BajaNomad

How far would you go ?

alafrontera - 2-17-2010 at 06:59 PM

No, not that, I mean how far into Baja ? ;) If you had a week, and wanted to have a relaxing trip, how far would you want to travel? I am in San Diego already so literally a la frontera, 25 minutes and I'm in Tijuana.

I am going to make a few more short practice runs camping near San Felipe and maybe Esenada but I'm starting to think about what that might lead to.

Ideas?

San Ignacio

bajaguy - 2-17-2010 at 07:38 PM

Right now, San Ignacio and watch the whales

Bajaboy - 2-17-2010 at 07:43 PM

What time of the year are you thinking? That would play a big factor in my decision.

absinvestor - 2-17-2010 at 07:47 PM

I agree. What time of year and what you are trying to accomplish. Personally, we have seen the whales but prefer relaxing time on the beach. If you just want to relax, during winter, I would do Bahia de Los Angeles. You can get there in a day and have most of your vacation time to relax. If you need excitement, Bahia de Los Angeles is not the place to go. Ron

k-rico - 2-17-2010 at 07:59 PM

One night on the road at San Quintin or El Rosario and you can easily get to Mulege or Loreto on the Sea of Cortez and the great beaches between the two late the next day. Probably 15 hours total drive time each way.

Or maybe San Pedro Martir National Park in the mountains.

mulegemichael - 2-17-2010 at 08:02 PM

go play with the whales, man, at san ignacio...you'll never forget it...EVER!!

alafrontera - 2-17-2010 at 08:02 PM

I have spent 1000's of hours offshore, whales don't impress me anymore. Been there, done that.

This would most likely be a summer trip; July or August. Yea I know, HOT !!!! I'm thinking inner coast, Sea of Cortez. No need for excitement, get plenty of that here in San Diego.

What, no salsa clubs in Bahia de Los Angeles ? :coolup:

Mulegena - 2-17-2010 at 08:18 PM

Come to Mulege, get a room on the river, play in the Sea of Cortez. The water is absolutely exquisite in the summer months and the pueblo is more quiet than ever. Bring an umbrella for the sun.

You'll love it.

Hook - 2-17-2010 at 08:20 PM

Camping is NOT for the faint of heart along the SOC in July and August. It's brutal, unless you want to live in/on the water. And you cant do that at night easily.

The Seven Sisters would be nice................ask Woody about them.

Skipjack Joe - 2-17-2010 at 08:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by alafrontera
How far would you go ?


As far as the Old Log Inn?

bajaguy - 2-17-2010 at 08:30 PM

Go see Shari in BA

24baja - 2-17-2010 at 09:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by alafrontera
I have spent 1000's of hours offshore, whales don't impress me anymore. Been there, done that.

This would most likely be a summer trip; July or August. Yea I know, HOT !!!! I'm thinking inner coast, Sea of Cortez. No need for excitement, get plenty of that here in San Diego.

What, no salsa clubs in Bahia de Los Angeles ? :coolup:


We make our own salsa on the beach in Bahia de Los Angeles....no need for nightclubs! It truly is one of the most beautiful places in Baja. But then again I think all of Baja is beautiful.

Bajaboy - 2-17-2010 at 09:36 PM

If you're planning a summer trip, I would head out towards Bahia Asuncion and might even loop up to Bahia Tortugas. There are so many incredible things to see and do in the Vizcaino Biosphere.

Zac

shari - 2-18-2010 at 08:17 AM

july-august weather is outstanding on the pacific side...come on down! Most visitors here do the drive in 2 days and take their time stopping to smell the flowers...bajaboy just B-lines down in a day! lots to see and do in this area.

mtgoat666 - 2-18-2010 at 08:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by alafrontera
No, not that, I mean how far into Baja ? ;) If you had a week, and wanted to have a relaxing trip, how far would you want to travel?


Feb to mid-april: whales at si lagoon
May to June: camping and backpacking in san pedro martir
jul to august: stay away, hot as h*ll
september to october: spm again
winter: any of the desert areas
beaches in soc/cabo not much to write home about, better off going to caribean, asia, south pacific etc if you want warm water beaches

shari - 2-18-2010 at 08:39 AM

sorry sr.goat....not to be contrary BUT...it's definately NOT hot as hell on the pacific side in july-august. It doesnt get even remotely hot here till august because the ocean temps keep it cool and the warm currents dont heat the water up till mid august...our hottest month is september and even then, it rarely gets up to 90 degrees and then the gentle breeze feels oh so sweet.
Hardly anyone even has air conditioners...we use a fan once in awhile in september.

[Edited on 2-18-2010 by shari]

David K - 2-18-2010 at 08:55 AM

Goat doesn't have any credibility... July and August are great months for many places in Baja. July is our favorite month for longer vacations.

See what we did with 8 days, last July: http://vivabaja.com/709 (San Ignacio, Bahia Concepcion, Loreto, San Javier, San Borja)

In 2007: http://vivabaja.com/707 (El Rosario Festival, 7 Sisters coast road, Bahia Asuncion, Punta Abreojos, Bahia Concepcion).

If you are talking about now, sounds like you are... and want to see stuff...
Go to Bahia de los Angeles (1 day drive if you leave early) for night 1 & 2, Guerrero Negro/Scammon's Lagoon (night 3 or San Ignacio night 3), Bahia Concepcion (night 4, 5. 2 easy days drive south of border).

