BajaNomad

Headed to Gonzaga for the 1st time...

xpertears - 4-27-2009 at 11:49 AM

Well I am off to San Felipe with bikes in tow. We will be riding from SF to Gonzaga Bay this weekend (5-1-09). We got in touch with Alfonsina and was told that with it being such a big weekend in MX, no rooms are available.

My question is where else can we stay in Gonzaga? We plan on heading out to see Coco. We are not opposed to doing some sleeping on the beach, is that a possability? Is there anywhere else to stay in Gonzaga other than Alfonsina's?


Thanks for any help...;D

[Edited on 4-27-2009 by xpertears]

El Camote - 4-27-2009 at 12:12 PM

Lucky dog. Takes several spare tubes for your tires - that road is hell on bike tires especially because you're going to want to go much faster than you should.

Rancho Grande rents out palapas for beach camping near the runway south of Alfy's but the better choice, I think, is Campo Beluga with showers and flush toilets, another mile or so south on the beach. Have a great trip!

meme - 4-27-2009 at 12:58 PM

Check again at Alfonsinas on your arrival. They have a way of telling "No rooms" & suddenly there seem to be rooms available afterall!!!!:?::lol: No harm in cking.:

Cypress - 4-27-2009 at 01:21 PM

expertears, Go ahead, you might have to sleep back in the brush, but it'll be an adventure. Go on thru to HWY 1 and circle back.;D

David K - 4-27-2009 at 02:20 PM

Just as meme said above, check with Antonio at Alfonsina's about room availability when you get there... if he says no, then ask him if you can sleep right there on the beach.

Otherwise, a couple miles south is Campo Beluga and a bit south of there is a newer place 'Sacraficio' (?) that advertises rooms and boats for fishing... but I did not check it out.

Beluga photos: http://vivabaja.com/207/page3.html

View from Alfonsina's patio restaurant:



Alfonsina's Motel & Restaurant:



Antonio & Marta in center:



Gonzaga Bay is a really special place in Baja!



[Edited on 4-27-2009 by David K]

David K - 4-27-2009 at 02:37 PM

There are many interesting sites near Gonzaga Bay to see if the beautiful beach isn't all you seek!

Details at http://vivabaja.com/1102/page2.html


[img][/img]

xpertears - 4-27-2009 at 02:40 PM

Great advice everyone...I thank this community for being so approachable. Your hospitality reminds me that we can bring the good parts of Baja (compassion) anywhere! Maybe the Swine Flu will cut back on the expected occupancy at Alfonsina's.

David K - 4-27-2009 at 02:42 PM

Welcome to Nomad! We look forward to hearing back from you about your trip and photos, too!

BAJACAT - 4-27-2009 at 05:46 PM

PUNTA FINAL IS ALSO NICE, just a few miles down the rd from BELUGA.

Bob H - 4-27-2009 at 07:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
There are many interesting sites near Gonzaga Bay to see if the beautiful beach isn't all you seek!

Details at http://vivabaja.com/1102/page2.html


[img][/img]


David, great map, but I'm surprised that you do not show where the two runways are.

We need to go back there soon before all the roads come in.

Bob H

redhilltown - 4-27-2009 at 11:11 PM

It is a bit north of Gonzaga but Papa Fernandez is also a good place to camp on the beach (though primitive unlike others mentioned)...plus a restaurant (just don't be in a hurry...then again in Baja, you should never be in a hurry.) As you go up and over the little hill to camp, go to the left all the way and you should have it to yourself. If you are going to beach camp anywhere, be prepared for the jejenes and bring some deet and get a bit away from the water if they seem to be around...and if you remote beach camp at all, the coyotes just LOVE your water bottles while you sleep so hide them! Have a great time.

David K - 4-28-2009 at 09:07 AM

Thanks Bob... but my map wasn't for pilots, and I didn't want to clutter it with too much detail... I was only trying to show the roads and trails that Chris and I explored on Thanksgiving of 2002. I had to cut off most of Bahia San Luis Gonzaga (incl. Papa Fernandez' camp on the north shore of Bahia SL Gonzaga and the mission warehouse on the shore of Gonzaga Bay between Papa's and Alfonsina's) to show La Turquesa Canyon to the south.

The Rancho Grande runway is parallel to the entrance road to Rancho Grande, marked with the mileage of 1.1. There is a diagonal runway off the side of it. Alfonsina's runway is parallel to her entrance road between the gulf and lagoon.

Technically, the larger bay between Alfonsina's and Punta Final is called 'Ensenada de San Francisquito' and the smaller bay between Alfonsina's and Papa Fernandez' is Bahia San Luis Gonzaga (so named by Spanish explorers).

Not helping is the Mexican topo mistake of reversing the names of the two bays or that fishing maps and boat charts call the smaller one 'Willard Bay'.
Most of us call both bays 'Gonzaga'... I mean who wants to say "Ensenada de San Francisquito" let alone spell it!!!

Bob H - 4-28-2009 at 09:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Technically, the larger bay between Alfonsina's and Punta Final is called 'Ensenada de San Francisquito' and the smaller bay between Alfonsina's and Papa Fernandez' is Bahia San Luis Gonzaga (so named by Spanish explorers).

Not helping is the Mexican topo mistake of reversing the names of the two bays or that fishing maps and boat charts call the smaller one 'Willard Bay'.
Most of us call both bays 'Gonzaga'... I mean who wants to say "Ensenada de San Francisquito" let alone spell it!!!


Wow, I did not know that!
Bob H

David K - 4-28-2009 at 09:55 AM

Happy to provide some data on Baja history!

Note that Cliff Cross did name the bays correctly, as does Howard Gulick... of course!



David K - 4-28-2009 at 09:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJACAT
PUNTA FINAL IS ALSO NICE, just a few miles down the rd from BELUGA.


Great photo of 'Snoopy'!




[Edited on 4-28-2009 by David K]

Well, Technically................

MrBillM - 4-28-2009 at 09:50 PM

Should we Honor the Evil and Oppressive Conquistadores and their equally Evil Catholic Padre Demons by maintaining the names THEY attached to places ?

Wouldn't be better to find out what the Aborigines called the locations and use those names instead ?

David K - 4-29-2009 at 09:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Should we Honor the Evil and Oppressive Conquistadores and their equally Evil Catholic Padre Demons by maintaining the names THEY attached to places ?

Wouldn't be better to find out what the Aborigines called the locations and use those names instead ?


Oh sure, and the spelling police would have an endless job! :lol:

What is easier for us to say and spell, the native name: Cabujakaamung or the Europeon name: Santa Maria ?:light::biggrin: