BajaNomad - SAN IGNACIO LAGOON

SAN IGNACIO LAGOON

roadhog - 11-28-2009 at 04:58 PM

Baja Nomad writes:
Rates have nudged upward with the onslaught of visitors in the past four years (an incredible amount of people have descended upon San Ignacio),

What is "an incredible amount" ? Whalestock ?

Looking down with Google Earth., the lagoon shores appear deserted.

Bajahowodd - 11-28-2009 at 05:02 PM

In November, perhaps. What's your point?

capt. mike - 11-28-2009 at 05:12 PM

i go every year. its not crowded or a tourist trap yet.

woody with a view - 11-28-2009 at 05:17 PM

hey Mike

we were in Asuncion a month ago and wouldn't ya know, no cork screw!!!!

being the stunt double for MacGyver that i am, i used the back of a fork to push the cork into the bottle. sanity was mine! try it!!!

roadhog - 11-28-2009 at 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
In November, perhaps. What's your point?

THE HORSES MOUTH SEZ: "incredible"
Obviously, prep for "incredible" numbers and a deserted windswept shoreline require different approach.

'Incredible' reads like a trip out to Chincoteague.

BajaNomad - 11-29-2009 at 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by roadhog
Baja Nomad writes:
Rates have nudged upward with the onslaught of visitors in the past four years (an incredible amount of people have descended upon San Ignacio),

What is "an incredible amount" ? Whalestock ?

Looking down with Google Earth., the lagoon shores appear deserted.

That was written about 8 years ago. In the 4 years prior to that, I estimate tourism at San Ignacio Lagoon increased 4 or 5-fold. Used to be able to drive into the town of San Ignacio about any time during the "season" and be able to get a room at one of the two or three places in town that rented rooms at the time. In the next few years you needed reservations months ahead of time. Now, there are more places with rooms to rent, so I'm actually unsure of the present situation in town.

There are cabins and organized camps out at the lagoon, but many stay in town then drive out (or get a ride out) in the early morning.

Prices to go out have gone up compared to the notes on the page you've quoted, but again, I'm uncertain as to what they're at presently.

You can contact Maldo Fischer who lives at the lagoon with any questions regarding their service:

Home telephone: (615) 103-0349
Email: lagunamaldo(at)yahoo.com
- replace the (at) with @ of course.

Here's what the cabins at Campo Cortez look like:
http://www.bajaecotours.com/pages/accommodations.html

We visited Maldo about 11 months ago before the recent season, and he said that reservations were waaay down at the time, with cancellations increasing each week.

Please note here any other info you might need - in case myself or someone else can assist you with it.

Picture below is Michelle and I visiting with Maldo Dec. '08...

Regards,
-
Doug Means

[Edited on 11-29-2009 by BajaNomad]

PC290291_opt.jpg - 25kB

capt. mike - 11-29-2009 at 07:28 AM

i dropped 2 eye surgeons from NYC to Campo Cortez for a week a few years ago - that place looks like a blast.
i think Johnny still is involved?

Kuyima is still good for a day trip or self camping on their grounds.

Woody - good use of the noggin!
i saw a vid too where this french guy used his shoe to bank the bottle against a wall till the physics forced the cork out. We human are smart when it comes to our needs!

shari - 11-29-2009 at 08:53 AM

If you go to San Ignacio at the height of whale season, it can be a very very busy place and the lagoon is often FULL of tourists and pangas...other than that it is a quiet place....but I have seen days where barely another plane can fit at the strip and all camps are full and it seems like a pretty high density area for a baja lagoon.
Last year was probably a down year but the place fills up.

Bajahowodd - 11-29-2009 at 04:41 PM

Paving paradise. The good news is that despite the increase, especially for the well heeled who can afford to fly in, San Ignacio lagoon remains quite the pristine place.

And although I realize that a considerable amount of revenue is generated by flights in, something deep down inside of me feels like, if you're going to experience Baja, then you should experience Baja. Translation: Drive down and take a few days to meet the people along the way.

baja Steve - 11-29-2009 at 05:29 PM

Will be there in a couple of days but I dont think there will be much going on but fishing

Bajahowodd - 11-29-2009 at 05:35 PM

Don't even think about looking for whales! At least you CAN fish there outside of whale season.

BajaNomad - 11-29-2009 at 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by baja Steve
Will be there in a couple of days but I dont think there will be much going on but fishing

We were there in the last week of December, and it was VERY quiet at that time.

mulegemichael - 11-29-2009 at 09:30 PM

antonios eco tours is our favorite whale watching group...we booked them through san ignacio springs b and b...super, super upbeat, modern service...

roadhog - 12-12-2009 at 10:50 PM

ace ! blog tips on weather and wind. where are the ecosystem passes bought and from whom ? is the shoreline privately owned ? is there public camping access ? Is the Mexican Coast Guard on the water ?

Not !

Stickers - 12-12-2009 at 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Paving paradise. The good news is that despite the increase, especially for the well heeled who can afford to fly in, San Ignacio lagoon remains quite the pristine place.

And although I realize that a considerable amount of revenue is generated by flights in, something deep down inside of me feels like, if you're going to experience Baja, then you should experience Baja. Translation: Drive down and take a few days to meet the people along the way.

The runway at the lagoon is not paved and only open for the short whale season.
Most airplanes that visit the lagoon are arriving from other Baja locations where the tourist are already experiencing Baja La Dolce Vita.
Paving paradise is reserved for cars and trucks not airplanes.

sorry for the mini rant --

Baja Bush Pilot radical

capt. mike - 12-13-2009 at 08:32 AM

....."well heeled who can afford to fly in"

well that heeled part certainly excludes me i'll tell ya! :biggrin:

although i have been accused of being a "heel" and or a "cad" at times....whatever those are. :saint:

i am with you Stickers. BBP all the way. the paving will not come to strips for eons. they'll go 4 lane all the way TJ to Cabo one day but they'll be dozens of dirt strips to hang at in my remaining life, expected at about 45 years. (last man standing club, i expect to win and drink the nectar reserved)

Bajahowodd - 12-13-2009 at 12:15 PM

OK, guys.

1- The paving paradise reference was euphemistic. I also do not expect that strip to be paved in my lifetime.

2- As for the well-heeled, I know some folks that booked at one of the camps at the lagoon and flew from San Diego. Don't remember how many nights they stayed, but it cost over $2000 apiece.

capt. mike - 12-13-2009 at 12:30 PM

"Don't remember how many nights they stayed, but it cost over $2000 apiece"

that's cheap for an eco based vaca.
Campo Cortez gets about $200 PP per nite incl all meals and 3 boats a day after you get there yourself.

Eco vaca are the priciest adventures you can do world wide.
they all cost stupid $$ in my opinion. = but to each their own fun.

Bajahowodd - 12-13-2009 at 01:28 PM

Right on, Mike. Someone realized that eco vacations appealed to older wealthy people and that those folks were willing to pay dearly.

mtgoat666 - 12-13-2009 at 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Right on, Mike. Someone realized that eco vacations appealed to older wealthy people and that those folks were willing to pay dearly.

do i detect a bit on negativity or envy?. the prices are reasonable for many eco vacations, and the prices at la laguna, are reasonable. why fault people for spending money on a vacation? they earned it. why fault tour operators for offering a nice trip? you may be surprised to find that most eco tour operators make a decent living but are not getting rich. what you find to be a high price is usually due to the small group sizes. if you want cheap vacation, go to a big hotel or big cruise boat.

sometimes i camp in the dirt and don't take a shower. sometimes i like to be pampered. :lol:

[Edited on 12-14-2009 by mtgoat666]

capt. mike - 12-14-2009 at 07:58 AM

Laguna San Ignacio 2010 Whale Tours:

• 5-Day Tour Package with Charter Air travel from San Diego - $2295
Includes 5-Days, 4 nights at Whale Camp; Whale Tours every day; guided kayaking and birding tours in the mangroves; comfortable camp accommodations with showers and Great Meals.

that's pretty much market.

hey - i can't afford a week at Pebble Beach either but i don't whine about it.

i used to do 3 days 2 nites for up to 3 persons to PSFO for $299 PP including shared cost transportation, all meals included. - that was 20 plus years ago tho.
i could fill every weekend if i wanted from spring to fall.

no time for it anymore but eco tour biz is fun and people dig it.