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OCEANUS
Nomad
Posts: 139
Registered: 10-11-2008
Location: Dana Point; L.A. Bay
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WANTED...Adventure planners with experience!!
At the end of June, I will be traveling north with my 11 yo son from San Jose del Cabo to California. We will have a 4x4 truck, fishing gear,
snorkeling gear, an SUP and window of 7 days to do whatever we want. We are into having adventures and making memories.
Pretty much, anything south of LA Bay & Animas Bay is unchartered territory for us.
Who's got some ideas?
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10568
Registered: 10-3-2003
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My kids are 15 and 17 and I've been taking them since they were 7. When I get back to my house I'll give you some recs that will make you look like
the world's best dad.
Watch the first video in my sig.
[Edited on 5-4-2019 by JZ]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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You are welcome to look at my 2017/2018 trip reports here on Nomad (as well as any others from before) where I traveled over 12,000 miles up and down
the peninsula for a fresh examination of roads and sites, many I had not been to and some I have for over 50 years.
My 2017-2018 Baja Bound Guide Research Trip Reports (with photos and maps):
TRIP #1: San Felipe to Gonzaga Bay, Bahía de los Angeles, and Punta San Francisquito
TRIP #2: San Ignacio to Loreto area, to San Javier, Comondú, and La Purísima to Hwy. 1
TRIP #3: Mexicali to San Felipe, Valle Chico Canyons, Matomí, and El Rosario Area
TRIP #4: Valle de Trinidad to San Vicente, Seven Sisters Coast roads, and Laguna Manuela
TRIP #5: Guerrero Negro to El Arco, El Barril, San Francisco de la Sierra, Abreojos, Asunción, Tortugas
TRIP #6: San Ignacio to San Juanico, Insurgentes, Mag Bay, San Evaristo, La Paz, and Cabo
TRIP #7: Tijuana to San Quintín, San Pedro Mártir, Observatory, and Rancho El Coyote
TRIP #8: Tecate to Ensenada to San Felipe to Laguna Chapala, and through Laguna Hanson to Tecate
In addition, my website www.vivabaja.com is designed to help people decide what they want to visit.
I am always happy to answer questions or recommend people who may be of help. You can email me (info at vivabaja.com) if you have questions.
Naturally, I find the mission construction period (1600s-1800s) extra interesting and wrote a book giving the best data possible on who, what, when,
where, and why: Baja California Land of Missions
[Edited on 5-4-2019 by David K]
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Camping or hoteling?
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10568
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Places to hit for sure: La Paz, Loreto, and Bay of LA.
La Paz
Very special town with tons to do for kids and adults. From Cabo, drive up the way that goes through Los Barriles to get there.
- stay at B&B Casa Juarez. Very inexpensive place and pretty nice. The owners are Italian and welcoming.
- You need to take a boat out to the islands. It's the best water in all of Baja. Just beautiful. Turquoise blue like the Caribbean. Out of
Tecolote (15-20 mins from central La Paz) you can go to the islands on a panga with other ppl or buy the whole boat and go by yourselves. You can
also rent a higher-end boat from one of the marinas for the day, for $300-500. PM me if you want some contacts.
Can't begin to explain how awesome the many bays are on Isla Espíritu Santo and Isla Partida. Just fabulous. You have to go all the way to the last
island, Los Islotes - there you will see a hundred sea lions. You can swim with the pups.
- One day drive your truck out to Tecolote. Once there you can explore along the coast for maybe 5-7 miles just finding different beaches. Lots of
sandy, dirt roads of varying difficultly. We've spent many days out there fooling around. Bring lunch, or go a little later and bring wood to build
a fire on the beach.
- Lots of great places to eat in La Paz, see the other thread on the front page for ideas.
- When you leave La Paz, drive up to San Evaristo. Hands down, the best coastal drive in all of Baja. It's about a 2-3 hr drive. Very easy for 90%
of it. You can let your kid drive the truck a bit. The last several miles before you get to the bay are epic Baja. Up and through the mountain.
