Satellite images from Google Earth and GPS datum is set to WGS84 (factory standard setting) if you need help in visiting these sites in person.
Details and photos of the missions and visitas can be found at http://vivabaja.com/bajamissions
Satellite images are all oriented with north at the top, unless otherwise noted.
From North to South...
EL DESCANSO 32°12'19.62" 116°54'19.24" Located behind a church that can be seen from the Ensenada toll road. An exit just north once was signed for
the mission, but has been renamed 'Rancho Descanso'. Access from the free road along the lagoon/ arroyo, under the toll road bridge (south of the
Cantamar sand dunes). The original site (1817-1830) and fort location (Descanso-1/Fort) is to the south of the arroyo, on the hill: 32°11'59.40"
116°54'30.00"
SAN MIGUEL 32°05'39.10" 116°51'15.03" Located right on the free road in La Mision, next to a school on the north side of the road.
GUADALUPE 32°05'30.50" 116°34'30.50" Located on a dirt street off the entrance paved road going through Guadalupe (Francisco Zarco) from Highway 3.
SANTA CATALINA 31°39'38.10" 115°49'16.00" Located on a hilltop overlooking a cemetery on the far side of the community of Santa Catarina, east of
Ejido Independencia off Hwy. 3.
SANTO TOMAS-1 31°34'11.00" 116°28'50.00" Located by an oak grove picnic and camping area off the road to La Bocana, 3.9 miles from Hwy. 1.
SANTO TOMAS-2 31°34'24.30" 116°27'58.70" Located north of the La Bocana road in a pepper field, 2.8 miles from Hwy. 1.
SANTO TOMAS-3 31°33'30.00" 116°24'48.90" Located next to the El Palomar campground on Hwy. 1.
SAN VICENTE 31°19'47.90" 116°15'33.00" Located a short drive west of Hwy. 1, north of San Vicente. Well signed.
SAN PEDRO MARTIR 30°47'24.25" 115°28'20.85" Located over 5,000 feet above sea level and requires 2 days of backpacking to reach.
(Visita) SAN ISIDORO 30°45'55.17" 115°32'49.81" Located on the trail to Mision San Pedro Martir, several hours walk from the nearest road.
SANTO DOMINGO 30°46'15.20" 115°56'14.00" Located 5 miles east of Hwy. 1, just north of the Arroyo Santo Doming bridge, north of Colonia Vicente
Guerrero. Signed.
ROSARIO-1 30°04'01.00" 115°43'08.00" Located just off Hwy. 1 in El Rosario. Signed.
ROSARIO-2 30°02'29.00" 115°44'20.80" Located in the town of Rosario de Abajo, just over a mile from Hwy. 1.
SAN FERNANDO VELICATA 29°58'16.52" 115°14'12.20" Located about 4 miles from Hwy. 1. Signed turnoff at Rancho Progreso.
(Visita) SAN JUAN DE DIOS 30°10'57.61" 115°10'04.50" Located above the east side of the arroyo, next to the road to Rancho El Metate, 22 miles from
Hwy. 1.
(note: site obliterated by a farmer in 2006. Now (2018) Rancho Las Palmas is near the site)
(Historic spring on El Camino Real) AGUA DULCE 29°52'58.70" 114°49'25.00" Located 2 miles east from Hwy. 1 at Km. 160-161.
SANTA MARIA 29°43'54.50" 114°32'50.16" Located 14.5 miles from Rancho Santa Ynez over an extreme 4WD road.
CALAMAJUE 29°25'16.30" 114°11'42.36" Located 15.5 miles north of Hwy. 1 (Km. 261) or 14 miles east and south of Coco's Corner, on the east bank of
Arroyo Calamajue.
(Historic water hole near El Camino Real) TINAJA DE YUBAY 29°10'41.37" 113°59'15.20" Located north of the L.A. Bay highway off the road signed
'Rancho San Luis'.
SAN BORJA 28°44'40.37" 113°45'14.39" Well signed 21 miles south of L.A. Bay highway or east of Hwy. 1 at Nuevo Rosarito.
(Visita) SANTA ANA 28°41'25.23" 113°49'14.31" Located south of the San Borja/ Nuevo Rosarito road.
