BajaNomad

Where can I go for 2 weeks within a day of TJ?

bajalearner - 11-27-2011 at 09:54 AM

For December, I want to leave my house in TJ and drive to a place or various locations. I have a 13 year old son, dog, cat and want to explore a little. I have a 4 wheel drive suv with a utility trailer, quad and a couple fishing poles. I have some basic camping stuff or know how to rent a room.

I would like to spend time with the boy, see what we find and go from there??? Wouldn't mind a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

I ask for help with a few ideas and this will be my first time exploring further south than Ensenada. I can take care of myself and I know how to get along with people. Do you know of a place worth visiting?

woody with a view - 11-27-2011 at 10:14 AM

mulege and everywhere in between.....

Packoderm - 11-27-2011 at 10:17 AM

I'll offer an itinerary that offers enough to maybe keep your 13 year old son from getting too road fatigued yet too bored staying at one place too long:

-Make a straight shot for San Quintin and camp by the ocean at El Pebbelon. Maybe leave the next morning after a warm shower and eating camp cooked bacon and pancakes. ($5-$10)

-Head on over to Bahia de los Angeles and camp at one of those camps up north toward La Gringa. It's really a shame that Camp Gecko rental cabins are no more. You can spend a few nights in Bahia de los Angeles or until the wind gets to be too much.

-Head on over to Bahia Asuncion and possibly the cabin in San Roque. Check out Shari's website for info. You might spend the rest of your two weeks there or continue wandering if that's what suits you. If the weather is bad everywhere, the cabin at San Roque is the best bet for a long stay. Bring books.

-Possible final destination could be Playa Escondida at Bahia Concepcion near Mulege.

-Possible one night campouts to break up your return home could be at the lagoon in San Ignacio, the campsite of rooms at Santa Inez just south of Catavina, Hotel Baja Cactus in El Rosario, camping at El Pebbelon in San Quintin, or camping at San Carlos hot springs in Ensenada.

That is a lot of driving, but the trips are relatively short, and the scenery is interesting. Perhaps the longest stay if you wish to shorten or eliminate some others would be at Bahia Concepcion where you can rent a kayak, head to Mulege for in town activities, swim if the weather is ok, etc. Or, you may wish to shorten your stay there if the wind is bad. When I go on two week vacations in Baja, I just follow the good weather.

David K - 11-27-2011 at 10:18 AM

Bahia de los Angeles is 8 hours from Tijuana and has a lot of places to explore and enjoy... as well as motels, campgrounds, taco stands and resturants. (41 miles from Hwy. 1 on a paved road)

Bahia San Luis Gonzaga is 7 hours from Tijuana and has beautiful beaches, a motel, campgrounds, some interesting sites to explore and hike. (35 miles on a graded dirt road from Hwy. 1)

Go to http://vivabaja.com/tours and see photos of sites around these places (and others) to plan your trip.

DENNIS - 11-27-2011 at 10:21 AM

Wherever you decide to go, just avoid isolation.....such as lonely beaches. It sounds good, but there is a danger factor.

You, living in TJ, don't need to have that explained.



.

[Edited on 11-27-2011 by DENNIS]

Ken Cooke - 11-27-2011 at 10:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Bahia San Luis Gonzaga is 7 hours from Tijuana and has beautiful beaches, a motel, campgrounds, some interesting sites to explore and hike. (35 miles on a graded dirt road from Hwy. 1)

Go to http://vivabaja.com/tours and see photos of sites around these places (and others) to plan your trip.


I also vote for Bahia San Luis Gonzaga.

bajalearner - 11-27-2011 at 11:38 AM

Yes, I knew I would get enough good advice to plan a good start and enjoy the ride. I will have fun the next few weeks planning and preparing with my son. Thanks for any info. I must admit, Ill filter what fits our likes but I appreciate all the info nonetheless.

bajalou - 11-27-2011 at 11:57 AM

San Felipe, Shell Island, Cinco Islas, Bahai Gonzaga. Explore some inland canyons - blue palms etc in Valle Chico (San Felipe/Shell Beach area). Click on the link below for some info on Valle Chico and it's beautiful canyons.

