BajaNomad - Playa Balandra

Playa Balandra

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 07:48 AM

I am soooo longing for a trip to Baja Sur that I tapped my memory (and a few photos from last May) and today I'm taking a trip to Playa Balandra. If you're interested, please join me.

We go fast on the drive out of La Paz, whizzing past marinas and fancy hotels all the way to that right turn that leads to the beaches - Balandra and Tecolote.

I'm always pleased when next we turn left, choosing sweet Playa Balandra.

Nena

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 07:52 AM

This little playa is most beautiful. After walking the white sand beach, I climbed the hill to take a few photos from above.

Nena

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 07:58 AM

The water there always looks like it's been airbrushed.

Here's the rock formation for which Balandra is famous. (the little one looking like an exploding volcano next to the large rock outcropping) The 'stem' of this formation has been broken by storms or vandals in the past, but it seems the folks of La Paz are still putting it back together. Today it has an iron rod inserted to help hold top and bottom together.... I think. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Nena

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 08:02 AM

The water seen from above has a particular color which I find mesmerizing, from it's depths near the sea to the pale green layer which washes over the sand.

Nena

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 08:04 AM

When the temps are way up there, this is my favorite way to cool off. Great way to spend the rest of the day.

Nena

durrelllrobert - 10-16-2008 at 08:25 AM

great photos. is this part of bahia de conception?

tripledigitken - 10-16-2008 at 08:37 AM

Nena,

Thanks for the day trip out to Balandra! Beautiful pictures all.

Ken

fdt - 10-16-2008 at 08:38 AM

Thanks Natalie Ann. Just beautiful.

Playa Balandra

BMG - 10-16-2008 at 08:41 AM

Nov 1, 2007

Playa_Balandra_Nov1_2007.jpg - 26kB

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 08:53 AM

durrelllrobert - Playa Balandra is near La Paz.... out the road toward Pichulingue. (I'm always so turned around directionally in La Paz that I cannot tell you whether that's north, south or west.)

BMG - We took a drive up that way, couldn't believe the construction going on atop that rise. Cute little casas, too, just like the one in your picture. :rolleyes:

Nena

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7
Beautiful shots, Nena! Are you sure you don't want to come down around the holidays?
Bob D, Balandra is on the Bahia de La Paz, north of the city toward Espiritu Santo.

Kate

La Paz for the holidays.... ok Kate, you've convinced me. :biggrin:

Can we roast the holiday bird in your oven, or should we just take PJB sandwiches to the beach? :dudette:

And thank you for getting straight on the directions. When in La Paz, I always just point and say "go that way". :rolleyes:

Nena

BMG - 10-16-2008 at 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Natalie Ann
BMG - We took a drive up that way, couldn't believe the construction going on atop that rise. Cute little casas, too, just like the one in your picture. :rolleyes:

Nena

Fortunately, the buildings on Playa Balandra are gone. They were built for a movie (Zohan something-or-other). They were there in October and gone by November.

This is where the buildings were built.

Playa_Blandara_Dec_1_2007.JPG - 31kB

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 09:20 AM

BMG.... I've been informed by a friend that I'm confused about the structure in your picture, that it is not a part of the - ahem - housing development and was instead a part of a movie scene filmed at Balandra.

Hmmmm..... I need to go back and look at the photos I took while driving the hills above that area, see if I have one decent enough to share.

Nena

(****Edit.... sorry, I cross-posted with you, BMG)

[Edited on 10-16-2008 by Natalie Ann]

BMG - 10-16-2008 at 09:43 AM

So far, Playa Balandra development is being blocked. I was amazed when I saw the movie set out there last year. If you look at the 2nd photo you posted, the set was built just off the paved parking area to the left. The tree in both of my photos is the same tree. I was glad they did such a good clean-up after filming.

Quite a bit of construction going on around Playa Tecolote area. This is part of the Maravia Country Club Estates development.

Maravia_Country_Club_Estates_b_Mar_20_2008.JPG - 34kB

Maravia_Country_Club_Estates_b_Mar_20_2008.JPG - 34kB

Skipjack Joe - 10-16-2008 at 09:55 AM

Nena,

The playa looks like a great place to stalk bonefish. It's hard to guess how deep that sandy shelf may be, though.

Thank you for posting. It's been pretty quiet here since Ken Bondy has stopped diving at Morro Bay. We need more pictures.

[Edited on 10-16-2008 by Skipjack Joe]

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 10:03 AM

BMG - The tree.... oh! now I understand where it was. I can understand your amazement upon seeing it.

