Baja 7-07 Part 1: Las Pintas & Baja Cactus Fun

Baja Angel and I lefy Friday afternoon ahead of the traffic, and stopped in secondary (far right lane off I-805) at Tijuana border to get new Tourist Cards (FM-Ts).

The INM (Migra) office is the first door on the far right. The bank teller is about 6 or 7 doors away where you pay the fee ($22.50 US each) for 180 days reusable FM-T.

First stop after that was Tacos el Yaqui in Rosarito!!! We each forced down 2 'perrones' (carne asada tacos with cheese, beans, guacamole, cilantro) YUM!

Pretty much an easy trip to El Rosario... Got in about 10 pm, I think.

The next morning Nomads 'Gadget', 'Squarecircle', Baja Andy and 'Baja Nomad' expressed interest in going to Las Pintas after breakfast.

We ate at Ed and Yolanda Lusk's Baja's Best Bed & Breakfast for the best breakfast in town. Located just over 2 miles from the Pemex at the far end of Rosario.

As we left Ed's place, we passed Doug and family going there to eat... So on our way out of town, about 30 minutes later we stopped and gave Doug some directions. Baja Andy went on ahead to wait for us at the turnoff (Km. 80-81), but went beyond the San Carlos road (which we didn't know)... assuming he was down the dirt road ahead of us!

Total directions to Las Pintas is at http://vivabaja.com/pintas

Here they are also:

DIRECTIONS
Highway 1, southward from El Rosario 14.6 miles (between Km. 80-81), turn right at the left curve. GPS: 30°01.59', 115°32.05' (Map datum set to 'NAD27 Mexico')

Go 17.4 miles on the good graded dirt road to a single track road going left. If passed, just ahead is a ranch house on the right and there is a second left road that joins the first. Set odometer to '0.0'. GPS: 29°49.64', 115°28.42'.

Pass ranch houses ('Malvar') and make an 'S' turn right, into Arroyo San Fernando. You soon will be reach a (possibly) closed gate at Mile 3.5. Always re-close any gate after you pass through.

Mile 5.2, (GPS: 29°52.53', 115°25.22') turn LEFT off of Arroyo San Fernando road, and follow a small side arroyo. Brush may scratch your vehicle in here.

Mile 5.4, (GPS: 29°52.69', 115°25.26') turn RIGHT, out of small arroyo and cross low divide to small valley.

Mile 7.2 LAS PINTAS parking area. GPS: 29°53.90', 115°24.48', elev. 755'. You are 24.6 miles from Highway 1 and 39.2 miles from El Rosario's Baja Cactus Motel and Pemex gas station, per my odometer.

Trail to the right of the boulders is the best way to the top, then cross over to other side and try the more difficult trail to get back down. Straight into the boulders from the parking area are tunnels, passages, and boulder shelters. ENJOY!

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We had fun looking around and returned to Baja Cactus about 4 pm for the Baja Nomad party hosted by Antonio and Lorenia (Baja Cactus).

Some photos...

Squarecircle and Baja Angel at Las Pintas

[Edited on 8-2-2007 by David K]

Leslie and Wil (Gadget)

Discoveries under every overhang

Graffiti from long ago!

A room with a view

Gadget and petros in the big room

Beer break in the big room at Las Pintas

Petroglyphs are everywhere... fossils too!

Elizabeth in the long passage to the waterfall...

Leaving Las Pintas for the drive out, Gadget invites Elizabeth for a 'demo ride' in his Locos Mocos chase truck... Leslie helps strap her in with the 5 point race belts.

Yup, thats what it looked like. Still haven't stopped talking about it to everyone. Sooo much Baja, so little time

Gadget found a place to get his Ford to fly... I wasn't fast enough on the shutter to see all four wheels off the ground.

Spencer and dad (rogerj1) having a Baja time in El Rosario!

Antonio (BajaCactus) and daughter Lorenia

The group around the food table

Squarecircle and Baja Angel

Little Lorenia... gets bigger every year!

This trip report continues with Part 2, the distant Pacific.