BajaNomad - highway to San Ignacio whale watching sites

highway to San Ignacio whale watching sites

elfbrewery - 1-24-2011 at 06:57 PM

Okay, your indulgence please. I have friends who want to know what the road is like to go see whales at San Ignacio. They have family they want to take out there and haven't been out that way in years.
Thanks for your input.

Bajamatic - 1-24-2011 at 07:02 PM

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[Edited on 1-25-2011 by Bajamatic]

Loretana - 1-24-2011 at 07:11 PM

That road is beastly. A full hour and a half of ruts, washboard, bone jarring dips and I suggest you take a van from San Ignacio.
The drivers are professionals, know the really bad spots and take it easy.

When we went to see the whales last February, the kind folks at the San Ignacio Yurts arranged the van for us. It was $20 per person, and well spent.

baja Steve - 1-24-2011 at 07:28 PM

It is paved for about the first 30K which was the worst part and the rest is not bad. Was on it a few days ago.

Gaucho - 1-24-2011 at 08:49 PM

I was on it last April in my SUV and it was a piece a cake.

Quote:

Originally posted by elfbrewery
Okay, your indulgence please. I have friends who want to know what the road is like to go see whales at San Ignacio. They have family they want to take out there and haven't been out that way in years.
Thanks for your input.

Baja&Back - 1-24-2011 at 09:13 PM

It's not worth driving. Go to Scammon's Lagoon instead. IMO

vgabndo - 1-25-2011 at 10:55 AM

Just round tripped it a couple of days ago. 20 clicks are paved, then standard washboard. We were directed to Antonio's at Camp 3 by the sweet lady at Pachicos. We won the Laguna Lottery. There were 70 whales in the lagoon according to the researchers who were there. Being off season at the moment, we were alone, and it was a very un-touristy experience. Also our interaction with "our" whale was so unusual that both the driver, Antonio's son Daniel and our guide in training Fatima became just as overwhelmed as we two were. Daniel said that this was the third time in 11 years that he'd had such an experience. An hour and ten minutes with the female in contact with the panga, and her "boyfriend" constantly circling just outside her length.

For us, the solitude, the hospitality, the experience was worth the drive, and we arrived from the Viscaino coast having had to drive around the lagoon on paved roads after arriving at Punta Abreojos.

As Baja and Back knows all too well, seeing Baja from a caravan of motorhomes is severely limiting.

San Ignacio lagoon Fatima 081.jpg 00.jpg - 44kB

San Ignacio lagoon Fatima 081.jpg 00.jpg - 44kB

DianaT - 1-25-2011 at 11:04 AM

Good to have the updates on the road and the whales. Last year at this time they were just arriving---we are planning on going to be there soon.

We have always driven out there on our own and enjoy the drive---even with the rough road at times. It is especially nice on the way back when we are in less of a hurry and we can stop a lot and enjoy the magnificent scenery.

Barbarosa - 1-25-2011 at 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo
our interaction with "our" whale was so unusual that both the driver, Antonio's son Daniel and our guide in training Fatima became just as overwhelmed as we two were. Daniel said that this was the third time in 11 years that he'd had such an experience. An hour and ten minutes with the female in contact with the panga, and her "boyfriend" constantly circling just outside her length.

Heh. Dunno if yours was more unusual (don't really know much about this stuff), but a few years ago at Scammon's Lagoon I saw the sequel. 3 of his buddies hold her down for th' whole thing; it's a gang bang.

As far as: "seeing Baja from a caravan of motorhomes is severely limiting." I'm sure it's true but will be willing to take your word for it.

For me, by motorcycle is the *only* way. (Wasn't it Robert Pirsig who said that any other way, you're just seeing everything "through a TV screen.")

9 days and counting!

Bajahowodd - 1-25-2011 at 12:38 PM

Interesting to read the different "takes" on the road and the lagoon. My two cents on it is that at least for us, heading South from the border, our choice was made depending on how much time we had for our trip. When taking a 3-4 day long weekend, we found that going to Ojo de Liebre near Guerrero Negro made sense. A number of hotel operators in Guerrero Negro offer escorted trips to the lagoon. A couple of which take credit cards, which can be a real convenience. Even if you choose to drive out to the ejido landing yourself, the road is only about 1/3 as long as the one going to San Ignacio Lagoon. That plus the additional 2+ hours each way beyond Guerrero Negro made it a no brainer when our time was limited by other commitments. Having been to both several times, I must admit that the most exciting and intimate experience we had was on one trip to San Ignacio. However, your success in having up close whale encounters depends on a number of factors, some of which include the time of day, weather conditions, and plain luck. Statistics support the fact that at any given time during the season, there are more whales in Ojo de Liebre than in San Ignacio.

