BajaNomad

Last Minute Trip!!! Suggestions????

Wander - 1-11-2009 at 11:57 AM

Hi All,

We decided to take a last minute trip. My Family and I are flying from Detroit to LAX and renting a motor home for a couple weeks. Part of our trip will be our first exploration of Baja. Seeing that we are leaving soon, I don't have the usual amount of time to prepare for the trip. Any suggestions? We have two young children 3 and 6. We are up for some beach camping and resort camping is fine as well. We will most likely be there from a Friday to Monday. Any highlights, campgrounds, and/or beach suggestions would be appreciated. Also, any suggested itinerary would also be helpful. Thanks for the help and look forward to posting our experiences when we get back.

Timo1 - 1-11-2009 at 12:00 PM

Wow....4 days isn't much time
You might consider San Felipe

woody with a view - 1-11-2009 at 12:01 PM

if you're into driving i'd head for ojo de liebre lagoon and set up camp and take the kids to meet a gray whale, up close and personal.

Packoderm - 1-11-2009 at 12:12 PM

Just like Timo says, I'd head to San Felipe and maybe go to Punta Estrella.

Barry A. - 1-11-2009 at 12:12 PM

I'm with TIMO-----------4 days is just too short---------San Felipe is your best bet--------day driving each way and two full days on the beach, tho with the extreme tides the water is not always "right there" next to the beach. San Felipe, on the Gulf, will give you a good "taste" of Mexico, and you can plan from there for future Baja adventures, should you decide to do that.

Make sure you "clear" the taking the rental motor home to Mexico with the owners-------they may prohibit it.

Barry

Bajahowodd - 1-11-2009 at 12:25 PM

Wander- What is not known, is what else you are intending to do with your "couple of weeks". The guys recommending San Felipe are correct, if you aren't prepared to add perhaps one extra day. However, coming from Michigan, your first exploration of Baja, at this time of year, I gotta agree with Woody, if you can put a little more time into it. up close and personal with the grey whales is an experience of a lifetime. San Felipe, not so much.

Wander - 1-11-2009 at 01:02 PM

Thanks for the help on the rental... It is all approved.

A couple more days is not out of the question (we have 14 days)... The only real problem we have is that I need to be in contact with employees back home. I am sure cell coverage is spotty but if it is better then I think we could spend a lot more time!

[Edited on 1-11-2009 by Wander]

woody with a view - 1-11-2009 at 01:21 PM

look at a map. every town along the hiway1 has cell coverage. they even have internet cafes.

Bajahowodd - 1-11-2009 at 01:40 PM

I agree. And while camping by the whales, coverage should be superb. There's only a stretch between El Rosario and Guerrero Negro, much of it off the grid, where you be lacking. But, basically, it will be travel time and just a few hours. So, unless you're on-call 24/7, don't give it a second thought.

Paulina - 1-11-2009 at 01:43 PM

Here's my two peso suggestion;

Day one, cross into TJ at the San Ysidro border. Stick to the right and go into the declaration lane. Park there and get your tourist visas, pay there at the bank window, exchange dollars for pesos, go back to the immigracion office get your final visa stamp and be on your way.

As you pull out of the secondary parking area you will be asked to push a button. If you get the red light they may want to inspect you, no problems.

Exit the area and stick to your right as you go up and over the bridge. You'll want to merge into your far right lane at the top of the bridge and take the narrow bridge/ramp that exits to the border road.

The border road will take you to the toll road.

In Ensenada you'll get on Mex. 1 and go south to the La Bufadora turn off. There is a new Calimax market there. Take that road about 8 mi. to La Jolla Beach Camp. Electricity is available for a small extra fee. Bring an extension cord. At low tide you can dig a hot tub in the sand as natural hot springs flow underground. There is a small mini market and restaurant next door at Villarinos.