(Waterhole near Golfo Camino Real) TINAJA DE SANTA MARIA 28°26'05.20" 113°20'01.40" Located south from the old road to San Francisquito, south of
Bahia de los Angeles and just east of Rancho La Bocana (San Pedro).
SANTA GERTRUDIS 28°03'04.02" 113°05'07.17" Access roads from El Arco, Guillermo Prieto and San Francisquito/ El Barril.
(Visita) SAN PABLO 27°42'07.81" 113°08'42.08" Located in San Pablo Canyon, east of Vizcaino. Access may be restricted without a guide.
SAN IGNACIO 27°17'02.18" 112°53'56.12" Facing the town plaza of San Ignacio.
GUADALUPE 26°55'09.50" 112°24'20.60" Signed as the 'ex-mision' of Guadalupe, east of San Jose de Magdalena in the mountains northwest of Mulege.
Since 2014, only the south road out from Mulegé is passable and with several unlocked cattle control gates to pass through. NOTE: In 2017, I found
the church ruin a bit to the southwest of this waypoint and pin. The entire area is of interest with many stone walls and steps. The church wall is
uphill and slightly north of the modern cinder-block building at the end of the mission driveway (closed gate).
SANTA ROSALIA DE MULEGE 26°05'37.00" 111°59'09.30" On the south side of the river, just west of the highway bridge in Mulege.
SAN JOSE DE MAGDALENA post-mission period church 27°03'40.33" 112°13'24.87" Just east of the town on the south side of the arroyo, north of Mulege.
(Pila/ ag site for San Jose de Magdalena, misidentified as Mision Santa Maria Magdalena) 27°03'29.10" 112°10'12.34" Located just outside the canyon
'Boca de Magdalena' east of Palo Verde, north of Mulege. The stone building ruins are on both sides of the road at 27°03'29.90" 112°10'07.40", 4.6
miles from Hwy. 1 at Km.162.5 (take left road at mile 3.7). The stone ruins were obliterated by flash floods in 2014 as the riverbed widened into the
site.
SAN JOSE DE COMONDU (1st site, 'Comondu Viejo') 26°16'27.40" 111°43'08.50" On the old transpeninsular road between ranchos of San Juan and La Presa.
Go 11 miles west of Hwy. 1 on the La Purisima road (south of Bahia Concepcion), then turn south for 9 miles. The site is 22 miles north of the town of
San Jose Comondu. The road is washed out 0.7 mile north of then site, just south of San Juan.
SAN JOSE DE COMONDU (final site) 26°03'34.59" 111°49'20.41" In the town of San Jose Comondu.
LA PURISIMA (1st possible site, 'Purisima Vieja') 26°18'34.48" 112°09'50.98" Located 16 miles north of San Isidro, 3.4 miles south of Paso Hondo.
LA PURISIMA (final site) 26°11'25.60" 112°04'22.60" In the town of La Purisima.
SAN BRUNO (1683-1685 colony site) 26°13'57.50" 111°23'53.90" 14 miles north of Loreto near, the coast on a hill.
LORETO 26°00'37.00" 111°20'35.80" In the center of town.
(Visita) SAN JUAN BAUTISTA LONDO 26°13'30.83" 111°28'24.51" About 17 miles north of Loreto and just west of Hwy. 1, next to a ranch. Ruins visible
from the highway.
SAN JAVIER 25°51'36.86" 111°32'36.99" 22 miles west and south from Loreto, well signed.
(Visita) LA PRESENTACION 25°43'45.00" 111°32'37.40" About 11 miles south of San Javier.
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA DE LIGUI/ DE MALIBAT 25°44'22.20" 111°15'51.00" (no remains, arroyo swallowed ruins in 2001) At the southeast junction of the road
to Playa Ligui and Ensenada Blanca, just east of Hwy. 1, nine miles south of Puerto Escondido.
LOS DOLORES APATE 25°03'19.04" 110°53'03.33" Access by foot/ mule trail off road to Los Burros about 15 miles northeast of La Presa and Los Dolores
Chilla (La Pasion).
LOS DOLORES CHILLA (La Pasion) 24°53'14.4" 111°01'49.81" Just east of Rancho La Presa at Rancho La Capilla off the road to Los Burros, just west of
school village, Santa María de la Toris.
SAN LUIS GONZAGA 24°54'29.00" 111°17'27.25" Off the road to Presa el Ihuajal, 10 miles south of Ciudad Constitucion.
(Visita) EL NOVILLO 23°55'48.60" 110°13'28.20" (a post-mission chapel... Pin location and GPS from Jack Swords)
(Visita) ANGEL DE LA GUARDA (EL ZALATO) 23°53'27.60" 110°10'14.80" (a visita of the La Paz mission)
SAN BLAS (a church from the 1760's village) down the hill from El Zalato 23°53'10.40" 110°09'16.21"
(view sideways and looking west)
There are two mission sites for Todos Santos.
The first site began as a visita for the La Paz mission (named 'Todos Santos'), then became a separate mission named 'Santa Rosa de las Palmas'...
some stone walls are all that remain and a modern church is built on the site: 23°27'37.30" 110°13'08.31"]
The La Paz mission (Nuestra Señora del Pilar de la Paz) moved from the Bay of La Paz to Todos Santos and that ended the Santa Rosa mission...
The second site is the location of the modern town church of Todos Santos, where the mission moved. 23°26'59.16" 110°13'31.62"
(Visita) SAN JACINTO 23°14'34.21" 110°04'37.20"
The original mission ruins for La Paz, Santiago, and San Jose del Cabo are not visible or have been built over by newer construction.
[Edited on 3-23-2018 by David K]Barry A. - 9-22-2009 at 10:56 PM
I am blown away, David. This is one incredible "post".
Thank you so much for all you great work.
BarryDavid K - 9-23-2009 at 04:42 PM
Thanks Barry... My web host has already started making the above into Part 4 of the revised missions and visitas... It needs some editing, but here is
a sneak peek!: http://vivabaja.com/missions4David K - 9-24-2009 at 04:12 PM
Remember, that in addition to the above mission sites from space images... I have also put together satellite images and maps of the EL CAMINO REAL
where it can be seen from above! The list of links to the many sections from Mision Santa Maria south to Loreto is on this page: http://vivabaja.com/missions2/page13.html
ENJOY!David K - 9-21-2013 at 09:33 AM
Why three missions are not included: The original mission ruins for La Paz, Santiago and San Jose del Cabo are not visible or have been built over by
newer construction.
The 1724 site for Santiago is on a private ranch and the owner does not want visitors, so Jack and I agree to not show the location but foundation
stones are there. In 1736, the mission was moved to where a modern church now stands, in the town of Santiago.Jack Swords - 9-21-2013 at 01:14 PM
Now THAT is impressive! You have been busy. Looking at the sites, I feel like I am back there with all the surroundings included. Brings back good
memories, thanks.David K - 9-22-2013 at 12:55 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Jack Swords
Now THAT is impressive! You have been busy. Looking at the sites, I feel like I am back there with all the surroundings included. Brings back good
memories, thanks.
This was originally posted in 2009, but it is well worth a bump up every few years!
Like you Jack, I do what I can to keep the history alive and interesting... I look forward to when you find new sites or revisit the same ones
again... they ARE vanishing during our lifetimes... Ligui, San Juan de Dios are both gone... San Fernando is a fraction of its size when I first
camped there in 1974.
*Jack Swords is the primary photographer for our Baja Missions web pages and many of his photos are included in our 2012 Missions Book.edm1 - 9-22-2013 at 06:06 AM
For even greater clarity of photos, we need to bring the drone when we visit the missions, in particular, and even every adventure trip to take aerial
phots of where we've been.shari - 9-22-2013 at 07:23 AM
thanks DAvid....that was really neat to see how they are situated on arroyos etc.durrelllrobert - 9-22-2013 at 08:16 AM
Does the NSA know you have these photos? An Al-queda terrorist could use them to blow up the missions.Udo - 9-22-2013 at 08:25 AM
Very informative, David.
The aerial views punctuate the locations very well, and it will make it easier to visit those locations with our Baja Missions, and Baja Almanac maps.