And yes, the new building I'm thinking of is going on above Tecolote - just went back to check my pix. I was pretty surprised in not a good way to discover those homes as we drove back on the sand roads. Used to be all we had to do was be careful not to get stuck or break an axel on the way out to Coyote... now even those 'roads' have been widened and graded and have red flag markers to show the big trucks where to drive. Ah, for the good ol' daze.

Nena

[Edited on 10-16-2008 by Natalie Ann]

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
The playa looks like a great place to stalk bonefish. It's hard to guess how deep that sandy shelf may be, though.
[Edited on 10-16-2008 by Skipjack Joe]

The depth of the water there is very shallow in general, and this last May during the full moon it was the most shallow that ever I've experienced it. Only had to swim a little bit in the middle to cross it completely, the rest was could be walked or 'bobbed' across.

See my 5th picture, the one with the kayaks on the beach. Now look out a ways to where the first water color shifts, about 11:30 off the kayaks. Those two marks you see are the two women shown in the last picture I posted. So you can see how extremely shallow the water can be.

Is it good for stalking bonefish? Don't know as I've ever seen anyone there with a fishing pole.... :?:

Nena

Baja&Back - 10-16-2008 at 02:10 PM

Nena:
In your 3rd picture with 2 palapas, swimming or boating around that far point you would find an even more perfect crescent beach with no access except by water. Great nudie beach.

We have walked clear across the bay in the shallows to the beach on the left. The "blue hole" is full of good eatin' fish.

Don't know about bonefish (thot they were Caribbean), but way too many stingrays. 2 friends have been stung there for not walking the "Stingray Shuffle"!

Cypress - 10-16-2008 at 02:32 PM

Baja&Back, Have spent most of my life fishing, wading, swimming, diving among Stingrays. Have never known anyone to get stuck by one of 'em. Your friends must be accident pron.

DianaT - 10-16-2008 at 02:54 PM

Nena,

Those are just great---think I like the third one best. It is about time you get these posted -- been a few months :lol:

And now, where are the rest of the photos from that trip?

Looks like you need to get back down here and sure hope you make it out this way next time. Guest room is empty right now.
:yes:

Diane

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja&Back
Nena:
In your 3rd picture with 2 palapas, swimming or boating around that far point you would find an even more perfect crescent beach with no access except by water. Great nudie beach.

We have walked clear across the bay in the shallows to the beach on the left. The "blue hole" is full of good eatin' fish.

Don't know about bonefish (thot they were Caribbean), but way too many stingrays. 2 friends have been stung there for not walking the "Stingray Shuffle"!

Yep, Baja&Back, been 'round that point many times both neked and clothed. :biggrin:

Sometimes snorkeling is fun on the outer side along the rocks.

Always doin' the shuffle on that beach - never been stung but we've certainly scared up a few of 'em. I find the jellies to be plentiful there, especially in that shallow inner area and near the point. Bees can be a problem along the rock overhangs, too. Gee.... I'm thinking everyone should just stay away for safety's sake... leave it for the me 'n my ilk. :lol:

Nena

Natalie Ann - 10-16-2008 at 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter
Nena,

Those are just great---think I like the third one best. It is about time you get these posted -- been a few months :lol:

And now, where are the rest of the photos from that trip?

Looks like you need to get back down here and sure hope you make it out this way next time. Guest room is empty right now.
:yes:

Diane

Let's see... work on so-so photos or go to Baja :?:

You're convincing, Diane.... what's for dinner Sunday night?
Got a ways to travel, but I think I can be there by then. :lol:

Nena

Baja&Back - 10-16-2008 at 09:34 PM

BTW, Nena, have the locals put El Hongo back upright again? It had been pushed over last winter.

Baja&Back - 10-16-2008 at 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress
Baja&Back, Have spent most of my life fishing, wading, swimming, diving among Stingrays. Have never known anyone to get stuck by one of 'em. Your friends must be accident pron.

Yep. two friends got it at Balandra, and come to think of it, the guy camped next to us at BOLA several years ago.

We had them steep the affected limb in as hot of water as they could stand for 20 minutes. Drew out most of the poison. Anyone know a better treatment??

On that subject, any surefire treatments for Baja jellyfish?? Portuguese Men'o'war or others? :?:

patsydiamo - 10-17-2008 at 02:30 PM

welll, ive always heard you are supposed to pee on the wound....but i have never tried---or seen this done. Myth or truth?

tripledigitken - 10-17-2008 at 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja&Back

Quote:

B and B,

See this http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=17600

Ken

vandenberg - 10-17-2008 at 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by patsydiamo
welll, ive always heard you are supposed to pee on the wound....but i have never tried---or seen this done. Myth or truth?

