loreto or La Paz, one of the closest airports to San Ignacio.
✅ Read: Is Tijuana worth visiting?
By Bus
Several bus companies connect major cities in Baja California Sur with San Ignacio. Companies such as Autotransportes Águila offer routes to San Ignacio from La Paz and other cities in Baja. The journey by bus takes longer than driving, but it’s a convenient option if you don’t have a car.
By Air
San Ignacio doesn’t have its airport, but you can fly into Loreto International Airport (LTO) or La Paz International Airport (LAP) and continue your journey to San Ignacio by car or bus.
The nearest airport to San Ignacio is Loreto. However, there are better options for getting to San Ignacio. ABC operates a bus from San José del Cabo to San Ignacio twice a day.
By Car
You can drive to San Ignacio from various points in Baja California Sur or mainland Mexico. If you’re coming from La Paz, you would take Baja Highway 1 (also known as Transpeninsular Highway) northbound. The drive from La Paz to San Ignacio takes around 5-6 hours, depending on road conditions and traffic.
Renting a car for your trip to San Ignacio
If you are flying to Baja California, and want to visit San Ignacio, I recommend renting a car. Having your vehicle will give you the most flexibility and allow you to travel at your own pace.
Where to rent a car in San Ignacio?
Loreto International Airport (LTO) is the closest place to rent a car for your trip to San Ignacio. My trusted go-to company for finding car rentals in Mexico is DiscoverCars, which has a good selection of car rentals at affordable rates.
📍Check: Best guided tours in Loreto
You can also add full Mexican insurance for your car rental for less than $10 per day when booking your car with DiscoverCars.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Loreto?
Renting a car in Loreto costs between $30-40 a day with full coverage for an economy car. Bigger vehicles usually cost more, but they can come in handy if you want to do off-roading and go to places that are not accessible by regular cars.
Things to do in San Ignacio, Baja California
1. San Ignacio whale watching
San Ignacio is a gateway to the remote Laguna San Ignacio, one of the best places for whale watching in Baja California and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This lagoon is a sanctuary for gray whales that migrate here for winter from Canada to give birth to their offspring.
The whale season in San Ignacio is from late December through early March, and there are several tour companies in town where you can buy a tour during which you can get close to these marine giants. It’s common for gray whales to get super close to tour boats with their young calves – and speaking from a personal experience, it’s a magical encounter!
Some visitors are lucky enough to touch whales, but please be respectful and follow guidelines. Whales are protected and these tours are regulated by the Mexican government. The best time for seeing gray whales in San Ignacio is from January through late March.
✅ Check: Best places to live in Baja California
San Ignacio Lagoon
Laguna San Ignacio is one of the three lagoons in Baja where gray whales come to mate during the winter season – the other two are Laguna Ojo De Liebre and Bahia Magdalena (Magdalena Bay), which offer sheltered waters free from predators where gray whales can give birth and spend time caring for their offspring without the fear of predators.
I went whale watching in Guerrero Negro, which is about 2 hours from San Ignacio, but heard many good reviews from travelers who went whale watching there.
San Ignacio Lagoon History
The area around San Ignacio Lagoon has been inhabited by indigenous groups for thousands of years. These groups, including the Cochimí and the Guaycura, relied on the rich marine resources of the lagoon for sustenance.
Spanish explorers likely encountered San Ignacio Lagoon during their expeditions along the Baja California Peninsula in the 16th century. It wasn’t until later that the region was documented by European explorers.
Like many lagoons along the Baja California Peninsula, San Ignacio Lagoon was targeted by commercial whaling operations in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Gray whales were hunted extensively for their blubber, oil, and baleen, which led to a significant decline in their population.
Luckily, conservation efforts started in the mid-20th century. San Ignacio Lagoon was designated as a gray whale sanctuary in 1972, providing legal protection for the whales and their habitat.
With the establishment of the gray whale sanctuary, San Ignacio Lagoon became a popular destination for ecotourism in Baja California. Visitors from around the world come to the lagoon to observe the gray whales in their natural habitat during the winter breeding and calving season.
Best whale watching tours in San Ignacio, Baja California
Here are popular whale-watching companies in San Ignacio, Baja California:
- Kuyimita – A local tour company that’s been in business for over 30 years, Kuyimita has an office along the main square of San Ignacio that has friendly and helpful staff.
- Baja Ecotours – One of the biggest tour companies in Baja California, Baja Ecotours offers fun and eco-conscious adventures in many parts of the peninsula, including San Ignacio.
- Pachicos Tours – A local San Ignacio company that offers multi-day whale watching tours with camping and participating in turtle conservation projects. Visitors leave amazing reviews of Pachicos, and if you are looking for an immersive experience, you should check them out.
- Antonio’s Ecotours – A popular whale-watching company in Laguna San Ignacio that has options for multi-day trips with camping.
2. Walk around downtown San Ignacio
San Ignacio boasts a cozy downtown with a beautiful plaza surrounded by small stores, restaurants, and tour agencies. Take a quick walk around the area to buy some souvenirs and buy freshly made food.
3. Try some locally grown dates
San Ignacio is a perfect place to try dates that grow on palm trees that grow along the river that flows through the town. Many local vendors who sell souvenirs on the main square of San Ignacio also sell dates.