The next day or two get up early and hit the road about 7am. Head south to Bahia de Los Angeles, stopping for fuel along the way. Our rule is to never let your tank get below half. The turn off to Bahia off of Mex. 1 is about a 7 hr. drive. You'll be stopping along the way so it's not that bad of a drive. Bahia is about a 45 min. drive off of the highway and most beautiful. You can hire a panguero to take you out to see the islands, dolphins, sea lions, etc. There's also a museum and turtle sanctuary to visit.

Depending on the weather (it can be windy) you might want to spend more than one day in Bahia. Fill up with fuel there and head south to Guerreo Negro in the morning. It's about a 2 hr. drive after you reach Mex.1. You may be asked for your tourist visas there. There's an ATM in Guerrero as well as fuel. Head on down from there to San Ignacio, about 90 mi. away and plan to spend a few days there to see the whales. You can do a search on this site for more whale info, places to camp, etc.

Because your time is limited you probably won't go any further south. Never drive at night. Take your time going back north. Rancho Sta. Inez (Ynez) in Catavina is a good place to stop for the night if you're tired. It's safe and they have a small cafe.

As Woody said there are internet cafes along the way. I don't know about the cell phone coverage, but many places have long distance phone service available through satelite connection.

I'm sure with all the suggestions you've been given you'll put together a fun trip for your family.

P<*)))>{

[Edited on 11-1-2009 by Paulina]

Bajahowodd - 1-11-2009 at 03:18 PM

That's a great itinerary, Paulina. However, it appears that if Wander only stayed a single night at your suggestions, it would use five days of his trip. we don't know what non-Baja plans he has. I would say this- If Wander finds any places he likes and wishes to stay more than one night, He can still do the whales at Guerrero Negro and save the traveling time to San Ignacio. Don't get me wrong. My fave for the whales is San Ignacio. It's just several hours more highway travel, plus three times as long on a dirt road.

And, if Wander does wish to go to San Ignacio, there may be no need to stop in Guerrero Negro at all. He could get gas and find an ATM at Vizcaino, forty minutes down the road. Plus, to use the ATM in Guerrero Negro, one must drive way off the main highway. In Vizcaino, it's on the highway across from the Pemex.

Wander - 1-11-2009 at 05:34 PM

Thanks for the help... I am so glad I came across this website with such great people. Any suggestions for campgrounds?

Paulina - 1-11-2009 at 06:18 PM

Bajahowodd,

One day would be too short, you're right. I was figuring on two to three days at each spot on the way down. They could take their time coming back, maybe explore the cave painting at Catavina, check out Jardines in San Q. or revisit the spots they stopped at before.

Haven't been to Vizcaino since last summer and that was just a drive through, so I was not aware of an ATM there. Good to know.

He would almost have enough time to do the whales in both Guerrero and San Ignacio if he wanted to. S.I. is so beautiful, to me it's worth the short drive just to see the lagoon, palms and the town square and mission, even if they don't see the whales from there.

P<*)))>{

[Edited on 12-1-2009 by Paulina]

Bajaboy - 1-11-2009 at 06:51 PM

Let me throw in one more curve ball for the equation. I would have two plans based on the weather conditions. If a high pressure is sitting on the west coast, such as now, I would avoid San Felipe as the winds will be fierce.

Note to Paulina, there are two ATMs in Vizcaino....one at the bank and another at the south end of town in a white building (ask a local for directions).


Zac

Bajahowodd - 1-11-2009 at 07:10 PM

Please!!! Let's be serious. someone's first trip to baja..... you'all want San Felipe to be the only impression? San Felipe is fun. I enjoy it. but it only scratches the surface of what is the Baja.

( Is it "The" Baja? Or just Baja? Always cringed when I heard people say 'The' Ukraine. wrong. it's just Ukraine. It's The United States, The United Kingdom. But it's not The Canada, or the Australia. So maybe, it's not the Baja......

DENNIS - 1-11-2009 at 07:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd

( Is it "The" Baja? Or just Baja? Always cringed when I heard people say 'The' Ukraine. wrong. it's just Ukraine. It's The United States, The United Kingdom. But it's not The Canada, or the Australia. So maybe, it's not the Baja......


AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH NO. NOT AGAIN. Pleeeeeeeze say it ain't so. We can't possibly survive another round of Baja/The Baja. Oh gawd...I need my meds. All of 'em.

David K - 1-11-2009 at 07:21 PM

Where The Heck is The Baja?

(from Jimmy Smith's book):

The Baja Map-r.JPG - 23kB

Bajahowodd - 1-11-2009 at 07:56 PM

Sorry guys. I'm relatively new here. And Bajaboy, are you referring to the new Pemex at the south end of town?

DianaT - 1-11-2009 at 08:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Sorry guys. I'm relatively new here. And Bajaboy, are you referring to the new Pemex at the south end of town?


The easiest ATM to find in Vizcaino is the Bancomer Bank across the street from the older Pemex located on the north end of town.

We have found it shut down only once and that was only for an hour or so.

Diane

Mango - 1-11-2009 at 10:00 PM

David K..I'm sooooO glad you got the "THE" in there..

Have a good one everyone..

When in doubt, head south!

Bajaboy - 1-11-2009 at 10:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jdtrotter
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Sorry guys. I'm relatively new here. And Bajaboy, are you referring to the new Pemex at the south end of town?


The easiest ATM to find in Vizcaino is the Bancomer Bank across the street from the older Pemex located on the north end of town.

We have found it shut down only once and that was only for an hour or so.

Diane


Yes, Diane is correct about the Bancomer ATM. But if that one is not working, ask for the second one south on Hwy 1. I have not used it personally but a good source told me about it.

Zac

BAJACAT - 1-11-2009 at 10:08 PM

Bahia Concepcion and Mulege thats all you need Wander,its a little bit more south, but worth the trip.

Bajahowodd - 1-11-2009 at 11:21 PM

So Wander, have we managed to totally confuse you? It's all about the fact that the folks on this board love Baja. Some share favorites; others are staunchly territorial. Bottom line is that you really can't go wrong wherever you travel in Baja. Perhaps you ought to check out some travel web sites to see opinions and reviews of some of the places that have been recommended here by us nomads. Just have a great time.

BAJACAT - 1-11-2009 at 11:43 PM

No need todo that Bajahowodd, just check the trip reports section and thats all the information Wanders needs.

Wander - 2-4-2009 at 07:00 AM

We have returned... Mexico was the highlight of our trip. We rode down the coast to Ensenada then headed over to San Felipe. We loved San Felipe. It was warm enough to swim and kick back and relax. I must say that I thought we did something wrong when we crossed the border. We did not even have to stop. Not so lucky on the way back. We wished that we had allowed more time to explore Baja further. Thanks for all the help!!! We look forward to returning!

k-rico - 2-4-2009 at 07:19 AM

That must have been a good trip. The drive across the peninsula from Ensenada to San Felipe is a good one because it does give you a taste of unpopulated Baja and it's very scenic.

Good wandering.

Next time, Bahia Concepcion, a bit south of Mulege! (but not in the summer). Two day drive from the border.

Timo1 - 2-4-2009 at 09:38 AM

For anyone looking for the second ATM in Vizcaino
Its a free standing machine in a small white building
Its about the last building on the right hand side when headed south
Located in front of a large fenced in area
We had to find it one day when the bank's ATM was down

David K - 2-4-2009 at 10:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wander
We have returned... Mexico was the highlight of our trip. We rode down the coast to Ensenada then headed over to San Felipe. We loved San Felipe. It was warm enough to swim and kick back and relax. I must say that I thought we did something wrong when we crossed the border. We did not even have to stop. Not so lucky on the way back. We wished that we had allowed more time to explore Baja further. Thanks for all the help!!! We look forward to returning!


If you are up to it, please use the TRIP REPORTS forum here on Nomad and give us the details of your trip... why you liked Mexico... what you saw... where in San Felipe you stayed or had fun... Have photos?

Thanks!