Mexico

Las Ventanas, a luxury resort, lies halfway between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.  (Geraldine Wilkins / LAT)

A 17th century-Spanish mission rises in the tiny mountain pueblo of San Javier, near Loreto, in Mexico’s Baja California Sur.  (Don Bartletti / LAT)

A teenager belts out a song at Loreto’s annual talent show. His stage is the quaint town’s central plaza adjacent to City Hall.  (Don Bartletti / LAT)

Loreto, a seaside Baja California town, is short flight from Los Angeles.  (Don Bartletti / LAT)

In the outpost of Cataviña in Baja California’s vast Central Desert, the Boulder Field is a jumble of wind- and rain-carved rocks.  (Gail Fisher / LAT)

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Laguna Ojo de Libre is part of the El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve. It’s an important breeding and wintering site for the California gray whale, marine birds and four species of endangered sea turtle.  (Gail Fisher / LAT)

About 1,500 California gray whales migrate south 6,000 miles every year to Laguna Ojo de Libre from the Bering Sea. Group tours in small boats ply several lagoons along the central coast.  (Gail Fisher / LAT)

A traditional meal of grilled beef and cactus stew is served at Xalapa’s Asadero Cien restaurant.  (Robert Gauthier / LAT)

Son Residentes play Cuban rhythms at Lorencillo restaurant in Xalapa.  (Robert Gauthier / LAT)

In Xalapa, Grupo Sotavento performs fancy folkloric footwork at Hotel Xalapa.  (Robert Gauthier / LAT)

An exhibition draws visitors to a tunnel-like gallery at Ágora de la Ciudad in Xalapa.  (Robert Gauthier / LAT)

The snowcapped Pico de Orizaba, Mexico’s tallest mountain, looms over Xalapa’s sprawling suburbs.  (Robert Gauthier / LAT)

Xalapa, Mexico, is well-suited to exploring on foot and detours off a main street reward the curious. This alley’s small shop has a wide selection of classical, jazz and ethnic music.  (Robert Gauthier / LAT)