Don’t forget to bring cash, because credit cards are not always accepted, as in many destinations in Mexico.
4. Check out San Ignacio Mission
Misión San Ignacio Kadakaamán, was founded by the Jesuit missionaries in the 18th century. It’s a well-preserved mission with a beautiful facade and intricate altarpiece. When you walk around the church, you will spot cute lemon trees.
5. Rent a kayak
Starting your morning with a kayak ride is a perfect idea, and you can rent them in several campsites around the river San Ignacio.
Ignacio Springs Bed and Breakfast offers kayak rentals to its guests, but if you are not staying there, you can also rent a kayak at Camping y Ecotours Los Petites, located across the road from Ignacio Springs Bed and Breakfast.
The camping area is along a small lagoon that’s separated from the river by the bridge. You can rent a kayak for 1 hour for 200 Pesos. Payments are in cash.
6. Visit cave paintings
One of the best places for seeing cave paintings in Baja California is Sierra de San Francisco, a remote town about 1 hour from San Ignacio.
Several tour companies in San Ignacio sell cave painting tours, which require several days of trekking through remote desert terrain. Once you arrive at the cave painting site, you will see arguably the most impressive cave paintings in all of Baja.
You can only visit the famous cave paintings in Sierra de San Francisco with a guide.
7. Take a day trip to Santa Rosalia
Santa Rosalia is a former mining town along the Sea of Cortez. Located halfway between Mulege and San Ignacio, Santa Rosalia makes for a fun half-day trip.
The French company El Boleo operated a large copper mine in the area from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century. The town still bears traces of its French influence in its architecture and food, including its delicious pastries that you can try in one of the local bakeries (panaderias).
Santa Rosalía is a rugged town with a population of around 15,000 residents. It attracts tourists with its picturesque waterfront, historic mining buildings, and nearby natural attractions such as Bahía de Santa Barbara and the surrounding desert landscapes.
✅ Read: How to visit Playa Santispac – one of the most popular Mulege beaches
8. Spot Los Tres Virgenes
Las Tres Vírgenes (Three Virgins) are three volcanic peaks, that you can see from Baja Transpeninsular Highway. While you need a permit and special equipment to hike the volcanoes, you can admire them from several overlooks.
The three volcanic peaks are El Viejo (The Old One), the tallest and oldest of the three peaks, reaching an elevation of approximately 2,035 meters (6,676 feet), El Azufre (The Sulfur), the youngest peak characterized by its yellowish color due to sulfur deposits. It has an elevation of around 1,620 meters (5,315 feet).
La Virgen (also known as La Vírgen de Guadalupe), this volcano is between El Viejo and El Azufre. It has an elevation of approximately 1,715 meters (5,627 feet) and is intermediate in age between the other two volcanoes.
9. Explore the dunes of Guerrero Negro
Las Tunas De Soledad was one of my favorite stops in Guerrero Negro. Located right behind the Guerrero Negro Airport, these stretch along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, creating a landscape of towering sandy peaks and valleys.
It’s a perfect place for stargazing, camping, and sandboarding.
10. Spend a few days camping in San Ignacio
San Ignacio is one of the best places for camping in Baja California thanks to the combination of tranquility and outdoor activities. There are several camping areas in San Ignacio including Ignacio Springs Bed and Breakfast, Camping y Ecotours Los Petites, and R.V. Park Kadakaamang.
San Ignacio Baja California Sur Hotels
- Rancho Espinoza – One of the best places to stay in San Ignacio with friendly staff and great amenities. I stayed at Rancho Espinoza during my first trip to San Ignacio and loved the friendly hosts and the quiet atmosphere.
- Rancho Espinoza La Casita – a cozy apartment within walking distance of many attractions in San Ignacio.
San Ignacio Baja California Sur Restaurants
- Mancú Coffee Store – a small coffee shop located along the corner of the main square. Here you can try espresso, iced chai tea, freshly baked goodies, and crepes.
- Loncheria Bonfil – Located along the highway, Loncheria Bonfire is one of the best restaurants in San Ignacio where you can enjoy fish and inexpensive homemade burritos, and classic Mexican dishes like flautas, tortas (or sandwiches) and tostadas. They also have a good selection of drinks.
- El Chamako – A perfect place to grab a tasty meal on the go, El Chamako is a small restaurant that’s also located right off the highway. They have superb reviews from customers and a good selection of foods like hotdogs, hamburgers, nachos, burritos, fries, and cakes.
What is the history of San Ignacio Baja?
Before the arrival of the Spanish, the area around San Ignacio was home to indigenous groups such as the Cochimí, who lived in the region as hunter-gatherers. The Cochimí people had a deep connection to the land and relied on its resources for survival.
In the 18th century, Spanish missionaries arrived in the area and established missions as part of their efforts to convert the indigenous population to Christianity. One of the most significant missions in the region is the Mission San Ignacio Kadakaamán, founded in 1728 by Jesuit missionaries.
The mission played a central role in the colonization and development of the area. It served as a religious, social, and economic center, providing education, healthcare, and agricultural assistance to the indigenous population.
During the 19th century, San Ignacio and the surrounding region became part of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur following Mexico’s independence from Spain. The town continued to grow and prosper, serving as a hub for agriculture, ranching, and trade in the region.
