WSUCDB
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Registered: 12-8-2020
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Dec. whales + 2WD car camping
Greetings nomads,
I have a couple of lingering questions before my girlfriend and I make our first trip to Baja next week. Our plan is to spend two nights in Valle de
Guadalupe, then do four days of car camping before coming back to Ensenada.
We are planning to camp at Ojo de Liebre Dec. 19-20 in hopes of seeing the whales. Will this be too early to see them this year? If so, we were
thinking of spending that time in Bahia de Los Angeles instead.
Second, I was hoping to get suggestions on camping in the Gonzaga Bay/Puertocitos area. I was thinking of staying at Papa Fernandez or Rancho Grande,
however we will be driving a 2WD Sedan and am worried about the road conditions/sand at those spots. Are my concerns unwarranted or are there campos
in the area that will be easier to access?
Any and all suggestions and advice is appreciated, and thank you in advance. This board has already been a tremendous help to me.
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Mother of Dragons
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It might be a bit early for the whales.
You can camp right on Gonzaga Bay and the road is packed. Pay in the market.
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Mother of Dragons
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Oh, you could easily car camp at Ojo in a 2 wd but check to see when the camping opens. It’s a great spot with a good restaurant and cheap with
porta potties.
[Edited on 12-9-2020 by Mother of Dragons]
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Whale-ista
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Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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December is early for seeing whales inside the lagoons.
There may be a few around, but in my experience (after 35 years of visiting various lagoons), they won't be as friendly as the ones who arrive later
in the season.
Youngsters/solo males often arrive first, then pregnant females about to give birth. Moms and older babies are typically the most interactive later in
the year as the babies develop.
Shari Bondy just saw two young whales near her home in Asuncion, between San Ignacio and Ojo de Liebre lagoons. She would be a good one to ask for
updates.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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HeyMulegeScott
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I parked my 30,000# Winnebago at Rancho Grande last month so I think you are good in a car.
We went to Bay of LA also and you can free camp at La Gringa. Might be a little windy but a beautiful spot.
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del mar
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I'd recommend camping at Beluga in gonzaga bay, no problem with 2wd
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David K
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HeyMulegeScott
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I scouted that one in the Jeep. Didn't get a great vibe but did get chased by some dogs from the camp and was pretty impressed one of them kept up for
a good sprint at 30mph.
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David K
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The sandy road is long and can get tricky. Large motorhomes would best go to Rancho Grande... but I personally like Beluga better... quieter, less
dust, nice flush toilets. I am in a Tacoma, so there is no sand that can stop me! 
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HeyMulegeScott
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Quote: Originally posted by David K  | | The sandy road is long and can get tricky. Large motorhomes would best go to Rancho Grande... but I personally like Beluga better... quieter, less
dust, nice flush toilets. I am in a Tacoma, so there is no sand that can stop me! |
Haven't really had a problem with noise and dust at Rancho Grande but those pit toilets are probably some of the worst in Baja with the best view. I
don't think sand would be a problem at Beluga. Reviews look pretty good. Do they really charge $25 a night? Rancho Grande is 250 pesos - http://www.ioverlander.com/places/14171-camp-beluga-san-luis...
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Mother of Dragons
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Oh, you could easily car camp at Ojo in a 2 wd but check to see when the camping opens. It’s a great spot with a good restaurant and cheap with
porta potties.
[Edited on 12-9-2020 by Mother of Dragons]
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BajaDanD
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Best time to see the whales in Ojo de Lieber is end February to the middle of March
There might be a few whales in December but February and March there can be a couple thousand and you'll most likely get a chance to touch some.
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shari
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The lagoon camp opens Dec.15 but the restaurant & pangas at the ejido camp dont usually begin till January as there are usually no whales before
then.
Marios tours that leave from their restaurant on the highway do start running pangas as soon as there are a few whales to see...good luck.
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wilderone
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Shari, is it your understanding that pangas, restaurant and camp will be open for the season then (vis a vis COVID)? Any provisions for fewer people
in the boats, masks, etc? I'd really REALLY like to take a Baja trip in February - the lagoon camp would be on my radar.
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shari
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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as far as we know things will be open and we haven't been advised that we have to have limited seating or anything. We will take precautions like
masks, extra sanitizing & cleaning, taking temperatures etc.
At the moment I am reserving less people on the pangas in case the government implements limits as they did before but we are in the orange zone no
here everything is open with no restrictions except masks worn in stores.
I am asking that our guests get tested before coming down.
You will LOVE our new whale camp....it's waaaay out there!
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DawnPatrol
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| Quote: Originally posted by shari | as far as we know things will be open and we haven't been advised that we have to have limited seating or anything. We will take precautions like
masks, extra sanitizing & cleaning, taking temperatures etc.
At the moment I am reserving less people on the pangas in case the government implements limits as they did before but we are in the orange zone no
here everything is open with no restrictions except masks worn in stores.
I am asking that our guests get tested before coming down.
You will LOVE our new whale camp....it's waaaay out there!
Shari: where is your new whale camp in relation to the old whale camp?
Alan (The Greyhound Boys)
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