Mil Gracias!David K - 9-22-2013 at 10:20 AM
The GPS for each is included as well... it is at the Google Earth and standard GPS map datum setting of WGS84.
Most missions are well known and not hidden, but there are a few that make seeking them an adventure!elgatoloco - 9-22-2013 at 10:49 PM
Hat tip to science for making this all possible.............gueribo - 3-22-2018 at 07:32 PM
Very cool.Bruce R Leech - 3-22-2018 at 07:34 PM
thanks DavidDavid K - 3-23-2018 at 10:08 AM
My pleasure, Bruce!
I have just fixed the page symbols that got converted to black diamonds with a question mark inside. This happens when Doug does a page update for
Nomad and the software does not recognize degree symbols (°) or Spanish letters (ñ).
I also added a few notes on changes based on my recent visits to many of the mission locations.fishbuck - 3-23-2018 at 12:38 PM
That is cool. Very interesting. ThanksDavid K - 7-25-2018 at 02:37 PM
My pleasure Mike!fishbuck - 7-25-2018 at 04:04 PM
Can I have another clue for this location?
Jack Swords - 7-25-2018 at 04:45 PM
The newest technology with drones (as suggested) would be quite an enhancement (and adventure).fishbuck - 7-25-2018 at 05:16 PM
Yes... much easier than actually going there.David K - 7-26-2018 at 08:22 AM
Here is what is under the image in my post: SANTA CATALINA 31°39'38.10" 115°49'16.00" Located on a hilltop overlooking a cemetery on the far side of the community of Santa Catarina,
east of Ejido Independencia off Hwy. 3.
In my book, page 166, I give the kilometer marker for the turnoff: 91 (on Hwy. 3, between Ensenada and San Felipe). The Paipai Indian village is
called Santa Catarina, a slightly altered spelling of the mission (Santa Catalina). The little town is just over 5 miles from Hwy. 3 and the mission
site is 5.6 miles from the highway.
fishbuck - 7-27-2018 at 11:43 AM
Seems easy enough to find.
Might need to go there and look.David K - 7-27-2018 at 01:28 PM
Yes, it is easy... just drive through the little town heading NE and when you arrive at the hillside cemetery, the mission was on the top of the hill
above it. A road goes up along the left side of the graveyard. We parked at the bottom and walked up (Elizabeth and I with Roy, The Squarecircle) back
in 2006 after helping Baja Pits for the 500 (south of Valle de Trinidad). Photos of the race and mission site (there is almost nothing to see unless
you look close on the ground): http://vivabaja.com/606/
Here was my article on the mission from a few years ago, that was edited and put into my book:
The Mission Santa Catalina story begins with the actions of Padre Juan Crisóstomo Gómez while serving as Dominican President from 1790 to
1793. Padre Gómez had recently completed the construction of the great stone church of Mission San Ignacio, and also had practiced immunization to
halt the spread of disease among the Indians. Gómez authorized three mountain missions be founded to secure the inland areas of the northern
peninsula and to Christianize the natives. Immediately after the founding of the first mountain mission at San Pedro Mártir, the search for the
second mission site began in the region instructed by the Viceroy.
In October of 1794, SergeantJosé Manuel Ruiz and Padre Tomás Valdellon examined the place named Santa Catalina midway between the mission of San
Vicente and the Colorado River. The most important aspect of a mission site was a reliable year-round source of water. A year later, Ensign Alférez
Bernal led an expedition and explored the region. Governor Borica provided Bernal with a list of ‘prime essentials’ a mission site must possess.
The list included: a constant source of water, land for raising wheat and maize, near-by firewood and pasture, and numerous available heathen.
Lieutenant-Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga, traveling north from his home in Loreto, left Mission San Vicente on September 5, 1796, to examine
Santa Catalina and the route to the Colorado River. This was but one of four expeditions that year to determine if a land route to Sonora was
feasible. Arrillaga had met hostile Indians at the Colorado River and returned to San Vicente by way of San Diego. In an October 1797 letter,
Arrillaga determined that a garrison of soldiers should be stationed in the delta region with a presidio at the head of the gulf and a detachment at
Sonoita and San Felipe, thus securing a sea route of escape. The first order of business, however, was to establish a mission at Santa Catalina.
