gailtoo - 3-6-2008 at 04:37 PM
Hello,
My husband and I are considering the Baja Peninsula as a possible place to relocate in a few years. We have never visited the area, but we hear it is
beautiful.
We favor the Eastern coast because it's calm enough for swimming, snorkeling, etc., but we are concerned about the winter and summer temperatures.
Someone at this message board suggested I find out from people who live in La Paz how the climate is there as they believe it may be a little cooler
than the areas north of it.
I'd appreciate any input I can get about the La Paz climate - not only about what the summer and winter temperatures are, but also how the weather
feels to people. For example, do a lot of people feel they need to leave in the summer? Does it feel too cool in the winter to enjoy the water or
the outdoors? Does it feel too dry or too humid during certain times of year, etc.?
Many thanks,
Gail
La Paz
gailtoo - 3-6-2008 at 05:35 PM
Thanks Kate - I'm glad to hear you're enjoying La Paz.
It sounds like a fun place to live and I look forward to our visit.
Have you been to La Ventana? I just came across something about it on the internet. It's supposed to be about 45 minutes north of La Paz. I'm
wondering what it's like.
fishbuck - 3-6-2008 at 06:13 PM
I don' have the extensive knowledge of some but have spent some time in La Paz.
It's hot in the summer. Get use to the idea of a "siesta" during mid-day. Ideally somewhere air conditioned.
I can take the heat and in fact have trained running on the malecon from one end to the other and back during summer mid-day but don't really
recommend it.
I met lots of locals and they would leave in summer if they could. Most who can do.
It can be tolerated with skimpy clothes, a hat and a very cool drink. Shade helps too.
I have fished mid-day and it's painful but the fishing is usually best in summer.
Mid-summer I'd like to be sitting on the beach on the pacific side enjoying 80-85 degress with a nice seabreeze.
Cold drink in one had and hot sineritta in the other...
longlegsinlapaz - 3-6-2008 at 06:37 PM
You need to come down & check it out!! It's totally a personal decision! I'm originally from the Pacific Northwest; Oregon &
Washington....the rust states!
I spent a 2-week vacation
here which was enough for me to decide that I loved it!
I was down here
fulltime within a year! During that year, I was a little concerned about my acclimation to a totally different climate than I'd ever lived in, but it
took all of....oh, say 60 seconds for me to acclimate!
I've been here 9 years
& couldn't even conceive of living anywhere else!
The summers can be 105 on a daily basis, but that's what pools are for! Humidity can be overwhelming, but you learn to find ways to deal with
it....if the attraction that drew you here in the first place is strong enough. I know more people who are part-timers than full timers. The climate
here is definitely not agreeable to everyone; you either love it or hate it, there's not too much of a "take it or leave it" crowd! Winters,
the water temps are too cool for most people without a wetsuit, but not nearly as cold as the Pacific; the Sea of Cortez side of the peninsula is
warmer, calmer & definitely less windy than the Pacific side. Winter nights the coldest I've experienced have been in the high 40's-low
50's.....but then I've also experiences some high 80's nights!
Then there is the occasional hurricane! I'd never experienced one until my first year here, and now I've lived through 6-7. It's
an.....uhhhhhhh....quite an exhilarating experience!
These & a myriad of other reasons is why it's something you have to experience for yourself before you can decide whether or not it's for you.
And you BOTH need to wholeheartedly agree upon the decision!
I think if you come from tough old pioneer stock, it really helps! It's not for
the prissy or the faint at heart! I'd recommend for a true test that you come during the hottest part of the year as a viable
test....August/September/first 2 weeks in October.
If La Paz is the right place for you, it'll speak to you loud & clear & you'll be hooked!
There is a LOT of information about different areas that you can research on the internet. This inquiry is a good start, but I recommend you research
the hell out of many areas before you narrow your choices down. You should come up with a personal list of "must-haves", "would be nice" &
"definitely want to avoid" (medical/proximity to airport/availability of imported food you may or may not prefer, etc., etc.) And keep asking
questions!
Alan - 3-6-2008 at 07:56 PM
Just for orientation, La Ventana is south of La Paz if you consider its position on the coast of the Sea of Cortez but in reality it is more like due
east.
Diver - 3-6-2008 at 08:21 PM
La Ventana is a beautiful beach town that is quickly turning into the next Barilles. Tons of gringo houses going up all over the place. Nice place
though.
thanks
gailtoo - 3-6-2008 at 08:50 PM
Thanks everyone! What a friendly group of people at this forum. I appreciate your replies very much.
bajalera - 3-6-2008 at 09:20 PM
A cool [relatively, that is] breeze called a "coromuel" usually sweeps in off the Pacific on most afternoons in summer, and that makes La Paz a bit
more pleasant than places on the Gulf Coast, which don't seem to get this kind of relief.
vacaenbaja - 3-6-2008 at 09:52 PM
My Tia, R.I.P. Born and raised in the Real Santa Ana used to say she could not handel the "Lumbre de La Paz"
That is to say the "flames of La Paz" It does get hot.
Of course where she had her ranch in San Antonio de la Sierra it was much cooler so she was not really "used to it "
There is a nice wind that sometimes cools the city in the afternoon. But just like Vegas if you have climate control it is
a great place. Ah La Paz.... The port of illusion.