David K - 11-27-2011 at 12:05 PM

Yes, the canyons along Valle Chico are great to hike and camp in... Many have palms and running water all year.

http://vivabaja.com/404

http://vivabaja.com/618

BAJACAT - 11-27-2011 at 02:16 PM

Im with BajaLou, travel down the sea of Cortez,Lunch in SF, down to GONZAGA for dinner at Alfonsinas, do some fishing there.
Next stop Bahia de los Angeles, maybe do some hiking in SAN BORJA mission..
come back viaMEX 1 visist la Lobera in El Rosario, and so on..alot thinks to see, even you can wonder down BAJA SUR for a quick peek.. have fun and report back.

David K - 11-27-2011 at 03:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJACAT
Im with BajaLou, travel down the sea of Cortez,Lunch in SF, down to GONZAGA for dinner at Alfonsinas, do some fishing there.
Next stop Bahia de los Angeles, maybe do some hiking in SAN BORJA mission..
come back viaMEX 1 visist la Lobera in El Rosario, and so on..alot thinks to see, even you can wonder down BAJA SUR for a quick peek.. have fun and report back.


BajaCat is wise... there is a ton of places to see and things to do if you do a loop from San Felipe to L.A. bay then back up Hwy. 1 to El Rosario and home... Have a look at this link to pick out things that interest YOU!: See Photos of Baja places: http://vivabaja.com/tours

Ken Cooke - 11-27-2011 at 03:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Wherever you decide to go, just avoid isolation.....such as lonely beaches. It sounds good, but there is a danger factor.

You, living in TJ, don't need to have that explained.



.

[Edited on 11-27-2011 by DENNIS]


He said that he has a 4WD SUV. As long as he does not get stuck, he will be fine. Due to tourism being down, there are lots of lonely beaches. San Felipe's Malecon looked lonely this week.:!:

Last week in San Felipe


Ugly Americans:lol:

TonyC - 11-27-2011 at 04:24 PM

wow...two weeks. break out the map, cause that's enough time to check a few places out.

desertcpl - 11-28-2011 at 08:22 AM

I would stay away from the Pacific side if it was me, and concentrate on the Cortez side of Baja,, the Pacific side will be cold for my taste.
I would start off in San Felipe easy first day drive, stay a few days at Pete's Camp,, camping on the beach, they have Palapas for shade, restrooms with showers, great restaurant and bar, the beach is beautiful, its a short drive to downtown San Felipe and alot to do, then work your way to the south campo's for some more camping and beach, DK can give you some idea's on this, then on to Gonzaga bay, you and your son will not forget it,
then a must see is LA bay, and if time permits Mulege is also a must see as is Conception bay

BajaBlanca - 11-28-2011 at 12:11 PM

I agree about avoiding the Pacific side this time of year .... had over to the sea of cortez and enjoy....bahia concepcion is one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet !! any 13 year old would love it - I assume he speaks Spanish and he will most likely make some friends ....

Actually, you might want to consider having him take along a friend from TJ ?? Just a thought.

bajalearner - 11-28-2011 at 07:43 PM

I am glad two of you said to go on the SoC coast due to the climate. I am not fond of cold. That started by me being from San Francisco and throwing a paper route in the fog. Hence, I live south.

I see good options in some of the info and appreciate all of it. I am considering the options of taking a friend but have not decided on that yet.

I do have a 4 wheel drive and it would not be a huge problem to get stuck. My first car was a 1946 Willy's (in 1970) and I lived in Casper Wyo. I occasionally got it stuck but I have the ability to figure something out. It's an adventure.... For me, necessity is the mother of invention.

I appreciate all the info and will keep investigating.

mooose29 - 11-28-2011 at 09:01 PM

Take a look at Punta Chivato as well

David K - 11-29-2011 at 08:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalearner
I am glad two of you said to go on the SoC coast due to the climate. I am not fond of cold. That started by me being from San Francisco and throwing a paper route in the fog. Hence, I live south.

I see good options in some of the info and appreciate all of it. I am considering the options of taking a friend but have not decided on that yet.

I do have a 4 wheel drive and it would not be a huge problem to get stuck. My first car was a 1946 Willy's (in 1970) and I lived in Casper Wyo. I occasionally got it stuck but I have the ability to figure something out. It's an adventure.... For me, necessity is the mother of invention.

I appreciate all the info and will keep investigating.


Sand is the only issue, and letting air out of the tires solves that... just carry a pump to re-inflate.