Tough one for a girl if it's on your shoulder :biggrin:

We've always had either ammonia or vinegar on hand against jelly fish stings.

Natalie Ann - 10-17-2008 at 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja&Back
BTW, Nena, have the locals put El Hongo back upright again? It had been pushed over last winter.

See pix #3 and #5.... it was whole again last May.

Nena

Cap - 10-17-2008 at 08:01 PM

Nenita, Can I come? I promise an interesting view :light:

Natalie Ann - 10-17-2008 at 10:24 PM

Ah dear Cap, I was counting on you.... the most interesting views and the best company - bar none! :spingrin:

Nena

LOSARIPES - 10-18-2008 at 05:00 AM

Caution: Take extra caution when strolling around on shallow, calm, sandy beaches like Balandra. You may step on a manta-ray and get stung. Very painful and poisonous. Generally, the small mantas (6" to 14" wide) will bury themselves just under the sand. You can see their contours and eyes as if drawn on the sand. They quickly sting your ankle as soon as you touch them. Their prong, which they have under the tip of their tail is covered with a fine, clear film which they leave behind inside the wound. This "film" is very poisonous and will require immediate treatment.
So be careful, especially if you are the first one there and nobody has chased them away...

Note: Manta caused infection is so severe, it can last up to 5 days before it starts to recess.

Jack Swords - 10-18-2008 at 12:07 PM

The Balandra "mushroom " has been put back up twice. This last time by Abel Berkovich and a group. Abel owns one of the boatyards and brought in scaffolding, winches, and other equipment to lift up the rock and insert steel rods in the base and then reattached it. It is fiberglass at the base covering the man-made supports.

The sting rays are so common in the Sea that there are many who have been stung. We sail in close to shore and I swim into the beach after anchoring offshore and have been hit twice in the ankle walking up to the dry beach. I bled a lot, waited to die, but nothing more happened. Maybe the bleeding washed out the toxin. One other time I was taking one off a fishhook and he spun around and got my finger, again, just lots of blood. On the Magote, where the fishermen clean their meager catch, there are many carcasses. My wife stepped on an unattached spine and it went into her foot and stayed for a year. The spines (some have 3 or more) are toothed and like a saw blade, going only one direction. I have collected dozens of dried spines from Baja beaches, but these cause only mechanical injury, no poison. I keep several 4 inch ones in my boat for letter openers! The hot water treatment is the one of choice for the toxin.

Jack Swords - 10-18-2008 at 12:16 PM

Here is a Baja Insider write-up with photos on the righting of the mushroom rock.

http://www.bajainsider.com/baja-california-travel/baja-desti...

Packoderm - 10-18-2008 at 12:22 PM

Here are some things I have found:

Natalie Ann - 10-18-2008 at 01:18 PM

Some sting ray stings are worse than others:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=27925

Nena

Steve&Debby - 10-18-2008 at 10:17 PM

How far is Paya Balandra from Santispec? Can you camp there on the beach like Santispec? It sure looks nice.

Bob and Susan - 10-19-2008 at 05:27 AM

6hours

Baja-Brit - 10-23-2008 at 06:46 AM

Here is a video I took in January this year.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HrqO3Nc6uCo

Balandra is amazingly beautiful and unspoilt, save for that ugly cell phone mast they erected ontop of the hill (which is where I was standing when I shot the video).

As previously advised, do wear protective "sea shoes", having stood on a Stingray and being stung I can tell you it really is most unpleasant!

As you were.

PS. Sorry about the advert and for the sound quality, it was rather windy.

[Edited on 23-10-2008 by Baja-Brit]

Natalie Ann - 10-23-2008 at 07:34 AM

Thank you, Jack, for that link to the story about the mushroom rock. Quite interesting how they worked to put that baby back together.... a little bit of technology and a whole lotta man-powered hard work.

Baja-Brit - That's a great video. I've never seen Balandra from the side where you were standing. Of course I know where you were standing.... always think about editing out that cell tower in my shots. My question is... how did you get there?

Steve & Debby - After you drive that 6 hours to Playa Balandra, no you cannot camp there. I believe there might still be camping further down the road at Tecolote.

Nena

Baja-Brit - 10-23-2008 at 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Natalie Ann

My question is... how did you get there?

Natalie Ann, there is a "track" that leads up to the mast up the back side of the hill.

You cannot drive it as there is a locked heavy duty gate at the bottom. The track is there for the telephone companies 4x4's to gain access to the mast.

The track is rough, winding but walkable....and the views are outstanding!

As you were.