San Ignacio

San Ignacio is a small, peaceful town in the middle of the desert, built around a spring-fed lagoon and thousands of date palms. The town's centerpiece is the Misión San Ignacio Kadakaamán, whose thick lava-stone walls face a shady plaza lined with laurel trees. The Jesuits founded the mission in 1716, and the church you see today was completed by the Dominicans in the late 1700s. It's one of the best-preserved missions in Baja, and the plaza, lagoon, and palm groves make for an easy, atmospheric afternoon.

Most visitors come for what lies beyond the town. About an hour west, San Ignacio Lagoon is one of the most famous gray whale sanctuaries in the world, where mothers and calves approach small boats, often close enough to touch. Licensed operators run tours from roughly January through March. In the mountains to the north, the Sierra de San Francisco holds some of the most remarkable rock art in the Americas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with painted figures that are thousands of years old. Visits require a guide and a permit, and San Ignacio is the natural starting point for arranging both.

Good to know: San Ignacio is about an hour from Santa Rosalía and two hours from Guerrero Negro. Services are limited, so bring cash, book whale-watching and rock art tours in advance, and expect rustic accommodations.