Dad needs to drive this part for sure, but nothing a 4x4 can't handle easily.
The San Evaristo bay itself is "ok." Not beautiful, but nice, and lots of locals live there and fish. About 8 miles from Evaristo by water is,
maybe, the most quintessential, half moon bay in the world on Isla San Fransisco. We have been there a few times on our boat and it's spectacular. I
haven't done it yet, but I'm sure you could pay a panga in Evaristo to take you out there. World class snorkeling. Watch out for the eels on the
South corner of the beach.
If you have a tent, you should camp in San Evaristo for the night. From there you want go to Cuidad Constitution, and get back on MX 1. Really cool
50-60 mile dirt road trip. If you don't camp in Evaristo, you might spend the night in Constitution, if you stay the night in Evaristo, then just
keep going on to Loreto, which is another hour and a half.
Loreto:
Stay at La Mision hotel. Not cheap, but not super expensive, and well worth it. Super nice hotel with great balconies and beautiful views of the
ocean. You can walk to the marina in 3 mins. The hotel bar has great beers, IPA and brown ale from a local brewery. Hotel Oasis would be my 2nd
recommendation. Less expensive, and right on the ocean.
The one must do in Loreto is to rent a panga and go out to Isla Coronado. It will only cost you about $90 for 5-6 hours. It's a short 20-30 min
ride. The water there is incredible. You can use the SUP and snorkel gear for sure.
The most beautiful mission in Baja is San Javier. It's about a 30-45 min drive on pavement from Loreto.
There are two really good day trips you can do from Loreto. Agua Verde or San Basilo. AV is to the South and Basilo is North. Both are fantastic,
but AV is the must do. The turnoff of MX 1 to AV is maybe 45 mins from Loreto. From there it is about an 1hr drive in the dirt. Another really epic
Baja mountain drive. My kid drove part of it at 13, so it's not that hard.
Lots of great places to eat in Loreto. Ask Howard for recs.
Bahia de Los Angeles (Bay of LA)
Stay at Costa del Sol. Best hotel in town. Pretty cheap and nice. The restaurant is excellent, especially for breakfast.
Charter a panga for the day. There are 16 islands in the bay. You have to go and see La Ventana, the window rock. Swim off the boat and walk
through the window. You'll want to take a pic of your kid on the front of the boat with La Ventana in the background. It's a pic you guys will never
forget.
Right by La Ventana is a big bay on another island; in that bay you can hike to the top of the island and see the entire Bahia de Los Angels bay.
Easy hike with a beautiful view. To top the day off take the panga over to Rincon. A really nice white sand beach, where the SS Minnow lays.
Another thing to do in BoLA is to drive out to La Gringa. Build a fire on the beach.
If you want to do something extreme, rent a super panga from Guillermos and go to Puerto Refugio on the northern tip Isla Ángel de la Guarda. See
the 2nd video in my sig to see how amazing that place is. By far it is the top bay of all the many islands in the Sea of Cortez. Roughly 80 miles
round-trip by boat.
Hope that helps. I can give you more ideas, details, and/or tracks if you need them. Enjoy the trip with your kid!
[Edited on 5-17-2019 by JZ]
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Whiskey Witch
Junior Nomad
Posts: 51
Registered: 9-22-2018
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San Evaristo
and San Evaristo even has a few accommodations now (very modest) check out https://www.barbarita-tours.com There is also a sweet little restaurant Lupe Sierra's and a small tienda. Be sure to take a walk north of the
village past the school to the north end where there is a small rancho and former salt ponds. Bring along some school supplies or fun things for local
kids.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3824
Registered: 2-9-2004
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From SJoseDC, drive to Sol de Mayo in the Sierra de la Laguna outside of Santiago. Camping there - hike to waterfall pool, then hike a bit further on
the trail to palm studded arroyo with pools. Next day get to Los Arbolitos (5 mi. past Cabo Pulmo), passing Las Cuevas - hike to bat cave - ask
anyone there to put you on the right trail. Enjoy the beach at Los Arbolitos, hike down to Playa la Sirenita for snorkeling. Maybe rent a kayak for
early morning coastal paddle. Then drive to La Paz - camp at Playa Tecolote, visit Bahia Balandra. Take a snorkel tour boat (hook up at Tecolote) -
awesome and don't miss it (about $50/pp - all day). Then longish drive to Loreto - maybe go fishing out of there. Drive to Mission San Javier.
Onward to Mulege - go fishing out of there - couple campgrounds available. Stop in San Ignacio for a look-see, meal; then head to Campo Rene (Puntas
Abreojos Rd) - fishing. Take the coastal road to Bahia Asuncion - say Hi to Shari - maybe go out for fishing, swimming with sealions, stay at one of
her casitas. Longish haul toward Catavina - check out the pictograph overhang, stop at El Marmol, lunch in El Rosario, camp at Cielito Lindo hotel on
the beach. Head toward the border - see mission San Vicente en route, veer off to Mex. 3 to cross at Tecate (El Trailero taco shop in El Sauzal) -
stop at LA Cetto winery (and the one across from it) - wine, olive oil, jams, salsas, olives.
[Edited on 5-5-2019 by wilderone]
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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at that time of year we have nice cool weather here on the Pacside on the central coast so try out the loop from Pta.Abreojos, La Bocana and Bahia
Asuncion. It is our favorite time of year for a trip to the Island out in front of the village where over 6,000 sealions live and they have the new
babies which are so sweet to see them playing on the beach!
We have kayaks you can take to the Island too as it is only a 20 minute easy paddle from our Inn or campground. Kids love it here!
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6030
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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You only have seven days...Que lastima! I like everything I have read so for, but I would like to point out that the highway goes by
Los Barriles, not through it!
I think it is worth the time to make the trip down into the main part of town. Check out the beaches, there may be a lot of kite boarders depending
on the wind.
The main road to La Paz from Los Barriles is a great drive, but I like the coast road out through El Cardonal and over the pass to the road that
serves La Ventana. (half paved, half rugged road)
Another option would be to drive the coast road through L.B. to E.C., then loop back to the main highway on the paved road that was cut into the
mountains a few years ago. There is a bypass road just north of L.B. that will get you back on track quicker if you don't need to drive through town
again.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10568
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  |
The main road to La Paz from Los Barriles is a great drive, but I like the coast road out through El Cardonal and over the pass to the road that
serves La Ventana. (half paved, half rugged road)
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Someone just showed me this route (plus a little more in the dirt). Looks like a great day trip, ride from La Paz. Looking forward to doing it in a
couple months.
Track using Google Earth:
Attachment: Rt La Paz to Los Barriles.kmz (6kB)
This file has been downloaded 227 times
[Edited on 5-5-2019 by JZ]
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10568
Registered: 10-3-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by Whiskey Witch | | and San Evaristo even has a few accommodations now (very modest) check out https://www.barbarita-tours.com There is also a sweet little restaurant Lupe Sierra's and a small tienda. Be sure to take a walk north of the
village past the school to the north end where there is a small rancho and former salt ponds. Bring along some school supplies or fun things for local
kids. |
That is cool. They will take you out to Isla San Jose and Isla San Fransisco.
I think I've seen the restaurant out there, but it was never open.
