BajaNomad

Areas to avoid around Christmas/New Years?

RufusTheDoofus - 9-13-2011 at 08:21 PM

Still working on planning our second (annual?) trip from Maine to Baja. We'll be somewhere in Baja for Christmas and New Years this year. Most likely BCS, possibly as far south as Cabo Pulmo or Todos Santos. (We'll be entering Baja in the first week of December.)

We're traveling with our two dogs and prefer isolated beach camping with no crowds. With this in mind are there areas we should avoid?

DENNIS - 9-13-2011 at 08:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RufusTheDoofus
We're traveling with our two dogs and prefer isolated beach camping with no crowds. With this in mind are there areas we should avoid?


You probably should avoid San Quintin at least until they clean out the trash.

greengoes - 9-13-2011 at 08:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RufusTheDoofus
Still working on planning our second (annual?) trip from Maine to Baja. We'll be somewhere in Baja for Christmas and New Years this year. Most likely BCS, possibly as far south as Cabo Pulmo or Todos Santos. (We'll be entering Baja in the first week of December.)

We're traveling with our two dogs and prefer isolated beach camping with no crowds. With this in mind are there areas we should avoid?


All DUI checkpoints?? :lol:

Seriously - have a good trip.

BajaBlanca - 9-13-2011 at 09:03 PM

ditto on san quintin.

stay parked somehwere on christmas eve and xmas and do the same
new years eve and new years

there is faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar too much drinking.

lots of people on the road those days, maybe pick a small town

la bocana (whre we live) has bocanita - beautiful and remote and free but no services at all except for free internet on our porch 5 min away and we can offer showers for $5 pp.

if I were you, I would head to Bahia Asuncion and stay at Shari's campground - safe and $5 a night per person (Ithink). Absolutely gorgeous beach near the campground. Full facilities and plenty of partying to boot !

RufusTheDoofus - 9-13-2011 at 09:47 PM

Thanks for the tips. Free internet is tempting but I hope to be much further south by then.

I was thinking maybe San Cosme but heard that it can be crowded on holidays.

I do plan to visit Shari this trip. Most likely as we head north after San Juanico.

shari - 9-14-2011 at 09:27 AM

xmas &n new years is a good time to be parked all right...the roads are treacherous...it is high season so there will be a fair amount of folks camping but I'm sure you can find a relatively quiet spot...how about Agua Verde which is our all time favorite camping area...VERY quiet and lovely people and beaches, fishing etc...enter south of Ligui.

look forward to seeing you guys...our campground will be full over the xmas holidays as we are hosting a big wedding there.

tiotomasbcs - 9-14-2011 at 04:50 PM

Doofus, great Tag!? Good free camping in Todos area and usually warm for the Holidays. San Pedrito has no facilities but many campers--bring a shovel! Beautiful time of the year. Don't miss the beautiful city of La Paz. As time comes closer, stay in touch. Tio ps very few negativos but sounds like Cabo is an in/out for you.

[Edited on 9-14-2011 by tiotomasbcs]

David A. - 9-15-2011 at 11:10 AM

Campo Gecko, the drinks get real strong that time of year!:barf:

Paulina - 9-15-2011 at 05:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David A.
Campo Gecko, the drinks get real strong that time of year!:barf:


Add to that there isn't a dance in town anymore. Totally ruined my Christmas/New Year tradition.

P>*)))>{ :no:

RufusTheDoofus - 9-15-2011 at 08:14 PM

Shari - San Cosme is a cove or two north of Agua Verde. It's the beach with the hot spring at low tide. Very cool location but apparently can be crowded with a bunch of drunks on the big holidays.

David K - 9-15-2011 at 09:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Paulina
Quote:
Originally posted by David A.
Campo Gecko, the drinks get real strong that time of year!:barf:


Add to that there isn't a dance in town anymore. Totally ruined my Christmas/New Year tradition.

P>*)))>{ :no:


SERIOUSLY?!!

I guess bringing 24 hour power to town has ruined more than a star filled night sky from town?

David K - 9-15-2011 at 09:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RufusTheDoofus
Shari - San Cosme is a cove or two north of Agua Verde. It's the beach with the hot spring at low tide. Very cool location but apparently can be crowded with a bunch of drunks on the big holidays.


Probably should avoid when the Green Tortoise hippy tour group is there, too! :light:

Paulina - 9-15-2011 at 09:41 PM

David,

It didn't have anything to do with 24 hr. electricity. I won't go into it as it would take this post off topic.

P>*)))>{

BFS - 9-16-2011 at 07:37 AM

Avoid Wallmart at all costs, you may never get back out!

Hey..that greentortoise is a GREAT deal!

mcfez - 9-17-2011 at 07:19 AM

I had friends that did the GT...they loved it! David..get your beads back on :-)
http://www.greentortoise.com/


For camping.....(here I go again)....I say to travel southward on the Sea Of Cortez till you hit Gonzaga Bay. What a place!

One can enter thru Mexicali.......great stops are San Felipe, South San Felipe, Puertecitos, Gonzaga Bay, Punta Final...and many other destinations that offer a great vacation get away.

Once pass Punta Final.....the road leads up to Mex 1 where BoLA is a short distance. Yes....there are two ways to reach southern Baja.

If you hit BoLA (Bahia de los Angeles):
www.villabahia.com/
Tell em that kissmygrass landscaper sent you. Hell of of a spot to chill out at.

Or

www.campdaggetts.com
GREAT campground right on the beach or a little 5 unit motel there. Secured. Wake up in the a.m. with Islands staring at you! Take fishing gear. Town is a few minutes away. Has everything u need.

Baja06_077.jpg - 44kB

RufusTheDoofus - 9-18-2011 at 05:29 PM

We really enjoyed BofLA last trip. We'll spend some time there again this trip. Most likely at La Gringa. I will check out villabahia.com.

David K - 9-18-2011 at 05:42 PM

Just a few (non- sea) sites in the area (photos of in my web site and on Nomad):

The El Toro copper mine is north of La Gringa.
The museum in town is interesting.
Las Flores, the railroad line south, the tram terminal from the San Juan mines.
Montevideo painted cliffs and boojum forests.
San Borja mission
Lost Mission (?) mystery walls near Las Animas.
Giant Cardon forest of La Bocana Valley.

Villa Bahia

skippermike - 9-18-2011 at 05:47 PM

We've never had a bad time at Villa Bahia.
The last Baja 1000, everything was full, we were to be at the BFG pit downtown, they fit us in, just great!!
I always ask if I can bring anything down in my truck, as there is usually room after the spares/tool boxes/fuel jugs/etc. - as at Coyote Cal's - usually they don't need anything, but if they do, how hard is it to help out?

Bajaboy - 9-18-2011 at 06:11 PM

Any time I am heading south to camp during the winter months, I kind of let the weather dictate my plans. I have my favorite spots on the Sea of Cortez such as Playa San Rafael, Gonzaga, and Agua Verde...but not if, but when the north winds kick up, I shoot for the Pacific or points further south. Just my two cents.

zac

Bob and Susan - 9-18-2011 at 07:49 PM

actually xmas and new years are family holidays

not too many people travel to baja
the snowbirds are already here

and
its cold

but if you are coming from the north it will feel warm to you

hardly anyone comes to camp
most people come with trailers and stay in those
they USE the heaters

i wouldn't worry about drunks
i've been up and down on these holidays

the border runs a smaller crew so the wait is longer if you're crossing

TMW - 9-19-2011 at 06:43 AM

Several years ago when the Los Arcos hotel was open we alternated Chrismas and New Years and what a beautiful site with the sail boats in the bay with Christmas lights on. Setting on a third floor balcany relaxing seems like yesterday.

BajaNomad - 9-19-2011 at 09:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
actually xmas and new years are family holidays

not too many people travel to baja
the snowbirds are already here

and
its cold

but if you are coming from the north it will feel warm to you

hardly anyone comes to camp
most people come with trailers and stay in those
they USE the heaters

i wouldn't worry about drunks
i've been up and down on these holidays


My experience has been similar. Spring and Summer holidays beaches can get packed. Not as much in the Winter. The reasons noted above seem valid.

Same with driving. January 1st this year we drove from Concepcion Bay to El Rosario.... and the traffic on the highway was very light overall. Possibly it's more dicey closer to cities if the drunks are out in the general vicinity??

Was looking up San Cosme here on the board, and found some interesting stuff about David Smith of El Carrizalito in that area. Not sure if it's of interest, but thought I'd point it out....

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=37562

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=38331

http://www.dondavidonbaja.com


Green Tortoise uses "Playa Escondida" (??). There was a notice on their site that this beach could possibly be no longer available after 2008 (?) or so... but looks like they're still using it even this year:

http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures/baja.mexico.whales.b...

http://www.greentortoise.com/phurfl/pages/baja_b17.htm

"The specific beach where we camp, as well as the area to the south, was slated to be sold by January of this year (2007), but there is a property line dispute with neighbors which has put it on hold. Rumors fly like turkey vultures about the true future of this area."
http://www.greentortoise.com/news/newsletter.march.07.html

https://picasaweb.google.com/103369316796466474877/GreenTort...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/travel/index/stories/wi...

More of an answer here that you were seeking... but I thought there was some interesting info to share on the Agua Verde road/area.

:)