It is easy to forget, sitting on a terrace in Los Cabos, that this corner of Mexico was once remote in a way that is hard to imagine. For much of the twentieth century, Baja California Sur was a federal territory, not a state, reachable mostly by sea or by rough desert tracks.
The turning point came in 1973. The Transpeninsular Highway, connecting Tijuana at the U.S. border with Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip, was completed, and it was formally opened on December 1, 1973, near Guerrero Negro by President Luis EcheverrÃa. For the first time, you could drive the full length of the peninsula on paved road.
From Territory to State
The territory of Baja California Sur had existed since 1931, and the peninsula had been divided into two federal districts as far back as 1887. On October 8, 1974, the year after the highway opened, Baja California Sur became a state, alongside Quintana Roo, making them the newest states in Mexico. Historians debate how directly the road caused statehood, but the timing tells its own story: a region newly connected to the rest of the country was ready to govern itself.
Drive the Road Today
The same highway now runs past the airport, the marinas and the golf courses of Los Cabos. Today it is the easiest way to reach Cerritos on the Pacific and San José del Cabo on the Sea of Cortez, and a private driver arranged by our concierge turns it into a scenic part of the trip rather than a chore.
FAQ
When was the Transpeninsular Highway completed?
It was completed in 1973 and formally opened on December 1 of that year near Guerrero Negro.
When did Baja California Sur become a state?
On October 8, 1974. Before that it was a federal territory.
Where does the highway end?
In Cabo San Lucas, at the southern tip of the peninsula.
Start Your Journey at the End of the Road
Choose your area and let our concierge arrange the drive.
