BajaNomad

August in La Paz

SyntaxJO - 6-14-2010 at 12:01 PM

Finally heading out again, possibly for a solo trip!

Planning a trip to head out to La Paz for the second week of August with a few days at Tecalote. Will I be able to stand the heat or should I plan something for the pacific side? like Todos Santos?

karenintx - 6-14-2010 at 12:16 PM

The Pacific side is always cooler...especially in August and September.

comitan - 6-14-2010 at 12:27 PM

The heat is bearable, the humidity is uncomfortable, there is also a very good chance of a Hurricane that time of the year.

bigzaggin - 6-14-2010 at 12:30 PM

Spare yourself and go to Todos. La Paz will be sweltering, nite & day.

SyntaxJO - 6-14-2010 at 12:32 PM

Perfect thanks! - I am wondering, however. When I passed through Todos it seemed a little posh. Can I get by there on the cheap? Is there street food? Good beaches to camp on or 30$ hotels?

Osprey - 6-14-2010 at 12:40 PM

Go to La Paz. What heat? Stay in or near the water, wasted. Take music, a little money for ice, whatever. Don't be a sissy.

comitan - 6-14-2010 at 12:47 PM

:O:O

karenintx - 6-14-2010 at 01:13 PM

Do you surf...

http://www.pescaderosurf.com/camp.php

DavidE - 6-14-2010 at 02:27 PM

Try temperatures of 105 /84 humidity 65% / 95% day/night

Living twenty feet from the water south of T.S. the temp was OK but the air was saturated.

Guerrero Negro / San Quintin make fine escape hatches if things get out of hand.

Would have loved to see some of you lizards try and stay in Sta Rosalia in July when I measured the heat at 123F and 101F at the crack of dawn. The town emptied and folks were staying up on the bluffs. That same period I measured 111F in Mulege and 88F at dawn. NIST thermometer, set in NOAA approved enclosure in the shade of course.

At the moment more than seven hundred miles to the southeast of Cabo our temps are in the mid to high eighties, with a 54% humidity. Overnight low was 74F with a humidity of rain. This is on the coast.

vandenberg - 6-14-2010 at 02:50 PM

Get yourself a girlfriend like Hillary. That should keep you cool.:P

SyntaxJO - 6-14-2010 at 03:34 PM

What a conundrum. So I guess it's just gonna be hot. I thought that T.S. would be quite cooler but now I'm finding out that I am close to completely wrong.

SyntaxJO - 6-14-2010 at 03:37 PM

Oh that reminds me - I'll be doing an episode of my show "Breaking Down" in Baja while I'm there. It's for an episode called "Scary Mexico" which essentially is showing that most of Mexico (namely Baja) isn't scary at all. I'd love to interview some people in the Sur while I'm down. Let me know if you're interested. I just started the show and although I'll have an intro out soon I won't be filming the first episode in LA until July 3rd so there's nothing to see -- but here's the website anyhow:

www.breaking-down.com

I'll do another post about it soon.

[Edited on 6-14-2010 by SyntaxJO]

capt. mike - 6-14-2010 at 03:51 PM

Mr Eidell - good to see you around here.
i always enjoyed your insight into all things mexico not only baja.
hope you become frequent!

mtgoat666 - 6-14-2010 at 04:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SyntaxJO
Finally heading out again, possibly for a solo trip!

Planning a trip to head out to La Paz for the second week of August with a few days at Tecalote. Will I be able to stand the heat or should I plan something for the pacific side? like Todos Santos?


la paz is not very high on my list of places to visit in august... well, it's not even on the august list :lol:

mtgoat666 - 6-14-2010 at 04:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SyntaxJO
Oh that reminds me - I'll be doing an episode of my show "Breaking Down" in Baja while I'm there. It's for an episode called "Scary Mexico" which essentially is showing that most of Mexico (namely Baja) isn't scary at all. I'd love to interview some people in the Sur while I'm down. Let me know if you're interested. I just started the show and although I'll have an intro out soon I won't be filming the first episode in LA until July 3rd so there's nothing to see -- but here's the website anyhow:

www.breaking-down.com

I'll do another post about it soon.