The order for a new mission was placed by the Viceroy and the governor. The mission was to be strongly fortified as it was known to be in dangerous
territory. Santa Catalina would also be the last mission built on the peninsula that was authorized by the Spanish government. No other mission site
was so greatly researched by repeated expeditions than Santa Catalina.
Lieutenant-Governor Arrillaga had desired to separate California into two political districts, and his 1796 expedition was to be influential in that
happening. Governor Borica also favored the plan, yet nothing of it came for several more years. Governor Borica died in July 1800, shortly after
leaving Alta California for Durango. Arrillaga was made governor but was allowed to remain at his residence in Loreto.
On August 6, 1797, building was begun at the future mission site for the church (33 feet by 17 feet), priest’s house (17 feet by 17 feet) and a
gaurdhouse. November 12, 1797, was the day that Mission Santa Catalina Virgen y Mártir was officially founded by Padres José Loriente and Tomás
Valdellon. It was the 7th Dominican California mission, the 25th mission on the peninsula, and the 42nd mission in all of California. The location was
a place the natives called Jaca-Tobojol, which means “place where the water falls over stones”. The elevation at Santa Catalina is 3,900 feet
above sea level.
In 1798, an adobe house with two rooms was built with each room measuring 14 feet by 17 feet. In 1799, another adobe house measuring 14 feet by 20
feet was constructed to serve as a shelter for girls and single women. Santa Catalina had a population of 133 Indians in 1800. Another house measuring
17 feet by 17 feet was also built that year. In 1802, an adobe structure with two rooms measuring 14-foot square was constructed and may have served
as a workshop.
Eight Dominicans are named serving Santa Catalina, José Loriente in 1797, Tomás Valdellon in 1797 to 1804, Jacinto Fiol 1804-1807, Manuel de Aguila
was stationed at the mission in 1808 and 1809. Antonio Fernández was assigned to Santa Catalina from 1809 to1810, and again from 1815 to 1817 from
his post at San Vicente. José Duro was the priest from 1810 to 1811, followed by Manuel Saiz from 1811 to 1812. Padre Felix Caballero was perhaps the
last Dominican in charge at Santa Catalina (1819-1839) and is named as such in an October 3, 1822 letter from Padre José Miguel de Pineda, of Mission
Santo Tomás.
California was officially divided into two districts on March 26, 1804. Arrillaga was made governor of Upper (Alta) California, and Captain Felipe de
Goycoechea was appointed to be governor of Lower (Baja) California. Alta California also was called Nueva (New) California, and Baja California was
called Antigua (Old) California. These names (Nueva and Antigua) appeared on documents describing the two regions of California for many years. The
idea for a third mountain mission, ordered by Padre Gómez, was abandoned.
In a letter written in Loreto on December 23, 1808, the Dominican Padre Ramon López wrote: “The two missions in the hills, Santa Catalina and San
Pedro, cannot give what they don’t have. The minister at Santa Catalina formerly was able to send something, but now he struggles just to make ends
meet.”
The population at Santa Catalina was reported as more than 600 in 1824 then down to 250 in 1834. This would have made Santa Catalina the most populous
of the Dominican missions. In October of 1839, the Santa Catalina mission was attacked burned, and 16 neophytes were slain. Padre Caballero, nor any
other Dominican, ever returned to rebuild Santa Catalina.
The walls have melted back to the ground leaving almost nothing to visualize the once important mission. Archeologists in recent years have excavated
to the stone foundation at a corner of a mission room and accurately mapped the site with sophisticated equipment. The Pai-pai Indians are still
living near the mission. Their village is called Santa Catarina which is a slightly different spelling than the mission’s name.
To reach the Santa Catalina mission site by Santa Catarina, use the Ensenada-San Felipe highway (Mexico #3) and drive just south of Km. 91, in the
town of Ejido de los Heroes de la Independencia. Go east, on a well-graded dirt road. Near the 5 mile mark from Hwy. 3, take the fork to the right and
go downhill, then work left through the little town of Santa Catarina soon going over a hill to the cemetery. Turn left and go up the hill, above the
cemetery. The mission site is 5.6 miles from Highway 3.
