BajaNomad - The End of Ensenada Blanca

The End of Ensenada Blanca

Bielefeld - 9-17-2008 at 04:23 AM

I just recieved the news from a friend who passed by and had a look from the mountains above: the earthmoving equipment that was parked at the entrance of the beach is in use to build the foundation of the 5 story hotel in Ensenada Blanca. :no:

They apparently are bulldozing on the beach and in the bushes in between the 2 arroyos.

I have been told, that both the hotel and the retreat center have been sold to the developers.

So, for everybody who has been camping here since years....this is the end for us at this special beach!!! :fire:

CaboRon - 9-17-2008 at 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bielefeld
I just recieved the news from a friend who passed by and had a look from the mountains above: the earthmoving equipment that was parked at the entrance of the beach is in use to build the foundation of the 5 story hotel in Ensenada Blanca. :no:

Where is Ensanada Blanca ?

.... it must be in the northern state ....

CaboRon

bajajudy - 9-17-2008 at 06:27 AM

More sad news. That is a beautiful place.
Never stayed at the hotel but met the owners and got a tour.
Did stay at the retreat with Denise and Bill.
Did camp there as well

:no:

No Ron it is in BCS near Ligui.

Sunman - 9-17-2008 at 07:37 AM

What a shame. What a special place.

flyfishinPam - 9-17-2008 at 08:31 AM

it is true. Villas Group is the developer. bulldozing the beach and the plants! do you have any idea what the former hotel owners had to go through to construct their modest, environmentally friendly structures complete with composting toilets? what a joke the marine park is, and totally against their rules :fire:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

oh and I ought to photograph what Loreto Bay is doing with those canals! ugly as hell and will citigroup be able to finish it or will it be another unfinished eyesore in the Baja? kinda logical question given this weeks developments in the financial markets. :barf:

vandenberg - 9-17-2008 at 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by flyfishinPam

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

oh and I ought to photograph what Loreto Bay is doing with those canals! ugly as hell and will citigroup be able to finish it or will it be another unfinished eyesore in the Baja?

Pam,
You're just jealous that you don't get to live on a canal with your own canoe. :biggrin:

David K - 9-17-2008 at 08:40 AM

The good old days...

We used to camp on the shore of the bay at Puerto Escondido along with others back in the 70's... Then they closed it off to everyone and turned it into the ugly mess that never got finished.. progress?

Here is a photo I took of Ensenada Blanca in Dec. 2001, from the beach there.

Did they move out all the local families?

CaboRon, it is at the bottom of the big grade of Hwy. 1, south of Loreto, where the highway leaves the coast to go to Insurgentes and Constitucion... Exit at Ligui and take a right in a few hundred meters east of the highway. Baja's third oldest mission was near that right turn.

vandenberg - 9-17-2008 at 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
The good old days...

We used to camp on the shore of the bay at Puerto Escondido along with others back in the 70's... Then they closed it off to everyone and turned it into the ugly mess that never got finished.. progress?

Of course progress.
Escalera Nautica now, remember. :no:

CaboRon - 9-17-2008 at 09:28 AM

Thanks David K,

I have driven by there and it is indeed a beautiful bay.

CaboRon

Crusoe - 9-17-2008 at 09:57 AM

Bielefeld, For us water people, kayackers/sailors and beach lovers, this is nothing short of an environmentel tradgety. Geographicaly the way the bay in Ensenada Blanca is oriented, it affords us maximum protection from the severe winter Northerlies that roar down the Sea of Cortes mostly in the winter time months. And a good huricane hole in the summer time.But saddest of all is the destruction of the fishing village there. It was one of the oldest in Baja. Because of a steady and reliable water source behind the village in the surrounding mountains, it supported a nice refuge for generations of small familys, and an authtentic lifestyle for people who were self sufficient. Do you know how close they are buldozing to the north towards Ligui? You are absolutlely correct Pam. The Marine Park is nothing short of a big joke!!!!! So Sorry. ++C++

flyfishinPam - 9-17-2008 at 10:01 AM

actualy most of EB faces dead on Norte and is fully exposed to north winds. I haven't been there in about one year so not sure about the village. I do know one thing, that the developers were very intent on getting rid of it when acquiring the land and putting my friends (the former hotel owners) through hell.

Crusoe - 9-17-2008 at 10:19 AM

Pam.. You are correct about the exposure, however you can get close enough at the N.W. end of the bay and behind the bluff to get out of severe weather. I have had to do it more than once. ++C++ :yes:

flyfishinPam - 9-17-2008 at 10:50 AM

yes and I think that's where they're going to build their marina

stimbo - 9-17-2008 at 11:33 AM

Pam, that is sad news indeed. Sorry.... Here are a few photos from Ensenada Blanca this past April. It was a fantastic place to camp. The Sea of Cortez and Baja will lose a gem.

Bielefeld - 9-18-2008 at 02:12 AM

From what I heard, the fishing village is not affected from the development, yet. They are building in the middle of the the bay, in the bushes behind the beach.

The village is at the west end of the bay. The new road, that is supposed to be build, should lead right though the village. I wonder how the hotel guest would take that. So I fear for the houses of the fishermen as well.

I was told by one of the guards, that he is afraid of violance from the many weekend visitors from Ciudad Constitution. They see this beach as their weekend- getaway. And in the last years, an average of about 6- 10 familys were camping eyery weekend.

And on Semana Santa, the Easter week, about 5.000 people visit the bay!!! The beach is solid with cars then. The Villas Group tried to block them 2 years ago. They nearly had riots then. In the end the police kept the beach open for the people. Let's see how Semana Santa is with a five star hotel behind the beach. The 5000 people could all use the bathrooms from the hotel. Hey, maybe the hotel is an improvement..... :lol:

vandenberg - 9-18-2008 at 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by flyfishinPam
putting my friends (the former hotel owners) through hell.

Pam,
If the reports about the dollar amount they received for the property and the "motel 6" with a view is anywhere near true, lots of volunteers for this hell.

[Edited on 9-18-2008 by vandenberg]

Crusoe - 9-18-2008 at 08:51 AM

Very nice pictures Stimbo, Thank You. Those N.F. VW-25 tents will certainly stand up to just any amount of wind The Sea of Cortez will dish out. Great choice.....So.... does anyone have any idea where all the sewage from a 5 story hotel will end up when it is up and running? Has anyone heard of any plans for a treatment plant, or will it all get pumped back into the bay? ++C++

bajabeachbabe - 9-18-2008 at 10:27 AM

Here is the link to the Villa Group press release about the construction. Looks like the timeshare part will be done first before the hotel. Can't wait to have the timeshare land sharks at the Loreto airport and on every street corner in town. :fire:

They are also building a hotel in the town of Loreto - hotel Santa Fe.

http://www.villagroupresorts.com/press-room/loreto

The last time we were in Loreto we made a special trip to Ensenada Blanca to have one last look at it before it was ruined. Apparently Villa Group plans to use Danzante Resort as a training center for the employees they hire for the new development. I read that they are offering jobs and training to the Ligui residents. I wonder if they will offer them "relocation" as the road to the resort goes right through the village.

gnukid - 9-18-2008 at 11:08 AM

Is this it... (in 2005)

CaboRon - 9-18-2008 at 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Crusoe
Very nice pictures Stimbo, Thank You. Those N.F. VW-25 tents will certainly stand up to just any amount of wind The Sea of Cortez will dish out. Great choice.....So.... does anyone have any idea where all the sewage from a 5 story hotel will end up when it is up and running? Has anyone heard of any plans for a treatment plant, or will it all get pumped back into the bay? ++C++

Maybe they will do what Todos Santos does....

Dig a big pond on the dunes and just pump the sewage into it :lol:

Oh yea, open and exposed too ....

Sure smells nice :lol:

CaboRon

Skeet/Loreto - 9-18-2008 at 03:37 PM

I can only Cry!

With Tears in my eyes and aches in my Heart I think of the many times Tio Don O'Niel and I stood waist deep casting and catching 40 lb Dorado right in the middle of The Bay.

Again, as when Loreto Bay Villages was announced"Where will the Water come From????

Oh Well "let the Buyer Beware"

Skeet/Loreto

elizabeth - 9-26-2008 at 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabeachbabe
Here is the link to the Villa Group press release about the construction. Looks like the timeshare part will be done first before the hotel. Can't wait to have the timeshare land sharks at the Loreto airport and on every street corner in town. :fire:

They are also building a hotel in the town of Loreto - hotel Santa Fe.

Here's a heads up...You don't have to wait anymore. I have been accosted at the airport coming in, in both August and September, and on the street in Loreto in August, I avoided their downtown spot in September. Fortunately, it looks as if there are only 2 people involved. The in-town desk is a table out in front of the Posada de las Flores. At the airport they get you when you rent a car...the salesperson follows you and the rental car person out to the car as if they work for the company. Only after the rental person leaves, do they work you. I was offered $100 off my rental car, and the guy in town offered a free two tank dive when I said I couldn't possibly go look at their project because I would be diving every morning, which was news to the dive shop owner since he never made any agreement with them. I declined each offer, and tried to be polite, but they are very persistent, and I fear that I ended up being a little rude, offering my ideas of what I thought of the the development. Even then, the pitch is, come out and see! When you tell them that you already have a place in town, they tell you they are targeting residents because residents will suggest purchase to their friends, or buy as an investment. There is an answer to every objection you have...you just have to say good-bye, and no thanks. Not too hard to do with only two salespeople in town...this is still nowhere remotely like other places with time shares...just be firm with your no.

Don Alley - 9-26-2008 at 04:44 PM

I'll go look, if the timeshare guys can get me some of that Salvia divinorum to toke on.

:lol:

Work for the locals

ligui - 9-28-2008 at 07:24 AM

Good morning everyone , Wish that villa group had never found this wonderful place.

I have land very close to this delvp. and know that they will change the area forever . I have friends in the village, i call them my family, they are happy that there will now be work and that they can feed their family properly , maybe some new clothes and fix up the house .

As everyone knows tobe a fisherman in a marine park can be very difficult . Their children have been studying english with hopes of someday finding a good job in the tourist field .

The road to villa group will not go though the central part of the village , it will follow the edge of the vardo to the south. Might have to Buy out one or two families for the road.Believe me they know who they are and are going to ask for a pretty price .

The world is changing fast and we don't have to like it, but to the people of ensenada blanca this is their chance to have more for the future to take better care of their famiies .

We can all sit back in our homes and enjoy the moden things that make life easier and judge others for wanting a little of what we already have .

I hope and pray that this will be a good thing for my friends .

ligui

Skeet/Loreto - 9-28-2008 at 07:47 AM

Ligui: Very well said: I hope the people improve their Lot as they did when Angus spent all the time and Money to bring in the Good Water from the Well in the Mountains.

I resided in San Nicholas for several years and agree that improvement in any area of Poverty can and should help those in need.

It is just that the Greed on part of the Developers controls their treatment of those less fortunate.

Wonder where they will get the Water? Is this type of Pre selling TimesShare thing just another "Scam' as it has been in the States??? Get the Money then Run!

I wish you well.

Skeet

ligui - 9-28-2008 at 08:31 AM

Hello Skeet , thanks , i don't think they are going to cut and run , they are too big and have alot of very large properties thru out mexico in some expensive areas.

They bought out Danzante resort and the other small resort for what i was told by the realitor was in the millions ... :?:

Augus was a good man , and helped out the people that he lived with.

Hope other will see the light .

I wil heading down to home in late oct. will give an update on how everyone is doing.

Skeet/Loreto - 9-28-2008 at 11:52 AM

I shall hope that it does become something with Class instead of what has been produced at Loreto Bay Villages.

I will be down next week and will take some Photos and talk to my old Friends. Will do the same at San Nicholas/ Constitution. .

It may be with this "meltdown" that some of that money will go away both in the States and mexico. Time will Tell.

Where's the Water??? I have to admit that I have seen and counted at least 35 Waterfalls coming down off of the Mountains to the East
after a Good Rain.

Where is Fraser co.??

ligui - 9-28-2008 at 12:54 PM

Skeet Fraser is next to winter park ,co . large ski about 70 miles west of denver. Moved here 30 years ago from minnesota .

What i know of the water is that the well will be on the same property as the well for ligui , it is privately owned by a local rancher , i'm no water expert but i believe they are tapping in on the large aquifers that cover most of the baja. I have found some wells in the area , pipe out of the ground , dropped a rock and waited heard water splash after awhile . One day sitting by the well, needed to get off the beach ,windy, a group of students came to the well they were doing a study for the areas water supply .

Group of friends and i climbed 7 hours up into the mountains across from puerto esconidido , was very hard , but found a waterfall coming out of the side of the mountain pouring in to a large pond ,then back into the mountain not to be seen again .it was alot of water and coming from so high up the mountain . Makes one wonder how much there is .

hate to see it can and be wasted in a bad way .

looking forward to seeing some photos and more info , thanks ligui

Julie - 9-28-2008 at 02:25 PM

The time share group is currently in front of Las Flores but they are renovating the little house just across from Cafe Ole. That will be their headquarters. They have harassed several of our guests out at the airport, representing themselves as the tourism board of Loreto and finding out where they are staying. The Iguana Inn policy is they are not allowed onto the property, we have had to escort them to the curb several times. They now know they are not allowed to enter the hotel grounds and they did respect that. We have been closed for a few weeks so we will see if they honor it when we reopen.

Crusoe - 9-28-2008 at 04:12 PM

Ligui..... I too have hiked and explored alot of the rugged terrain in the mountains west of Ensenada Blanca before there were many gringos around,or any Eco This or Eco That, and spent time with Angus.His great ("Super Bowl Parties etc.) were always a social highlight. However great you may think that kind of development shall benefit the locals you must realiize one thing. You are dead wrong!!! Where will the sewage of 5000 new people end up?The area cannot support the size of development currently proposed, and you know it.They survived for years and years and still could,Marine Park or no Marine Park.Broaden your horizons my friend, and go look at some of Villas Groups completed disasters. Maybe you can recall what the old Loveland Pass route into Denver was like 40 years ago before the great Eisenhouer tunnel was contructed that completely spoiled all the nice alpine charm of the old areas of A- Basin, Dillon, Breckenridge,Alma and not to mention Vail. Hordes of traffic snarles now. I hope they are never able to complete their project.As the old saying goes " You don't no what youve got until its gone!" Just my 2- cents. ++C++

ligui - 9-29-2008 at 06:34 AM

Hi Crusoe , yes they are building a large place , but i hardly think 5000 people will be there all together at any given time . I don't think there will be 5000 people there ever .

My horizons have included living for years in countries all over the world, thailand, colombia, saudi arabia , mexico ,india , etc. I have seen poor people strugle to make ends meet about everywhere. My parents were international teachers,so we aren't rich and too have to make ends meet .

You say how they have surived for years , great to live a small shack when the rest of the world have good medical, higher education , and jobs.
Might seen nice when you are vacation to sit around and look at the water .
But its hard to eat sand.
Next time you are in ligui , ask around how they feel .

By the way if you read my 1 st post i said i wish they ' villa group ' had never fond this place. They have and things will move forward . I was trying to remember my friends needs for their famialies.

Ever live in calf. when there is a sewage problem on the coast ?

I hope they will engineer a system that will keep things good , who knows,

You speak of the mountain passes in colorado and how they have changed , no one likes it but welcome to life .

Maybe you should open your mind alittle and try to help with some possitive in put , we all know what happens with population growth .

Ligui

Skeet/Loreto - 9-29-2008 at 07:17 AM

Ligui:
Not all Mexicano People want everything that Americans or Canadains Have.

When I first went to Baja the people were very happy and satisfied with what they had. Then along came TV, The Raod, The Culture of the States and things changed.

We cannot change the World to our own Image.

elizabeth - 9-29-2008 at 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ligui
Good morning everyone , Wish that villa group had never found this wonderful place.

I have land very close to this delvp. and know that they will change the area forever . I have friends in the village, i call them my family, they are happy that there will now be work and that they can feed their family properly , maybe some new clothes and fix up the house .

As everyone knows tobe a fisherman in a marine park can be very difficult . Their children have been studying english with hopes of someday finding a good job in the tourist field .

The road to villa group will not go though the central part of the village , it will follow the edge of the vardo to the south. Might have to Buy out one or two families for the road.Believe me they know who they are and are going to ask for a pretty price .

The world is changing fast and we don't have to like it, but to the people of ensenada blanca this is their chance to have more for the future to take better care of their famiies .

We can all sit back in our homes and enjoy the moden things that make life easier and judge others for wanting a little of what we already have .

I hope and pray that this will be a good thing for my friends .

ligui

I'm certainly not surprised that local families are anticipating jobs, but how do those families know that there will be work for them? I wouldn't be counting on work until I saw it. My guess is that there will be very little work for local people...that the Villas group will bring in their own construction workers thereby disrupting the village in addition to not providing jobs. Even if construction jobs become available, they will ultimately end. The jobs left for those in the village will most likely be the lowest paid service jobs, Villas group will likely transfer the people with the highest paid service jobs from their other resorts who they have already trained, and the profits from the development will leave the country instead of providing for some infrastructure development for the village. Not an uncommon practice for companies owning multiple resorts.

Again...what is their water and sewage plan? Water is a finite resource. The water there is not isolated from the regional acquifer.

The web site for Villas Group, and press releases advertise the ultimate buildout of 2,200 rooms. That's a lot of people, using water and creating sewage, even if there is less than full occupancy.

A surprising promise from the developer: "The property is situated in a secluded bay, where only hotel guests and owners will have access to the 3 miles of the secluded white sandy beach, located just 20 minutes from the international airport of Loreto, Baja Sur, Mexico." I thought that in México, if you could get to the beach you had the right to use it.

Bottom line is that when large resorts move into areas of small to medium sized villages/towns, they rarely provide a net benefit to the community.

backninedan - 9-29-2008 at 09:50 AM

Does "Loreto Bay" ring a bell?

bajabeachbabe - 9-29-2008 at 01:51 PM

From El Sudcaliforniano - July 29 - translated sortof

Loreto, Baja California Sur .- Villa Group announced yesterday that in recent days has acquired four new properties in the area of Ensenada Blanca beach, thus ensuring the future success of the project for the area.

In this regard Mario Cortes, director of the group Villa in Loreto, reported that these four acquisitions covering a total of just over nine hectares, of which three are facing the sea.

He noted that for Villa Group is very important to highlight its growing commitment to supporting economic growth and social development of the municipality of Loreto, and especially the families of the towns of Ensenada Blanca and Ligüi , who were big afford job opportunities and ongoing training at a high level.

Mario Cortes also stressed that the sites are: Vista Danzante (includes beach and hotel of the same name), and Casa de Playa y Santuario.

He reiterated that from already made a complete refurbishment of the hotel Danzante, where he will open a job training center, adding that this is a further demonstration of the confidence of Villa Group to the future of tourism in Loreto, leaving behind some situations such as The economic slowdown in the United States

Crusoe - 9-29-2008 at 02:41 PM

Hi Ligui, Got your knickers in a twist? Sorry, did not mean to offend you....But....as of last Feb 9th it sounded as if you were selling a piece of beach front property in E.B. for $725k u.s., that you bought off your very dear old sand eating,schack dweller friends in the Eijdo. Did you sell to the Villas Group per chance? How much did you pay for this property? How long did you own it? Did you return any of the mega profit you made, back to the Eijido? Just curious. Please ansewer the questions honestly. Thanx ++C+

ligui - 9-29-2008 at 03:43 PM

Hi crusoe , No sale and no knickers , and no sand dwellers in the Eijdo .

The Eijdo isn't the people in the village of ligui . They are from santo domingo on the other coast . There are a couple of families in the village from the eijdo , but most are from the villlage santo domingo. Had a great time 12 years ago meeting them all and working with them on there plans to put much of their land up for sale .

ps . not offended in any way , great to have some feed back

Crusoe , if a sale of the property we speak of ever happens more will stay in the village with the people then would have if we never helped our friends get control of it . It's not my property . Only helping marketing .

I could let you know more ,as i have nothing to hide , again not my land .

If you would like to make an offer , lets sit down with eveyone involoved and they can tell you the story from the start , i'll buy the drinks ,can't afford your dinner though , i'm a house painter and have to pay my taxes.

I love Ligui because i love the friendship of the people , they are my family in mexico . When one says mi casa su casa , we are family.

Many years together fishing and diving ,shareing , and morning with some nescafe' coffee ,no more to be said unless you were there .

Thanks for the input .. Got baja !!!! until next post .. ligui

elizabeth - 9-29-2008 at 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabeachbabe
From El Sudcaliforniano - July 29 - translated sortof

Loreto, Baja California Sur .- Villa Group announced yesterday that in recent days has acquired four new properties in the area of Ensenada Blanca beach, thus ensuring the future success of the project for the area.

In this regard Mario Cortes, director of the group Villa in Loreto, reported that these four acquisitions covering a total of just over nine hectares, of which three are facing the sea.

He noted that for Villa Group is very important to highlight its growing commitment to supporting economic growth and social development of the municipality of Loreto, and especially the families of the towns of Ensenada Blanca and Ligüi , who were big afford job opportunities and ongoing training at a high level.

Mario Cortes also stressed that the sites are: Vista Danzante (includes beach and hotel of the same name), and Casa de Playa y Santuario.

He reiterated that from already made a complete refurbishment of the hotel Danzante, where he will open a job training center, adding that this is a further demonstration of the confidence of Villa Group to the future of tourism in Loreto, leaving behind some situations such as The economic slowdown in the United States

Excuse me if I'm skeptical, but I remember a lot of Loreto Bay promises that seem to have turned to dust. I am very curious to know what they mean by a growing "commitment to supporting economic growth and social development of the municipality of Loreto, and especially the families of the towns of Ensenada Blanca and Ligüi." Just what do they specifically plan to do? What do they mean by "social development of the municipality of Loreto"? They talk about training workers...what are the specific training skills...and how many local workers are they committing to hire? Without the specifics, their words are meaningless. I like the idea of rehabbing the "Hotel Danzante" and creating a training center. Is that where they train the time share salespeople to harass people at the airport and in Loreto?

woody with a view - 9-29-2008 at 07:03 PM

just a thought.

do the workers they hire have to speak english as part of the hiring process? or do they just want to train groundskeepers and maids?