[Edited on 6-14-2010 by SyntaxJO]


you show sounds like lonely planet travelogue desiring to climb to level of success of huell howser, but keeping the reality show edginess and griminess.

huell howser will always be the king! no travelogue will ever surpass california gold!

Bajahowodd - 6-14-2010 at 04:38 PM

Geez. I'm hoping that your affection for Huell is because of the "camp" factor. Personally, he wears on me with his continual sucking up to anyone and anything.

All that said, Sr. Syntax, don't get scared off from Todos. Yes, it's true that in August, the humidity is very high. But, at the end of the day, it is still several degrees cooler than La Paz.

monoloco - 6-14-2010 at 06:58 PM

I would recommend Punta Abreojos, Asuncion, Bahia Tortugas area in August.

BooJumMan - 6-14-2010 at 11:09 PM

I camped the entire month of August last year through southern Baja... Todos Santos was a tad cooler than La Paz, but not much. Staying in a hotel with AC is totally doable. We didn't have AC, and sweated out the nights. It wasn't all that bad, you eventually get used to it, and drink lots of water and gatorade ;) Camped on the east cape for a week and probably won't ever do that again in August in my life... ;D

SyntaxJO - 6-15-2010 at 02:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666

you show sounds like lonely planet travelogue desiring to climb to level of success of huell howser, but keeping the reality show edginess and griminess.

huell howser will always be the king! no travelogue will ever surpass california gold!


Yikes. All respect to the king but please shoot me in the back of the head if you ever catch me ecstatically inquiring about how old the studs are behind the drywall of whatever random place I happen to be in. And please make sure that the majority of my camera shots aren't of the subjects butts and elbows. I'm sure I can deliver something a little more interesting than intense interrogation about a picture that came with the frame it's in that happens to be on a nightstand of some person that has nothing to do with any kind of topic or theme of the episode.

Although I wish I could travel more the show is actually 99% based in LA where I live (big surprise). It's just a show about what interests me but I actually have a point for making each episode so that there's some sort of story arc to them. This episode in particular is about how most of Mexico really isn't as scary as everyone in America thinks. I thought since I was vacationing in Baja that I should film part of it. But if you're cool hangin with our sweet simple friend Mr. Huell Howser than you go to it. He's like California's own Forrest Gump - Forrest Gump Gold.

[Edited on 6-15-2010 by SyntaxJO]

rhintransit - 6-15-2010 at 05:56 AM

if you want to (mentally) break down in Baja, I think La Paz in August would be great. be sure to stay in an unairconditioned third floor west facing concrete block low budget hotel in a barrio far from the malecon during hurricane season and make sure it's a time there's no water to the area and the reserve tank is dry. oh, and walk or bus everywhere. no cheating on taxis.

Osprey - 6-15-2010 at 06:16 AM

Boy, I'm really out of the loop way down here. Who is Huell Howser? Could that be the father of the old TV show about a very young doctor, Doogy Howser?

DianaT - 6-15-2010 at 08:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by monoloco
I would recommend Punta Abreojos, Asuncion, Bahia Tortugas area in August.


In August, it can be 100+ degrees a few miles inland and very nice here along the coast. And it is very different than the big city of La Paz or the fancy Todos Santos. Baja is many different things.

BTW---I enjoy Huell Howser at times, and when I met the man he seemed like a really nice person, but I have always seen his show as the Lawrence Welk of Travel Shows. --- :biggrin:

David K - 6-15-2010 at 08:23 AM

I would recommend Bahia Asuncion, central Pacific coast of Baja... But do check out the gulf side just to compare. Todos Santos is near the latitude of Hawaii, so that far south the normally cool Pacific coast can't cut the humidity and heat as it does further north.

See http://bahiaasuncion.com and meet Shari & Juan.

LA PAZ/PACIFIC IN AUGUST

rob - 6-15-2010 at 08:44 AM

Just looked at the last 5 years of August weather data for the ranch (see map - due west of La Paz) - average 85F high, 76F low; we consistently show temps of 15-16F below La Paz in summer, humdity constant at about 68%

Also noticeable how much cooler the ranch is than TS - its only 70 miles up the beach. In spring though, the winds in TS are mild, here they are - bracing. I guess that's the price!

