BajaNomad

Missions... easy and difficult to reach

David K - 5-27-2006 at 05:59 PM

Many of the mission sites in Baja can be reached by auto, some with 4WD, others require minutes to days of hiking!

Paved access: San Miguel, San Ignacio, Loreto, La Paz (no ruins), Santa Rosa de las Palmas (Todos Santos), San Jose del Cabo (no ruins).

2WD Dirt access: Descanso, Guadalupe del Norte, Santo Tomas #1, Santo Domingo, Rosario (both sites), Santa Catarina, San Vicente, San Fernando, San Borja, Santa Gertrudis, Santa Rosalia de Mulege, Comondu #2, San Javier, Ligui (no ruins), La Purisima (no ruins), San Luis Gonzaga, Santiago (no ruins).

4WD Dirt access: Santa Maria, Calamajue, Guadalupe del Sur, Comondu #1

Hiking minutes: Santo Tomas #2 (next to El Palomar campground), San Bruno, Dolores-La Pasion

Hiking hours or days: San Pedro Martir, Dolores del Sur


To see photos of the missions and other details: http://vivabaja.com/bajamissions

The best books on the missions today:

Saints and Demons in a Desert Wilderness by Dave Werschkul

and

Las Misiones Antiguas, the Spanish Missions of Baja California by Edward Vernon







[Edited on 5-28-2006 by David K]

woody with a view - 5-27-2006 at 08:44 PM

probably a dumb ? but where is the first foto? i've only seen mulege and san ignacio and the similarities are there, but its still different.

TMW - 5-28-2006 at 08:54 AM

San Javier. The picture looks different from my last visit. If I remember right there are graves on the left side as you face it. They must be in the court yard or rock fence.

[Edited on 5-28-2006 by TW]

David K - 5-28-2006 at 09:01 AM

You can see the top of some of the graves... they are behind the wall... here is another photo of San Javier (the second successful mission on the peninsula, after Loreto).



These photos were taken by Baja Nomad Jack Swords and are displayed on the Baja Missions web site linked on my home page and in my first post above...

David K - 5-28-2006 at 09:10 AM

I have some old photos as well of the missions, thanks to Nomad 'AcademicAnachist'...

Here is Santo Tomas (2nd site) in 1926...



The same mission in 1975...



In 2001...



Last year (Nov., 2005)...



[Edited on 5-28-2006 by David K]

DianaT - 5-28-2006 at 09:26 AM

The drive to San Javier was beautiful---the views are just wonderful, the town very nice, and the lady who watches the Mission was just great. It was a cloudy day which made the weather very nice, but the pictures not as pretty.

Here is a picture of the inside of San Javier---no flash of course



This is the entrance to the little town



Thanks David, I keep collecting more places to visit from your site.

Diane

[Edited on 5-28-2006 by jdtrotter]

David K - 5-28-2006 at 09:35 AM

Great photos of San Javier! Thanks Diane...

In 1976 we drove up there and the person who was the watchman for the mission then allowed us to climb the stairway to the roof of the mission... I should scan those photos and post them!

On top of San Javier 1976

David K - 5-28-2006 at 09:58 AM

My mom, view to the north and the village..

David K - 5-28-2006 at 09:59 AM

My girlfriend in a view to the south... summer 1976.

DianaT - 5-28-2006 at 09:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Great photos of San Javier! Thanks Diane...

In 1976 we drove up there and the person who was the watchman for the mission then allowed us to climb the stairway to the roof of the mission... I should scan those photos and post them!


Yes, those would be great. We want to go back and spend a more time. When we arrived, we met up with a couple who had two flat tires on their way up and the only man in town who could repair tires was gone.

There was a van from small tourist van in town from Loreto---they tried to see if their spare would fit --- no luck. So, with our can of Fix Flat, and their little, very slow air compressor, we followed them down the mountain, stopping every few minutes to add air. So, now we need to go back and spend more time. :bounce:

We also wanted to spend a little time exploring the palm canyon with the cave paintings----next time.

Thought I would share the view from the Road to San Javier



And the Palm Canyon on the way there.




Looking forward to the old pictiures. The view from the roof had to be great.

Diane

As I was posting so were you! Great

[Edited on 5-28-2006 by jdtrotter]

shari - 5-28-2006 at 08:03 PM

My very favorite of all the missions I've seen is San Borja...enter from Nuevo Rosarito...mid baja...the road into it is a veritable forest of serios cactus and one of the most scenic drives here. Then the mission is a fabulous place to camp and Jose who lives there erected some nice palapas. The mission itself is awesome and is the only one with a caracol staircase...snail...winding stone staircase up to the roof. But the best thing is the little hot springs you get to by walking through the large gardens and past the enormous mango tree. There are also very unique little cave paintings nearby that Jose's kids can show you. There is lots to do there and blissful peace quiet. I'ts good to bring Jose and his family something like coffee or sugar and some candy for the kids.

