LaTijereta - 3-7-2005 at 10:46 PM
We started South on Friday morning, and hit the border at 6am. The IMS office at San Yisdro is under construction, but got our FM-3s stamped an off to
Ensenada for breakfast.
Got pesos in Ensenada at an ATM, and drove down to El Rosario to gas up before heading into the central desert. The drive so far had been spectacular
to see Baja so green at every turn. In the 30 years I have been driving down, I had never witnessed the fields so alive with colors and grass where
there had never been anything.
We got into Guerrero Negro around 5pm, after many stops along the way to get out and photograph the desert. Our hotel rooms were waiting for us at
the El Morro Hotel ($31per night for 2 persons), and we went down to Malarrimo for a great White Sea Bass dinner ($10 ea).
Next day we were up and at the office for Eco-Tours, where Victor got us set up for the tour that started at 8am from their office. We loaded on to a
old school bus that took us out to boats (about 10 persons in each boat). The cost for the tour at Eco-Tours is $46 per person for the 4 hour trip,
which also includes a lunch on the boat.
Out on the bay, we came across whales everywhere we looked. Mother and babies swimming along side each other. Larger whales breaching all around us.
Dolphins were swimming with the baby whales at play.
We came across one pair of whales who kept coming to the boat to rub their backs on the bottom of the boat. It was as always only more experience
that makes Baja such a special place to be.
After our arrival back at the office, we stored all our gear and headed back up to San Quintin to stay for the night. We arrived at the La Pinta
Hotel around 4:30pm to drive out on the beach in front and watch the sunset in the Pacific. After dark we drove over to Cielito Lindo for dinner with
the ?crabs? . The shrimp were also very fresh that night.
Sunday morning we rolled out of the La Pinta, and drove up to Ensenada for some quick shopping. Then on up to Tecate to cross, but got into the
longest line I had ever seen there. We waited over 90 mins to up the US gates, and saw lots of people try every way to cut into line. Because the line
is so long the Tecate cops are really patrolling for these people.
The MX side in Tecate is still not ready for the new US gates, so be prepared for a delay if you are used to a quick time thru at this location.
This is a great time to go down to see the whales, but drive right now for the next few weeks will never be forgotten.
drive right now?
fdt - 3-8-2005 at 10:25 AM
I was planning to take the entire ferna family down on 3/22 but you write "This is a great time to go down to see the whales, but drive right now for
the next few weeks will never be forgotten." Do you think that by that time they will be all gone?
tunaeater - 3-8-2005 at 11:59 AM
Nice 3 day trip short but so much adventure. Did you set up your tour on the spot when you went to the office or was it already arranged before
getting down there. Thanks Paul
Whale Trip
LaTijereta - 3-8-2005 at 05:50 PM
We set the trip up in Jan..Due to the weekends fill up quick with Eco-Tours. They allow you to pay a 50% deposit thru their Wells Fargo Bank account
here.
We also wanted to avoid the Spring Break traffic starting after next week.
fdt there should be plenty of whales
Ken Bondy - 3-8-2005 at 07:17 PM
through the end of March. That's usually a good time to be there. Most of the bulls and pregnant females have left by that time. The whales
remaining are almost all mother/calf pairs and you tend to have a lot of friendly encounters.
++Ken++
"Encounters"
LaTijereta - 3-8-2005 at 08:54 PM
LaTijereta - 3-8-2005 at 08:57 PM
Central Desert
LaTijereta - 3-8-2005 at 08:59 PM
drive right now
BajaDanD - 3-8-2005 at 09:45 PM
I would think that around Mar. 22 that the Spring Break crouds could be a problem but mostly closer to the Border and Ensenada. As far as there still
being Whales then I wouldnt worry too much there will still be quite a few and they most likely will be more friendly. We are going in two
days Cant wait. The Desert looks fantastic
I can stll remember the first time I ever saw the central desert, WOW!!!!! Cant wait to see it with all the colors and desert flowers.
thanks
fdt - 3-9-2005 at 08:52 AM
Kids are all exited, I know about the spring break croud, but that's the time they have off from school. Our trip will be about 10 days and we will go
all the way to La Paz.
David K - 3-9-2005 at 09:06 AM
Kris: Great photos... and a cool jacket!
Ferna: have a great trip!