DianeT - there is a difference of 15-17F between our place on the beach and the front gate, 2.6km inland. Talk about microclimates!

rob

Rancho-La-Aguja-area-AA-map.jpg - 37kB

bajajazz - 6-15-2010 at 09:49 AM

La Paz in August is paradise compared to August in places like Yuma and Phoenix.

We've lived here fulltime for over ten years and have come to terms with the summer weather. For example, it's not smart to do any hard work outside during the heat of the day. For us, that time is best spent inside with the A/C running. We have five air conditioners scattered around a well-insulated house with double-paned windows, and use them as needed to stay comfortable and have never had a monthly electrical bill for more than $100. USD.

If cabin fever strikes, there's always the option of going to Coromuel or Tecolote and getting into the water. In August of '89 I was living in the south side of La Paz and biking every day to Coromuel, stayed hydrated by hitting every ice cream and raspado store both directions.

Hardship? Hell no, total pleasure.

capt. mike - 6-15-2010 at 10:28 AM

"have never had a monthly electrical bill for more than $100. USD"

i find that incredible given CFE's rates.
5 AC units? what was their set point? 85 degrees?

mexican electricity is expensive. you must be zone running them where needed.

i have been in la paz often in august and live in metro phx - i'll take phx any day that time of year. far less heat index. it's the index that spells comfort level.

BajaBlanca - 6-15-2010 at 10:44 AM

come and visit central Baja - we are 10 miles north of punta abreojos. being that we are on the Pacific, - almost never too hot and the beaches are perfect aug - sept - oct water temperature-wise. see our B & B:

www.labocanahotel.com

you MUST visit Bahia Asuncion and meet Shari/Juan - she can give you much history and info on safety as she has lived in Baja for a looooooooooooooooooong time

IF you go to Los Barriles area - look for a town called SANTIAGO, then follow signs for SOL DE MAYO. you will pay 75 pesos to see a waterfall in the middle of the desert. take a picnic lunch, take a bathingsuit. escape the heat for a day

just do it

eetdrt88 - 6-15-2010 at 12:11 PM

once spent a week in the middle of summer camping at san lucas cove with my kids and a couple of friends...very hot and humid,saw some intense lightening shows...couldnt sleep at night,just lay in the tent and sweat..lots of mosqitoes...squid fishing was going off...these kind of trips will change your perpective on life,once u step outside your comfort zone...would i do it all again...in a heartbeat:cool:

rhintransit - 6-15-2010 at 01:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajazz
La Paz in August is paradise compared to August in places like Yuma and Phoenix.

We've lived here fulltime for over ten years and have come to terms with the summer weather. For example, it's not smart to do any hard work outside during the heat of the day. For us, that time is best spent inside with the A/C running. We have five air conditioners scattered around a well-insulated house with double-paned windows, and use them as needed to stay comfortable and have never had a monthly electrical bill for more than $100. USD.

If cabin fever strikes, there's always the option of going to Coromuel or Tecolote and getting into the water. In August of '89 I was living in the south side of La Paz and biking every day to Coromuel, stayed hydrated by hitting every ice cream and raspado store both directions.

Hardship? Hell no, total pleasure.


different strokes! I retreat to Phoenix in August and September from the Loreto area. 'it's a dry heat' is really true. I can tolerate 120 degree days with 0 humidity a whole lot better than 90 degree days with 90% humidity. I walk and use my moped during the day (and get a lot of weird looks but it's really NOT hot comparatively)
I've no ac in my off the grid BCS palapa and central air in my Phoenix home. I've never had a summer ac bill there above $75/month. every commercial and public place is air conditioned in Phoenix, not so down here. a big difference in quality of summer life!

SyntaxJO - 6-15-2010 at 01:53 PM

I'm feelin' Asuncion! Is Malarimo a joke? Picked clean?

DianaT - 6-15-2010 at 02:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by SyntaxJO
I'm feelin' Asuncion! Is Malarimo a joke? Picked clean?


The locals here are very friendly and have lots of great stories from the beginning of this town. Also, one of the representatives from the Preserve lives here and is a wealth of information for all of the Preserve of which Bahia Asuncion is a part --- he speaks English very well if you do not speak Spanish.

In the middle of August there is the fiesta here in town---lots of fun.