[Edited on 5-5-2019 by JZ]
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
5-5-2019 at 01:10 PM |
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64857
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: Originally posted by Whiskey Witch | | and San Evaristo even has a few accommodations now (very modest) check out https://www.barbarita-tours.com There is also a sweet little restaurant Lupe Sierra's and a small tienda. Be sure to take a walk north of the
village past the school to the north end where there is a small rancho and former salt ponds. Bring along some school supplies or fun things for local
kids. |
Attractive fishing village. In 2017, I saw the food sign on the south side of the village area, but regret not driving in to see it. I thought there
was more to see in the village itself, but saw nothing else advertised. I did go to the salt works just north, where the road ends... The Canadian
couple I met at Mission San Luis Gonzaga wrote fondly of it in their blog.
First view of San José Island coming in from the west, on top of the range.
San Evaristo
Salt works, just north of the village.
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StuckSucks
Super Nomad
Posts: 2325
Registered: 10-17-2013
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| Quote: Originally posted by JZ |
Someone just showed me this route (plus a little more in the dirt). Looks like a great day trip, ride from La Paz. Looking forward to doing it in a
couple months.
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I've done the northbound version of this in a truck, and the scenery is off the charts, remote in some sections. There's some slightly rocky washes
while heading west at the north end of the run. If you're in a full-sized truck, you may bump into some tight spots. A fun drive, it's a keeper.
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JZ
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Registered: 10-3-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by StuckSucks |
I've done the northbound version of this in a truck, and the scenery is off the charts, remote in some sections. There's some slightly rocky washes
while heading west at the north end of the run. If you're in a full-sized truck, you may bump into some tight spots. A fun drive, it's a keeper.
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Good to hear. Looks like a ton of really nice deserted beaches. I've marked a couple to stop and check out for sure.
Think we are gonna ride the bikes down, and then load them back up on the truck and take the hwy back.
[Edited on 5-6-2019 by JZ]
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 5-21-2013
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True, a great trip. Some sections on the cliff are narrow with no passing. The view way down is impressive.
Has anyone done it recently? There was a blockage reported a while back. Something like a big rock to stop full size rigs.
=== ===
| Quote: Originally posted by StuckSucks | | Quote: Originally posted by JZ |
Someone just showed me this route (plus a little more in the dirt). Looks like a great day trip, ride from La Paz. Looking forward to doing it in a
couple months.
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I've done the northbound version of this in a truck, and the scenery is off the charts, remote in some sections. There's some slightly rocky washes
while heading west at the north end of the run. If you're in a full-sized truck, you may bump into some tight spots. A fun drive, it's a keeper.
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advrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 1863
Registered: 10-2-2015
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So many good ideas it will be hard to narrow it down and only pick a few..
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gnukid
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I've done it in the past few weeks. No boulder blocking but a car (chevy) broken down blocked the road both ways with no room to pass. Drove back to
Los Plannes to get them a tire. No cell reception and no chance of getting help. It's a steep drop off in parts. Quite entertaining and frightening.
Better by boat.
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mtgoat666
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Posts: 18392
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: Originally posted by OCEANUS | At the end of June, I will be traveling north with my 11 yo son from San Jose del Cabo to California. We will have a 4x4 truck, fishing gear,
snorkeling gear, an SUP and window of 7 days to do whatever we want. We are into having adventures and making memories.
Pretty much, anything south of LA Bay & Animas Bay is unchartered territory for us.
Who's got some ideas?
|
June is too hot for sea of cortez side of baja.
Go camping in 7 sisters area, take kayaks and boards
Also, June is good time for san pedro martir.
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6030
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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| Quote: Originally posted by PaulW | True, a great trip. Some sections on the cliff are narrow with no passing. The view way down is impressive.
Has anyone done it recently? There was a blockage reported a while back. Something like a big rock to stop full size rigs. |
Paul, I (and maybe others) reported the partial blockage a couple of years ago. It was cleared the same year, probably by the ranchers who use that
road.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10568
Registered: 10-3-2003
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Not true. It would be true if you were gonna live there. But this is a short trip and the guy has an 11 yo kid. The water in June on the SoC is
just perfect.
Gotta be out on the water though, sitting around on the beach won't be great.
[Edited on 5-6-2019 by JZ]
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