Mike99km - 2-18-2010 at 09:00 AM

What do want to do? If you fish,surf,snorkel, or boat central Baja is great. You can get there in a long day ,10 to 14 hours of driving. The summer days are long so you plenty of time to drive in the daylight.
The pacific will be cooler and the fish will be around, surf is always hit and miss. Grab a AAA map the look around. We all have the places we love.The reason I love a place might be the reason you hate it.
Don't count on much night life past Ensenada until you get the tip.

mtgoat666 - 2-18-2010 at 09:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by shari
sorry sr.goat....not to be contrary BUT...it's definately NOT hot as hell on the pacific side in july-august. It doesnt get even remotely hot here till august because the ocean temps keep it cool and the warm currents dont heat the water up till mid august...our hottest month is september and even then, it rarely gets up to 90 degrees and then the gentle breeze feels oh so sweet.
Hardly anyone even has air conditioners...we use a fan once in awhile in september.

[Edited on 2-18-2010 by shari]


yes, thin strip along coast might be cool in jul and aug, but inland areas are hot. i am not a fan of heat, so avoid the penninsula in hot period.

i suppose some people like traveling in baja in hot period and hurricane season, but not me.

i do deserts in winter, mtns in spring and fall, and summer stay home by the beach, or head north to pac nw

Russ - 2-18-2010 at 09:40 AM

First try to get 10 days. Then Asuncion as a destination to start with. June through Sept you don't want to be on the SOC side unless you can enjoy hot & humid.From Asuncion, depending on what you are driving, you can take dirt roads both north and south and find some fantastic camp sites. If you surf fish it is a good time of year too.

Skipjack Joe - 2-18-2010 at 01:39 PM

IMO fishing is not at it's best at Asuncion during July-August. There's a lot of upwhelling at that time that keeps the water temps down. It's mostly calico bass and halibut during that time frame. Things start to pick up during september (yellowtail, tuna, skipjack, bonito) and stay good through december. That's been our experience of 3 years (each one month long) of fishing Asuncion during July-Aug.

Air temperatures were comfortable: hi 70's- low 80's. Calm in morning with wind in afternoon that reaches about 20mph. Then calm at night.

Temperatures on the cortez are brutal but the fishing is good. Fish at day break until 11-noon and spend rest of day in air conditioned hotel room.

If you can change your plans to June/July you'll be better off as far as comfort on the cortez side. There's variation every year and this, being a el nino year, could change the fish migrations.

Good luck.

shari - 2-19-2010 at 07:38 AM

indeed true about the offshore fishing in Asuncion july-august...this cold current is what makes the air temps perfect AND IMHO, it is a wonderful time of year because it's very quiet here...no sportsfishermen...very few visitors, no snowbirds yet...but the ocean is still cool....need a wetsuit for water sports. The water warms up in august but if it's fishing you want, not till september-feb....if it's peace, nice temps and low season rates...july-aug.

It will be interesting to see what El Niņo brings...the abalone season may start much earlier this year as the coop aniticipates issues with warm water affecting the harvest later...time will tell. the water is still warm enough for swimming these days and yellowtail are still around.
yesterdays guys had a terrific mixed bag day!

[Edited on 2-19-2010 by shari]

mie venables.jpg - 41kB

Oso - 2-19-2010 at 10:47 AM

I once spent a week in July at La Perla (Bahia Concepcion) and was not at all uncomfortable. But then I was mostly either in the water or sleeping in a string hammock in an open palapa on a small rise just off the water. Nice little breeze. Also, I live on the border south of Yuma. Any temp under 110 is like Spring to me.

Udo - 2-19-2010 at 11:06 AM

For a week's worth of time, San Ignacio, Mulege, and Bahia Asuncion are on my list. Shorter time would have to be at San Quintin on the bay. Very relaxing. Stay at either Don Eddies or the Old Mill. At the Old Mill take the upstairs sweet.

alafrontera - 2-19-2010 at 11:40 AM

Thanks all, a lot to think about. This would be a camping trip, that is sort of the point. It doesn't have to be July / August but the heat won't bother us, we like it. I do want the SOC coast. Maybe late May or sometime in June is better?

So... this is tent camping and rather than set up and break camp for an overnight I'd rather just go as far as I can reasonably get in one day and stay there. Drive time to Bahia de Los Angeles from TJ ? I see a big island there, anything there? Any way to get there?

elgatoloco - 2-19-2010 at 12:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by alafrontera
Thanks all, a lot to think about. This would be a camping trip, that is sort of the point. It doesn't have to be July / August but the heat won't bother us, we like it. I do want the SOC coast. Maybe late May or sometime in June is better?

So... this is tent camping and rather than set up and break camp for an overnight I'd rather just go as far as I can reasonably get in one day and stay there. Drive time to Bahia de Los Angeles from TJ ? I see a big island there, anything there? Any way to get there?


All things Bahia

http://www.bahiadelosangeles.info/updates-news.htm

David K - 2-19-2010 at 03:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by alafrontera
Thanks all, a lot to think about. This would be a camping trip, that is sort of the point. It doesn't have to be July / August but the heat won't bother us, we like it. I do want the SOC coast. Maybe late May or sometime in June is better?

So... this is tent camping and rather than set up and break camp for an overnight I'd rather just go as far as I can reasonably get in one day and stay there. Drive time to Bahia de Los Angeles from TJ ? I see a big island there, anything there? Any way to get there?


8 hours for most, not towing, no motorhome.

(5 hours to El Rosario, 6.5 to Cataviņa)

Tons of camping possibilities around Bahia de L.A.

Remote camping to the north at Bahia Guadalupe/ Ensenada Alcatraz. BajaNomad (Doug) went camping there and posted some nice photos... use Nomad search.

Many, many points of interest around there... click on my 'self guided tours' web page: http://community-2.webtv.net/vivabaja/tours and see all the links to photos of sites in that (or any other Baja area)!

Just a couple of photos...




View of bay, south end




Turtle research station






Road to Montevideo cactus garden




Montevideo painted cliff







Skipping stones at La Gringa




La Gringa north beach, Smith Island's volcano background





[Edited on 2-19-2010 by David K]