BajaNomad

First time baja trip

newtobaja - 1-18-2010 at 04:35 PM

Hi folks,

This was my first trip to Baja/Mexico. Thanks very much to the tips from folks on this forum. The photos can be found at

http://picasaweb.google.com/wsiddiqi

Let me know if you have specific questions

Road: Highway 1 was fine all the way south except in 2 spots: south of catavina and north of GN. No gas problems even though I was worried about it. Kids didn't give problem during the drive. We had books on tape and activities. ALso during the drive down, we only drove half a day, taking time to look at places etc and stayed at interesting hotels so kids enjoyed the hotels as well. Took 5 days to get to LP (from silicon valley) and then took 2.5 days to get back to SV on the way back. Day 1 (to San Diego), Day 2 (to El rosario with stops for costco money exchange, getting FMT, looking around ensenada), day 4 (to loreto with stops for santa rosalia and BC), day 5 (to la paz with checking out loreto in the morning). Multiple military checkpoints. Didn't get any hassles. Soldiers were very polite and as soon as they found we were americanos on vacaciones, we were sent on. though on the northbound, it did add to the delay as other cars, mostly with young single males were getting the thorough check. Didn't understand why there were military truck on the malecon drive in LP with soldiers with masks etc. Reading the newspaper after I got back, explained it (They busted a major drug lord in LP last week)

Food. First time with the fish tacos. Loved it. had mostly seafood & meat during the trip. No stomach problems at all. Surprised by the small # of of veg options in the restaurant and also at the market. We were hoping to get good guavas and sugar cane but they were so-so. Looked around the mercado in LP.

General: Folks were friendly throughout. Managed to have conversation with the locals with my phrase book. Place was clean. I've been to several developing countries and was impressed by the comparative cleanliness of baja. Folks do seem to have sense of civic pride. (lack of people throwing rubbish etc)

Actitivities: Enjoyed snorkelling, whale watching, beaches. Wife also liked souvenier shopping. Best prices were at Pescadero. Bahia Chilenos & Maria in Cabo were excellent snorkelling places.

Hotels: Stayed at the following place -
Baja cactus motel - awesome!
san ignacio springs b&B (yurt place), la damiana inn loreto - very nice.
Bugambilia Hotel (LP), Mar de Cortez Cabo - did the job, clean/sterile, spacious
Los milagros hotel cabo - nice rooms though they need to be a bit more tourist friendly

Hoping to do a followon trip perhaps this time to san felipe or BLA for some fishing, snorkelling etc.

[Edited on 1-19-2010 by newtobaja]

[Edited on 1-19-2010 by newtobaja]

[Edited on 1-20-2010 by newtobaja]

fishbuck - 1-18-2010 at 04:38 PM

Well done! Thanks for the report::cool:

Bajahowodd - 1-18-2010 at 04:47 PM

Thanks for the great photo album. Just wondering about the stay in Cabo. As I recall, along with many nomad members, the Cabo thing was not a priority. Hoping you'll do it again soon, as so many of us got hooked on Baja.

Paula - 1-18-2010 at 05:01 PM

Nice pictures! I love the picture of the pink wall with orange door and piņatas, but it wasnt'd labeled. Where was that?

newtobaja - 1-18-2010 at 05:15 PM

Added a caption there. Its one of the candy/pinata stores in La paz.
Quote:
Originally posted by Paula
Nice pictures! I love the picture of the pink wall with orange door and piņatas, but it wasnt'd labeled. Where was that?

newtobaja - 1-18-2010 at 05:17 PM

Yup - was hoping to stay longer in bahia concepcion but the water was cold and the weather was cool & cloudy so decided to continue on south.
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Thanks for the great photo album. Just wondering about the stay in Cabo. As I recall, along with many nomad members, the Cabo thing was not a priority. Hoping you'll do it again soon, as so many of us got hooked on Baja.

ELINVESTIG8R - 1-18-2010 at 05:31 PM

Newtobaja, welcome to Baja Nomad. Great pictures and report.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 1-18-2010 at 06:04 PM

hola newtobaja and welcome. how was the stay in la paz at hotel bugambilia ? i have't been there since they remodeled about a year or so ago. one of the nomads said the wall around the parking area was removed and was concerned about security for his vehicle. is it still walled and gated ?

also, how was your drive through constitution ? they were pretty devastated from hurricane jimena last year and as most of the traffic lites were out, they were giving mass citations for not stopping even though the lites didn't work.

will check out your photos later.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

BAJACAT - 1-18-2010 at 09:15 PM

wow great pix, the Nomads trip reports, is like going with you on the trip. very Nice... Bien venido to Baja Nomad.

Udo - 1-18-2010 at 09:38 PM

Very nice trip report!

Brings back many memories, Was. You certainly picked the best forum to post your trip.

Bienvenido, amigo.

newtobaja - 1-19-2010 at 10:07 PM

yes their compound is walled and gated.
the common area has been nicely repainted and decorated. The rooms are big, spacious but somewhat sterile. The washrooms, tiles seem to be decorated in some colorful fashion but the contractor didn't do a good job there as the caulking was coming out.

In terms of CC - we simply drove through it. Some of the lights were working and some were not. Most people were stopping at the lights, stop sign etc and I didn't see many police around. It looked like another baja town though it was pleasant to have 4 lane highway between CC and CI.
I didn't realise the town had been devastated in a hurricane and didn't really see much mess. OTOH - I wasn't paying close attention either.
Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
hola newtobaja and welcome. how was the stay in la paz at hotel bugambilia ? i have't been there since they remodeled about a year or so ago. one of the nomads said the wall around the parking area was removed and was concerned about security for his vehicle. is it still walled and gated ?

also, how was your drive through constitution ? they were pretty devastated from hurricane jimena last year and as most of the traffic lites were out, they were giving mass citations for not stopping even though the lites didn't work.

will check out your photos later.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT


[Edited on 1-20-2010 by newtobaja]

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 1-20-2010 at 12:22 PM

Hola newtobaja, thank you for the report. i'll be heading that way at the beginning of march and was curious about bogumbillas. i heard they removed the walls of the parking area, probably on this site.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT