Hello All, this is my first post. I'd like to take my family (2 small kids, wife) and my parents (late 70's) to Cabo Pulmo for a nice family trip with
snorkeling, relaxing, some light fishing. A nice lady at Discover Baja also recommended Buena Vista and Rancho Leonero. We'll fly into CSL then rent a
car. We are looking for something more laid back and quiet, but will need some convenience due to the family. I'd love some advice on which of these
nice places to stay and what it's like from some of you first-handers. Thanks so much.tiotomasbcs - 7-11-2011 at 04:16 PM
Welcome, Amigo. Lots of choices! Google Cabo Pulmo for rental possibilities--some very nice. If you want to be less remote try the many hotels in
Los Barriles. With parents and young kids you may choose LB to be near civilization and only an hours drive out to Cabo Pulmo and area. Rancho
Buena Vista is on the cliff overlooking the Sea w/swimming pool and bar--no restaurant but 10minutes to LB. Very quiet and nice! I'll let other
Nomads give you their choices. What month, by the way? It's Hot!! Enjoy. Tiobajajudy - 7-11-2011 at 05:01 PM
Actually Rancho Bueno Vista is right on the beach. I dont know if their restaurant is open or not but it is a beautiful place. It is an easy drive
into Los Barriles.....or you can walk on the beach.
Rancho Leonero is also beautiful but not a very vehicle friendly ride into Los Barriles.
If these are the only two places you are considering, I would go with Buena Vista for convenience.Curt63 - 7-11-2011 at 05:08 PM
Judy, Sounds like a great plan depending on the weather.
Ask lots of questions about the car rental (cost of insurance). Many people are shocked at the counter (it happened to me in SJD).
Buena Suerte!Eli - 7-11-2011 at 05:35 PM
Both Las Barracas and Cabo Pulmo are awesome, there are some very nice homes for rent out there. It could be a wonderful adventure for your family. I
know Cole Barrymore who runs a dive shop out there might have something. As stated above just google rentals in Cabo Pulmo, you will find many
options.
f you decide to come in closer to town, I can recommend a very nice completely furnished house on the beach in Buena Vista, google Casabaja.com
car rental advice
C-Urchin - 7-11-2011 at 06:27 PM
Sounds like you are going to have fun.
Here's what I have learned to do to eliminate bad "juju" from rental companies:
1-DO NOT RENT FROM EUROPCAR. They are terrible crooks and their cars are kept in bad maintenance.
2-Go with any American garden variety rental company, they are all the same.
3-Use American Express.
4-Sign up for liability (mandated by law) only insurance. Use your credit card benefits to cover the rest.
5-When you pick up the car, take profuse pictures of any little scratch, dent, dirty upholstery, everything. Do it right in front of the attendant.
Take special care to scrutinize the windshield and windows. Look under the wipers! Make sure all of it is recorded on the paper that he has to fill
out.
Step No:5 is like Kryptonite against getting fleeced with "damages to the car" when you return it (see step No:1).
If it still happens and it is unjustified, have them bill you separately for the damages, sign your credit card receipt and hand write on it: *I am
signing this against my will, these charges are fraudulent.
When you get home, call your credit card company, they will make it all go away.
In SJD, be careful with the car rental attendants, they all sell time shares on the side. Everyone sells time shares on the side. The street dogs sell
time shared dog houses for a living...You will be offered to go to presentations etc...skim - 7-11-2011 at 06:38 PM
What a wonderful forum I have found. Wow! I wish I knew more people locally whose enthusiasm for MX matched our own.
I'll carefully reread what you have all written. What kind of weather can we expect in Sept? I understand it can get windy. We are considering this
place:
Anyone with experience? My Dad can only walk limited distances.
Gracias amigos nuevos.skim - 7-11-2011 at 06:45 PM
Oh, forgot to ask. We've been a couple times when the fishing crowd from US was pretty heavy. Wasn't ideal for family (I thought). Will Sept be
likewise, and is there fishing even allowed in Cabo Pulmo?dtbushpilot - 7-11-2011 at 08:25 PM
I think Cabo Pulmo is an overrated dump. Go to Buena Vista or Los Barriles and have things like electricity (might come in handy in the summer months)
water and grocery stores. They even have nice beaches there and there isn't someone around every corner telling you what you can't do. If you're into
diving book a trip with Vista Sea Sport in Buena Vista and they will take you to Cabo Pulmo if that is where you really want to go.....dtdtbushpilot - 7-11-2011 at 08:27 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by skim
Oh, forgot to ask. We've been a couple times when the fishing crowd from US was pretty heavy. Wasn't ideal for family (I thought). Will Sept be
likewise, and is there fishing even allowed in Cabo Pulmo?
Don't waste your vacation on Cabo Pulmo.......Eli - 7-12-2011 at 05:34 AM
Aug. is hot and middle of hurricane season. I expect that any heavy winds means hurricane. Although the local kitesurfers go down to Barracas, (just
North of Pulmo), for the sufficent light winds in the afternoon that they can grab from the South at this time of year. With the heat being what it
is, I would imagine those breezes to be advantageous.
