Congratulations David! Not sure if I just missed it but in reading about the tour it wasn't clear who will provide the 4WD transportation? Are you
supposed to come in your own vehicle or will 4WD vehicles be provided? If so, who will drive? Is there a plan for breakdowns?
Just curious...
Hi Ron, see the link above for Baja Custom Tours. They have 4WD vans that seat 9 guests + crew. As mentioned, this is the company that has Graham
along to guide tours. Now, it's my turn as it is a missions tour hosted by Discover Baja.
did you have to get a work permit to do this? I don't know how tours from up North work.
This is just worked out and I asked about permits. I was told they have all the permits and they (Baja Custom Tours) have been doing Baja tours for
years. Nomad member Graham has already been a guide for them so I think we are in good company. Thank you for your interest. Please contact the tour
company for more details. My part is only to share what I know from 50 years of Baja travel since my first trip and mission history.
The mission sites included on this tour, additionally the second Rosario mission (#19 x 2) and the Loreto visita ruin of Londó (between #1 and #4).
1) Loreto (1697)
2) San Javier (1699)
3) Ligüí/Malibat (1705)
4) Mulegé (1705)
5) Comondú (1708)
6) La Purísima (1720)
7) La Paz (1720)
8) Guadalupe de Huasinapí (1720)
9) Los Dolores Apaté (1721)
10) Santiago (1724) 11) San Ignacio (1728)
12) San José del Cabo (1730)
13) Santa Rosa/Todos Santos (1733)
14) San Luis Gonzaga (1737) 15) Santa Gertrudis (1752)
16) San Borja (1762)
17) Santa María (founded in 1766, at Calamajué) 18) San Fernando (1769)
19) El Rosario (1774)
20) Santo Domingo (1775)
21) San Vicente (1780)
22) San Miguel (1787) 23) Santo Tomás (1791)
24) San Pedro Martír (1794)
25) Santa Catalina (1797)
26) El Descanso (site founded ~1810, new mission built 1830) 27) Guadalupe del Norte (1834)
These selected missions include:
the first 4 California missions (all founded by the Jesuits),
the furthest north stone mission on the peninsula,
the first Franciscan (Fr. Serra) founded California mission,
the first 3 Dominican founded California missions,
the last mission founded in all the Californias and
the last operating California mission.
Wow. That's quite a trip. Thanks for posting the map.
Yes indeed... if all goes per plan: 15 mission sites, 2 mine/ghost town sites, 2 rock art sites, a fossil grotto, several museums, relax time at Playa
Ligüí, wine tasting... So Much Baja... in just 10 days!
It could be a great introduction trip to newbies wishing to see and experience these places and see what is across the border and way beyond. I will
be describing lots of other sites and how to get to them as we are driving for any future trips by our guests.
For the experienced Baja traveler (most of you who post on Nomad), it could be a way to enjoy Baja without having to drive or worry about the
details... and we can have some fun conversations when we aren't just enjoying the view!
The tour looks like it is a full package deal, rooms, meals, transportation, and more. A good deal if you want a Baja history and backcountry
immersion... See the links...
Only you can keep up a Baja pace like this itin.! Those 7am breakfasts wore me out just reading it!
Really folks............having been on a David K. tour of this sort in 2001, you would have a great time and learn more about missions and Baja in
general than you ever thought there was to know.
Have a great time David and group, I know you will!
Can your group get ahold of Baja Atlas's (almanacs)?? you know the one I'm talking about. I still treasure mine with the notes and red marker
itin. you wrote into mine. After I returned home and looked at it again and again, I learned so much more about where I had just been. Of course, I
have that love of maps as you do.
Can your group get ahold of Baja Atlas's (almanacs)?? you know the one I'm talking about. I still treasure mine with the notes and red marker
itin. you wrote into mine. After I returned home and looked at it again and again, I learned so much more about where I had just been. Of course, I
have that love of maps as you do.
Hi Travelpearl! Great to see you here...
Thanks for the nice words...
Yes, you and other Nomads (Amigos then) were on one of my first tours, and the first Viva Baja 4WD Tour Van (owned by Amo Pescar) test run tour, July,
2001 (also with us: El Camote, Desert Rat, David Eidell, and along with us were Mike/Mary Ann/ Miguelito Humfreville). Others were with us some of the
time, such as Neal Johns, Desert Bull, and more: http://vivabaja.com/van1
I guess you didnt know, but one thing are the permits for baja tours to operate, and a different thing is the permit for you to work as a certified
tour guide.
Thats assuming you are certified as a tourist guide, but that alone does not grant a work permit in Mexico
Otherwise you are breaking at least 4 municipal laws (Rosarito, Ensenada, Mulege and Loreto) two state (BC and BCS) and quite a few federal laws.
Thank you for your interest in learning more about California's early history! If you are not joining the tour, perhaps obtain one of my books to get
you many of the details we will go over. It just won't be as good as being there with us!
1) The tour operator has been doing Baja tours for many years, it is not his (Baja Custom Tours) first rodeo. He does whale watching tours annually,
lately with Nomad Graham Mackintosh along as a guide.
2) I am a pretty good source for Baja history and locations having been traveling in Baja since 1965, published 3 books about Baja and numerous
magazine and online articles.
3) I was very clear with both the organizer (Discover Baja Travel Club) and the tour van operator (Baja Custom Tours) that I wanted to be sure we were
not violating any laws or if we needed work permits. I was assured by both companies (who have been doing Baja tours for many years, and bringing lots
of money to Baja businesses and families), that all points were covered. The tour begins and ends inside the United States.
I hope I answered any concerns you have and let's all promote travel to Baja California as being a fun safe adventure. The economy of the peninsula
could sure use a boost! Often people go on tours first to get comfortable with traveling to a new area and then return many times in the future on
their own.
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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