Customer Reviews

Moon Handbooks: Baja 4 Ed: Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although this book contains lots of good information, it has too many inaccuracies. It looks as though the author has not updated his database of accommodations. I found too many wrong phone numbers, wrong mailing addresses and wromg email addresses. I know these things change, but if they have all really changed this much, there should be a disclaimer or they should not be included at all.

There are two pages of what the author calls "Useful Web sites", but they are not very useful and he does not include any web sites for the many listed accommodations and resorts that have their own web sites.

First I want to compare the 4th edition of this book with the third. Most of the changes in the 4th edition are the color maps and updated info on the Cabo area. While the maps are nice, there are better sources for Baja maps.

Now back to the review of the book itself. I love this book, I have the 2nd and 3rd editions also, and they have been used extensively for Baja travel. While the road conditions and prices obviously will change they are good guidelines of what to expect. I think this book is most suited to travelers that are driving and offers great info on side trips off the beaten path. The road conditions regarding if 4wd is required is helpful, even if things could have changed since publication. Also great info for boaters especially concerning boat ramps, and fuel availability.

I found the hotel ratings to be pretty accurate about the conditions and facilities. In my opinion the best book published on general Baja travel.

If you're spending 2 months driving down and up, this would be a great book. But Cummings doesn't provide much advice for the person who only has a week or so to spend in Baja and must pick and choose. Even after reading the whole book you don't get a sense for what are the nicest destinations. This is important because a lot of Baja destinations are popular for people with a passion for a particular activity and if you don't enjoy that activity you'll probably feel trapped there.

Tip: If you must go to Cabo, avoid Cabo San Lucas and the Corridor and stay in San Jose del Cabo (a real Mexican town closer to the airport). Also rent the heaviest SUV that you can and drive the coast road (dirt) out to Los Frailes for snorkeling and camping on the beach (dogs are welcome).

I gave this guide 5 stars because it is the most complete and easiest guide of Baja out there. I found this book to be very complete. Even two building towns where you can just buy gas and eat are mentioned in this guide. It contains most of the "necessary" maps within its pages, but I would recommend buying a map devoted to the area in which you plan to go. I found this book to be up to date, but I have spent the most time in the northwest part of Baja. I also own the Lonely Planet guide to Baja and I much prefer the Moon's guide (mainly because in my experience it is more complete).
The format of the guide is also very easy to use. The information is laid out in a very logical format. You can just look through the book to find something to do in the area you are going, rather than needing to know what you want to do and then finding out where you can do it.