Anywhere you rent, make sure they have adequate a.c., I bet you will be using it.
I don't fish, so I can't answer about fishing being legal in Pulmo. I do know there are, (or were when I was last there a good while back) fish camps
in Los Fralies just South of there.
Fishing should be pretty good in Aug., but due to the fact that it is so dang hot, I doubt you will be running into very many sports fishermen.
If the heat is an issue for you as it is for me, you might consider the option of Northern Baja and Asunsion Bay. Honestly, if I was going on a
vacation to Baja in Aug., that is where I would check out first.
My home is in Los Barriles and due to my intolerance to heat, I leave June thru to mid Oct. As do many of the resident gringos.
I could never tell someone else what is a better place for them. The isolation, beauty of the beaches in Los Barracas in particular is very appealing.
The fact that one is dependent on solar power may have it's advantages in hurricane season, if the power goes out on the main grid, who cares you are
independent. Being out there could be the adventure you are looking for.
Still, the beaches are also beautiful in Buena Vista, it will be quite, close to shopping and medical etc. Although a few of the restaurants and
stores do close cause it is just so dang hot who wants to be there running them, besides there are so few clients.
Hope this helps. And by the way, bienvenidos a Bajanomads, where all is subjective to ones personal experinse.Bill Collector - 7-12-2011 at 06:16 AM
Hi
Sept is Hurricane season down here, just be aware of that. We have a great rental sitting right on the water. We are 6 miles South of Los Barriles, www.vrbo.com/186552
we have had 12 people there in the past it's a nice house...
We are fishing in Sept unless a storm comes through.. Good luck where ever you go. It's wonderful down here.
Barbbajafreaks - 7-12-2011 at 06:48 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
I think Cabo Pulmo is an overrated dump. Go to Buena Vista or Los Barriles and have things like electricity (might come in handy in the summer months)
water and grocery stores. They even have nice beaches there and there isn't someone around every corner telling you what you can't do. If you're into
diving book a trip with Vista Sea Sport in Buena Vista and they will take you to Cabo Pulmo if that is where you really want to go.....dt
I totally agree with DT especially with small kids Los Barriles and/or Buena Vista is where I would highly recommend for all of the reasons listed.
Also we've stayed at "Bill Collectors" rental and its awesome, nice people great location.
[Edited on 7-12-2011 by bajafreaks]Floatflyer - 7-12-2011 at 06:55 AM
We always have gotten the best rates when renting a car by booking online. Premium credit card covers required insurance, otherwise insurance is very
expensive.
We have our over flow visitors stay at Baja Bungalows in Cabo Pulmo, never a complaint. http://www.bajabungalows.com/
Fishing is available in pangas in Cabo Pulmo, located on the beach next to Juan's Restauant. Rate is about $200 for half day. Fishing within the
Marine Park is forbidden.
It will be hot & humid, water in the mid 80's, A/C while not mandatory for some is certainly enjoyed by all.Bill Collector - 7-12-2011 at 05:52 PM
Thanks BajaFreaks for the kind words..when are you and your wife coming back down??
I actually gave him the house that we manage next door, it's the larger home, sleeps 10 without a problem..
Here's our site, it's a 1 bedroom, two queen beds. Sitting right on the Sea of Cortez www.vrbo.com/16619
We are running a great special right now
BarbBajamatic - 7-12-2011 at 06:29 PM
What are the better hotels in Los Barriles? (with family in mind - bigger, more inclusive-types).
[Edited on 7-13-2011 by Bajamatic]Bill Collector - 7-12-2011 at 07:12 PM
You have Palmas de Cortez which is right in the center of town
Buena Vista Resort
Rancho Leonero
Rancho Buena Vista is closed. They have the bar open 5 days a weekIndy - 7-17-2011 at 05:19 PM
Cabo Pulmo is a National Marine Park and fishing is not allowed. It's a great place to go if as you say, you'd like to avoid the fishing crowd.
Instead you'll find a good mix of people there to snorkel, dive and kayak, others just to relax. The people who are most attracted to Cabo Pulmo are
those wanting to experience beautiful dives on the only living reef in the Sea of Cortez. It's an amazing experience. Lots of natural history and
conservation learning opportunities for the kids too.
True, with small childen and older parents Buena Vista or Los Barriles might be a better choice to base yourself from, then take a day trip into
Pulmo, but that is not to say that total comfort and style cannot be found there, as there are some very cool places to stay that would offer you all
the amenities that you would need, even in a totally solar off the grid environment. If your budget permits check out El Encanto Cabo Pulmo (Google
it). It's an amazing house built by a talented artist and a place that you and your family would no doubt have a one of kind experience in, even if
just for a night or two. The star filled skies at night and morning sunrises from the ocean view house make it worthwhile. A more economical but
equally confortable alternative would be the Cabo Pulmo Beach Resort, which can also arrange snorkelling or diving.