If you go to Abreojos----check with Chelo in the small hotel for what happens in Abreojos and for local information.

Beware of the road from Vizcaino to the turn off to Bahia Asuncion-----needs to be replaced as parts of it are in VERY bad shape.

The trip out to Tortugas is worth it as it is quite different, and then the trip on the dirt road from Asuncion to Abreojos is beautiful!

bajabass - 6-15-2010 at 04:14 PM

Ah, the summer of my seventeenth year! All is well as I graduate from U.S.M.C. boot camp. After three months of torture at M.C.R.D. in San Diego, a month of that climbing all over Camp Pendleton with full packs, I figured I could handle anything. Until I got off the bus , mid August, at 29 Palms! 3 mile runs, 4 days a week, right before lunch. I think back about all the little Jeep ambulances running a relay race, hauling dropped jarheads to the base clinic for rehydration. 35 years later, I will find myself living in La Paz full time. Fish early, hide at home, or a cantina with AC the rest of the day. At least I won't have to go running at noon!! I'll just have to tough it out!!:spingrin:

comitan - 6-15-2010 at 04:27 PM

bajabass

This thread is about La Paz the city, if you live out of town +_ 17K, N, you will find the heat 6-8 deg less than the city. If you add a little altitude probably another 2 deg. less.

bajabass - 6-15-2010 at 04:42 PM

That should help Wiley! How about out on the water, say until noon?

comitan - 6-15-2010 at 05:35 PM

Comfortable! You can pull up to a beach get in the water and clean your fish.

DavidE - 6-15-2010 at 11:47 PM

Here I sit staring at my CFE bill. 120vac 30 amp service. 770 kWh, THREE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE PESOS (Includes DAP and 16% IVA). This is a bi-mestral bill meaning every 60 days.

Divide 770 by 3,170 pesos and you'll get the kWh cost in pesos.

CFE from May to November -in hot zones- offers a tiered kWh price to 450 kWh, after that you go into "excedente" at twenty nine cents US per kWh then if subsequent bills exceed a grand total summation then all bets are off -- from then on the calculation given above is applied right from the git go on the bill. Go ahead and do the math. Ya no savy dolares solo efectivo mexicano. Haven't seen a dolar in an armadillo's age.

I can escape here whereas on the cape I had to either take the ferry across to Mazatlan and then head on up the devil's spine on Mex 40, or go to Guerrero Negro / San quintin; quite a drive.

Here I can head up Mex 14, and in a matter of three hours go from the steamy coast to Patzcuaro elevation 7,000 feet, and walk amongst the pines in seventy degree weather. It doesn't hurt that nearby Uruapan is Mexico's fruit and vegetable basket. Sunday at Tianguis I purchased blackberries for 10 pesos a KILO, strawberries for 15 pesos a KILO, raspberries for 17 pesos a KILO. whole fresh Playa Azul pineapples for 10 pesos EACH, and a crate of hayden mangoes for twenty pesos (13 lbs).

As long as I am yarn spinning...tomorrow I will go out into my yard and pick some proper coconuts and purple finger bananas. They are destined for a huge charola (pan) in which I plan to bake a five pound banana nut bread.

Jesus dragged in a 53 lb yellowtail day before yesterday. He shot it with a spear gun. This area is so remote that zero charter boats visit. Nada. I've seen black marlin sleeping on the surface of the water, but they are considered trash fish. Beto filleted one of three bull dorados that weighed an aggregate total of over 100 lbs and gave me a ten pound slab. This is going to be braised over glowing guisaxche coals, and be accompanied by home made tortillas, and green salsa. Everyone here wants huauchinango, the red bass made famous by the recipe huauchinango a la veracruzana.

What I proclaim is this: Every square inch of this country is precious. No other area can hope to compete with any given one. The peninsula is unique there are not two.

Saludos de Michoacan

Bajatripper - 6-20-2010 at 12:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DavidE
Jesus dragged in a 53 lb yellowtail day before yesterday. He shot it with a spear gun.


David E
You have probably forgotten what a new arrival would first think when reading this line.

That is a beautiful area you live in over there. I always have found the region special. But I never much cared for the drive out to Uruapan, especially when the road is slick. Those curves and too many drivers short on patience for passing could really get my upper back really tense in a day.

Steve