Baja California is geographically close to the most populous state in America, but it’s a world away by any other measure. General aviation pilots have easy access to Baja and the tremendous cultural, vacation, and adventure possibilities there, and although the border crossings have been made more cumbersome and intimidating by U.S. policies, they still are worth
the effort.
The dazzling Sea of Cortez offers tremendous fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, and beachcombing. The Pacific side also has whale sanctuaries where visitors can sometimes see whales and their curious newborn calves. And U.S. organizations such as Liga International and the Flying Samaritans have been performing good works in Mexico for decades.
Avgas is sold only at tower-controlled airports in Baja, and the distances between them can be significant. That limitation requires careful fuel planning, but the ability to traverse the spiny and mostly roadless peninsula by air in minutes allows tremendous possibilities for exploration.
Dave Hirschman
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