BAJACAT - 5-28-2006 at 10:37 PM

Shari mine will be San Javier, San Borja is nice but San javier still #1 in my list. Thanks to David K 's reports and pictures thats how I got hook on what I call mission Hunting I allready visit 15 in Baja an 2 in California

David K - 5-29-2006 at 09:15 AM

Bedman took some photos inside and out of San Borja... http://vivabaja.com/bedman2 beginning on page 6...



[Edited on 5-29-2006 by David K]

DianaT - 5-29-2006 at 09:51 AM

David,
I did a search on San Borja; we want to see it later this year. However, on earlier posts it said that Jose and his family had been banned from the inside of the mission. Is that still the case?

Also, which road is usually in the best condition?

Thanks,
Diane

On Edit---just read Bajacat's report on the roads for April, 2006

[Edited on 5-29-2006 by jdtrotter]

cpg - 5-29-2006 at 04:34 PM

Thanks David
Very nice

David K - 5-29-2006 at 04:37 PM

Both routes were good, if you are not at L.A. Bay then go in from Rosarito.

The route from L.A. Bay has some dips and one rocky pass, but 2WD is no problem...

Paula - 5-29-2006 at 05:28 PM

David, or anyone,
On the trip north this year we're thinking of leaving Loreto early a.m., going from Nuevo Rosarito through San Borja, stopping to see the mission, and then going on to Bahia Los Angeles for the night. I know it's a whirlwind tour, but we want a quick glance at what's up there.

How are the hotels there? Is there one that is preferable?

[Edited on 5-30-2006 by Paula]

David K - 5-30-2006 at 05:16 AM

Paula, that's a great route to take... On the way out of San Borja, going north the side trip (about 7 miles) to Montevideo is well worth it... The junction is just 2 miles from the L.A. Bay highway on the north side of a big arroyo crossing. Lot's of photos beginning here: http://vivabaja.com/105/page6.html

In L.A. Bay, several motels... The Costa del Sol in town and Raquel & Larry's a couple miles north on the La Gringa road are the most liked it seems. Graham Mackintosh stayed at the new Villa Bahia just north of town as well and raved about it: http://www.villabahia.com/

Other motels include Las Hamacas, Guillermo's, and the original place in L.A. Bay 'Casa Diaz'.

Avoid the Villa Vita Hotel until Nomads have something better to report... The resort Los Vientos, way north of town is pricey and too far from the good food you can get in town.

[Edited on 5-30-2006 by David K]

Paula - 5-30-2006 at 06:31 AM

Thanks, David!

It sounds like we shouldn't miss Montevideo, and the rock art pictures are very motivating.
And we're glad to have the hotel advice.

Paula

San Borja

BAJACAT - 5-30-2006 at 08:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jdtrotter
David,
I did a search on San Borja; we want to see it later this year. However, on earlier posts it said that Jose and his family had been banned from the inside of the mission. Is that still the case?

Also, which road is usually in the best condition?

Thanks,
Diane

On Edit---just read Bajacat's report on the roads for April, 2006

[Edited on 5-29-2006 by jdtrotter]
They used to not anymore Diane. They got the keys back from the cleregy of Guerrero Negro since they live in the premisses it is easier for them to show they mission, they also know how to take you to las tinajitas ( cave art ) and also the hot springs. Booth roads the one from Nuevo Rosarito and the one fro Bola are duable on any two wheel drive.

[Edited on 5-31-2006 by BAJACAT]

Here is a little bit of what you will see Paula

BAJACAT - 5-30-2006 at 08:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Paula
Thanks, David!

It sounds like we shouldn't miss Montevideo, and the rock art pictures are very motivating.
And we're glad to have the hotel advice.

Paula
Here are some pictures Paula from my last trip this last april..

[Edited on 5-31-2006 by BAJACAT]

another

BAJACAT - 5-30-2006 at 08:22 PM

las tinajitas in San Borja Paula

BAJACAT - 5-30-2006 at 08:23 PM

David K - 5-30-2006 at 08:28 PM

A couple of Las Tinajitas pics from 2001: http://www.vivabaja.com/401/page4.html





Road to Monte video

BAJACAT - 5-30-2006 at 08:33 PM

For this trip they recomend 4wd but I seen people with regular trucks there ,just lower you air preassure and thats it.

[Edited on 5-31-2006 by BAJACAT]

Paula - 5-30-2006 at 09:36 PM

Thanks for the pictures, Bajacat! I'm very excited to take that fork in the road!

Paula

No problem Paula

BAJACAT - 6-1-2006 at 08:17 PM