San Javier

I've been giving tours to passengers on the Cruise West ship that comes weekly from Cabo San Lucas. Here are some photos of my favorite tour, this time taken just alone with my children:

About halfway up the road to San Javier is the stop at Cuevas Pintas (cave paintings) the pools behind the cave paintings are, to me more of an attraction than the paintings themselves. This is just a few dozen yards from the cave paintings wall on a good trail:



At Rancho Viejo, the ranch that makes my favorite goat cheese- there are various farm animals that my kids love to visit. Pigs, goats, bulls, horses and donkeys and this pair of turkeys that are always seen hanging around:




On the ranch property and across the road and down the hill from the site of ruins of the original San Javier chapel, priest's house and salitta, is where the dam was built (originally by the jesuits) to contain the flowing stream. It has been maintained by the family at Rancho Viejo and the ranch has been family owned for over 150 years:



This is the west entrance of the mission at San Javier as the sun's light is striking on it:



This is the generator that powers the little town at nightfall. Its right across the street from the police station on the main boulevard:



And this is the west side of El Pilon de Las Parras, 2,500 feet high at the top of which can be seen the Sea of Cortez, Magdelena Bay and the Pacific Ocean. I am planning to climb it this spring on a clear day:



I am hoping to find a good access to the old jesuit road so that I can ride my mountain bike up it. I'm afraid to use the main road as the vehicles drive too fast on it.

At this time the road to San Javier is being paved but that is an understatement. It is being rebuilt and they have a long ways to go and a huge job to do. IMHO the road will lose its character after it is paved so I plan to enjoy it as much as possible while its still mostly a dirt road. Usually the road is suitable for just about any vehicle but near the road construction part there will often be difficult access and a loose base that required 4WD last time I visited.

San Javier is the finest, original Jesuit stone mission example in Baja... IMO.

A visit to it is a must!

Here is a photo on the roof from our second trip there, in 1976...

another...

Pam, here is a geology map...




came from this link on the geology of the Loreto basin: http://www.uoregon.edu/~rdorsey/Loreto.html

This was all found by going to the bottom of the Nomad page and using the Google search... 'Loreto geology'

Pam,

Thank you so much for posting your photos. I have been wondering for a very long time what the town of San Javier looks like now. The last time I was there was in 1979. I don't remember very much other than it seemed to take forever getting there up a long and winding dirt road. We stopped the jeep at a place where there were pools of water that we used to rinse the road dirt off of our bodies.

I really want to go back there someday.

Thanks again,
P<*)))>{

View towards the mission in 79:



Our transportation. There were six of us riding in that little jeep:

Paulina - San Javier has not changed much at all and you even less!

Barb and I drove up there in '96 and then on to Comundu. It was a great all day trip with a new discovery around every corner. We had no idea of the condition of the road and if we could make it all the way to the other side. The plant life was spectacular as there had been recent rains. Cactus bulging and ocotillo blooming and big fig trees clinging to rock walls. Have been wanting to get back up there ever since. The first view of San Jose de Comundu from upon high is unforgettable.

Good for the folks who travel the road reguarly that it is being paved.

Pam thanks for posting photos!

July, 1973 SAN JAVIER

I dug out my old photos of our first time up to the mission...









I also have a photo of the alter inside with the four oil paintings... but it isn't very clear... and too dark.

Here is the road log from my first guidebook of the road to San Javier... (what I did at 15, while dad was driving, record mileages and draw maps!)

Another view from the top

I took these photos in 1979/80. As we parked in front of the mission a lady came out of a nearby house and gave us a tour and let us go up to the top- Very serene and peaceful.

The last time we visited San Javier was about 10 years ago in a Dodge mini-van! Certainly not an off road vehicle or a pickup but we were very intrigued and wanted to see it. Our nephew has flown over it many times and has visited it as well and highly recommended we see it. Although he did not recommend the mini-van. With constant road observation and willingness to turn back if necessary, we plodded along. To say the least, it was very rewarding. All these pictures posted causes me to re-think our travel plans for next month as we drive to La Paz. I think a turn towards San Javier is a must again!

the old olive tree

Shari, Casa de Ana is locally owned and operated, by a San Javier family. Because it is tiny and phone connections are touch and go up there and the owners speak only Spanish they have the Oasis hotel in Loreto helping them with reservations, some people don't want to drive up and then find the 2 or 3 rooms are already taken.

It's a nice little website, isn't it? So is yours I've heard that they aren't open right now, don't know why, and I could be wrong. If you are looking for lodging up there you may be able to get something through Trudi at tourloreto.com. It will be very local and rustic, and with wonderful people.

Don and I have been wanting to visit Asuncion for a long time now. He'd love to fish with Juan. I hope we get there soon-- it's a long drive, but we're guessing it's well worth the trouble!