In any event, hope your friends have a great time.

BajaBlanca - 1-25-2011 at 12:55 PM

There have been so many whales going south the last 3 weeks. I have never seen so many swimming south, so close to shore, in the 4 years we've been here ! But it is ver Quiet this morning .... or maybe they are further out since the waves are gigantic and pounding the surf.

battle of the lagoons

mtgoat666 - 1-25-2011 at 01:11 PM

my 2 centavos: if you have the time go to SIL for quality of location and experience, and if you are a northerner watching the clock, then go to second best location at GN.

David K - 1-25-2011 at 02:52 PM

Next time someone drives out, please zero your trip odometer in front of the mission (town plaza)... and write down how many miles to where the pavement ended... then to the lagoon and any other significant notes of interest.

In this thread we hear it is
all 'beastly',
a piece of cake,
30 km. paved,
20 km. paved...
???

Thank you!

DianaT - 1-25-2011 at 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Next time someone drives out, please zero your trip odometer in front of the mission (town plaza)... and write down how many miles to where the pavement ended... then to the lagoon and any other significant notes of interest.

In this thread we hear it is
all 'beastly',
a piece of cake,
30 km. paved,
20 km. paved...
???

Thank you!

We will be there very soon. We stay beyond the mission but we always set the trip odometer at the beginning of the road and then promptly forget to look at it. Kind of like the GPS thing, never used it. Guess we just figure it is what it is, go for it and figure we can always turn back if we need to do so.

Some is paved, some is not and as far as the condition goes, that really has a lot to do with opinion as to what constitutes a good or bad road. And it may be good today, and awful next week.

Perhaps it is just best for people to give it a try if they want, turn back if they don't like it, or if they don't want to try, ride in one of the vans----but of course then if you don't like the road, you can't turn back. :biggrin:

[Edited on 1-25-2011 by DianaT]

just do it!

mtgoat666 - 1-25-2011 at 03:05 PM

Quote:

does exact measurements really matter? it is paved about 1/3 of the way. hundreds of cars use the road every day. it is always passable. it is unpaved, and local soil is rocky, so like many roads the road base is rocky and road bed is prone to washboards. no further detail is needed. in the words of that immortal greek goddess, "just do it!"

David K - 1-25-2011 at 03:26 PM

I agree.... people ask how the road is to places as if they are not going to go if the road is bad??? Baja is all about BAD ROADS! I love bad roads... that insures they will only be used by GOOD PEOPLE!

I just think as a source of Baja information, having some consistancy would be nice... Regardless of the condition, it is either paved or not, either 12 miles or 18 from town, either torn up or just washboard surface... If somebody would just write down the mileages, it would get documented here... sort of recorded history.

I would gladly, if I could... I enjoy recording conditions for historical comparisson. Baja Nomad is a great place for reference to conditions in Baja.. They do change...

captkw - 1-25-2011 at 03:35 PM

ricardo at rice and beans in san ignocio has a nice van and good food too.. me I dont care for gn at all, the armpit of baja in my stupid opinion!!that sad I get to sea them alot on the pacific on my boats and never get tired of them...just don't what to hit one doing 45 knots in my twin engine catermaran

wilderone - 1-31-2011 at 09:57 AM

The best time to see whales is early morning when the bahia is more calm. So if you're planning on driving, best done the night before, which would necessitate overnight accomomodations. When I drove out last year I told myself I wouldn't do it again in my own car - not "standard" washboard - some of the worst. And I don't want any car trouble. You could make some stops along the way to take photos, etc., and stay longer to explore after the whale excursion - that would be a plus to drive yourselves. Keep in mind that weather can have detrimental consequences on your whale experience. Don't bother if it's windy and overcast.

Bajahowodd - 1-31-2011 at 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by captkw
ricardo at rice and beans in san ignocio has a nice van and good food too.. me I dont care for gn at all, the armpit of baja in my stupid opinion!!that sad I get to sea them alot on the pacific on my boats and never get tired of them...just don't what to hit one doing 45 knots in my twin engine catermaran

Ricardo has a minimum number requirement. The nice folks at El Padrino RV Park across from the Desert Inn will take you out, no minimum number.