BajaNomad

30 Day Trip to Baja- Need Info

onemoreplease - 12-21-2012 at 01:01 AM

Hi Everybody, we are from Oregon and heading to Baja to get out of the cold this January. We are looking for ideas and suggestions of amazing places that we absolutely have to see along our travels. We are planning on fishing, surfing, and camping along the way, taking our Ford diesel and our dog for about 6 weeks. We have a basic itinerary but are totally open to tips as we have never been. So if any of you nomads out there want to share the good stuff let us know! Off the semi-beaten path (lol I am driving a Ford) places preferred, we are looking for an adventure not a tourist trap.
Cheers!

Ateo - 12-21-2012 at 03:58 AM

Welcome aboard. That sounds like fun. Search the "Baja Trip Reports". There's a ton of info. Hit the West Coast for surf. Maybe swing over to Bahia De Los Angeles.

baja Steve - 12-21-2012 at 07:48 AM

check your U2U

MMc - 12-21-2012 at 08:43 AM

I see a map in your future:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
Check your U2U upper right hand corner.

BajaBlanca - 12-21-2012 at 08:55 AM

welcome ! hit up bahia asuncion for nice waves,gorgeous location, fun people and a good camping set up.

stop by labocana to say hi to us and either camp out or head over to punta abreojos for more waves/camping and then to campo rene for some really different activity(bird-watching) and shell huntiing.

those are defintely off the beaten path.

Something different

bajaguy - 12-21-2012 at 09:03 AM

Have you ever been to Baja before???

What year Ford diesel????

What kind of dog????

shari - 12-21-2012 at 09:38 AM

Hi there and welcome to baja nomads sandbox! Do come out this way for off the beaten track experiences. We just had 9 Oregonians here this week who fell head over heels in love with Asuncion...you'll see why. There is lots to do and see and the weather this time of year is pretty darn good...warmer even than BOLA or Loreto and the ocean temps are still swimable....and we have surf!!! check your U2U inbox up in the right hand corner of the page.

onemoreplease - 12-21-2012 at 08:52 PM

Thanks everybody for the suggestions- keep them coming! We have a half ass itinerary planned out so far and here are some place we are thinking about driving through:

-making it south of Ensenada- is La Bufadora Blowhole worth seeing or a tourist trap?

-San Quintin

-Punta Baja depending on weather.

-Seven sisters and planning on about a week in that area- looking for a nice beach and mellow waves.

-Bahia de la Los Angeles

-Peninsula de Vizcaino- any thoughts on this?

-Bahia Asuncion

-Bahia Conception

-Loreto

Any good surfing and access around Loma Maria Fish Camp and south?

- La Paz

- Todos Santos

-Cabo for restocking

--Los Barriles

Then taking our time making it all the way back up.

Bajaboy - 12-21-2012 at 09:01 PM

Head down to Gonzaga via San Felipe...then Bahia de Los Angeles to Playa San Rafael...then out to Tortugas, Asuncion, La Bocana....then Loreto...cut across mountains to La Purisima and then San Gregorio....head down to La Paz....then East Cape and then Todos area....return with a stay in Muluge....then GN...then Ensenada area....return via Guadalupe Valley/Tecate....

That's what I recommend:tumble:

Zac

gnarlon - 12-22-2012 at 10:28 AM

You need to get your hands on the baja almanac.

David K - 12-22-2012 at 11:14 AM

Maps are great... but they don't show or tell, like photos and Nomads!

See trip reports for ideas... We had a fantastic trip last summer for 15 days to Cabo and back... link to the big trip report in my signature, just below...

shari - 12-22-2012 at 12:44 PM

Bajaboy's trip itinerary is STELLAR!!! and right on the money for seeing incredible places and sme very cool cultural things....the missions are amazing.

PCbaja - 12-22-2012 at 03:59 PM

Stop by Punta Chivato on your way between Santa Rosalia and Mulege. One of Baja's best kept secret. Much warmer than the Pacific side too!

Marc - 12-22-2012 at 07:01 PM

Be careful. Baja is like a drug habit you will not be able to kick!

Agua Verdi 2012

rhintransit - 12-22-2012 at 07:05 PM

guys, it's ALL a tourist trap. a very nice one that we all love, but, hey, you're a tourist and unless you take that Ford fairly far afield, you're gonna remain that.
you'll love it, anyway.

Alm - 12-22-2012 at 07:57 PM

Bajaboy suggested a loop that you could follow. The rest is difficult to suggest, depends on your tastes. I hope you didn't include the US travel time in those 30 days? Even if you didn't, 30 days in Baja is not too much because again there is another 3 days of travel from Tijuana to La Paz and back, 1 week in total.

Fishing and surfing, no boats... Surf is all on the Pacific side. Fishing... on either side, though on Pacific side you'll probably need a boat for this more than on Cortez side. On the Cortez side it's easier to find some rock to fish from.

Camping... It sounds like you are prepared to minimal comfort, and this leaves you plenty of choice. Some camps will have fresh water, some won't, some will have plapas and some won't, but almost of them will have showers. So it's not too bad, as long as you have camp stove and fresh water for cooking and a tarp with a pair of poles to make a shade. Get Baja Almanac if you can - it's a topo map, and don't get upset if you won't. Any road map in combination with the list of camps from http://ontheroadin.com/Baja%202011/the%20Baja.htm will guide you well enough.

Iflyfish - 12-22-2012 at 08:11 PM

I am also an Oregonian and am now ensconced in Asuncion, camping, fishing, beach combing, some surfing are all to be found here and Yellowtail fishing in gear now. The Pacific side is where you will find the surfing.

Having traveled the length and breadth of this amazing Peninsula I think that BajaBoys route would expose you to a great overview of the place that would allow you to see much of what Baja has to offer.

With planning you can do this in 6 weeks, blow down Hwy 5 as fast as you can. The Tijuana border crossing is now a piece of cake. Stay in the far right lane, get car papers and visas. Get your fishing license online in Oregon if you plan to fish, easy to do. I don't know about how to deal with bringing dog down, you will find lots of info. here about that.

Have a great trip and welcome to BajaNomad! You made a good call coming to this site.

Iflyfish

UnoMas - 12-22-2012 at 09:00 PM

You do not need a license if you fish from the beach the last time I checked....:cool:

BajaBlanca - 12-22-2012 at 10:20 PM

I really liked bajaboy's itinerary. Mountains to ocean. little to bigger. remote to village to town. all included. Next time, you will know what areas you prefer. Safe travels.

Osprey - 12-23-2012 at 08:00 AM

No license necessary to fish from the shore in Mexico.

805gregg - 12-23-2012 at 10:18 AM

If you are interested in surf skip Asuncion, no surf and not much of a town, get " The Surfers Guide to Baja" great surf info. When in San Quintin check out cabo San Quintin, you will need 4X4 but no one goes there.

David K - 12-23-2012 at 10:46 AM

Seriously 805? They have surf competition in Asuncion... It depends on what time of year for when the swell comes. The surf book points out lots of surf breaks, but only some are valid depending on the season.

While it may not be for everyone, the town of Bahia Asuncion has sure impressed a lot of people. So much that they made it their second home.

The place was nearly an unknown until Shari made a web page and joined Baja Nomad... and raves for her hospitality, assistance and community support cannot be ignored. Fishing, Surfing, Diving, Kayaking, Beach Combing, Hiking, Rock Hounding, Fossil Hunting, Off Roading, Photography are some of the activities people can do from their stay at Bahia Asuncion.

MMc - 12-24-2012 at 08:57 AM

Asuncion is a nice little town. It seems that are a some very special and caring people in it. It is not a great place to surf. Just a average break. There many better surf spots along Baja.

wilderone - 12-24-2012 at 09:02 AM

Get yourself the Baja Adventure Book - any edition will do. Probably available on eBay or bookfinder.com. Check out the The List on this forum. You might like Erendira area for surfing.

David K - 12-24-2012 at 11:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
Get yourself the Baja Adventure Book - any edition will do. Probably available on eBay or bookfinder.com. Check out the The List on this forum. You might like Erendira area for surfing.







805gregg - 12-24-2012 at 06:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Seriously 805? They have surf competition in Asuncion... It depends on what time of year for when the swell comes. The surf book points out lots of surf breaks, but only some are valid depending on the season.

While it may not be for everyone, the town of Bahia Asuncion has sure impressed a lot of people. So much that they made it their second home.

The place was nearly an unknown until Shari made a web page and joined Baja Nomad... and raves for her hospitality, assistance and community support cannot be ignored. Fishing, Surfing, Diving, Kayaking, Beach Combing, Hiking, Rock Hounding, Fossil Hunting, Off Roading, Photography are some of the activities people can do from their stay at Bahia Asuncion. [/quote

You should stick to subjects that you know about, (like missions that were built in the wrong location and were abandoned), no surf except a crappy beach break way down the coast, you can hold a surf competion anywhere. All this is just self promotion to get visitors. How about some real advise for a Baja newbe. You want him to come back send him where there is surf.

woody with a view - 12-24-2012 at 06:53 PM

or not!



:biggrin:

willardguy - 12-24-2012 at 07:00 PM

THATS THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!:bounce:

[Edited on 12-25-2012 by willardguy]

woody with a view - 12-24-2012 at 07:04 PM

absolutley! tell everything you know so everyone can fly down the road and end up off in the ditch near the turn off to Chapala.

David K - 12-25-2012 at 09:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
absolutley! tell everything you know so everyone can fly down the road and end up off in the ditch near the turn off to Chapala.


or not...



MMc - 12-25-2012 at 09:34 AM

Woody It's not people you know, it's everybody you don't know that reads Nomads.:P:P:P

honda tom - 12-25-2012 at 09:59 AM

Get an Almanac. Also get a couple baja maps from AAA.
Dont be too worried about the dirt roads, many are traveled daily by vehicles far less capable than a 4x4 ford diesel.
6 weeks is a nice trip, you should be able to see most of everyones favorites.
a couple of mine would be Gonzaga for camping or hotel.
The dirt road south out of Bay of LA to sanfrancisquito... then to el arco and south to Viscaino. A must is camping at Bahia Concepcion. The road from Loreto to San Javier mission... then continue on the dirt SE to the Pacific, or NE to the pacific at Scorpion bay. While in Loreto get a panga ride to Coronado island. This spring I hope to get to the area north of La Paz on the Cortez side. I believe there was a trip report and someone refered to an area as the grand canyon of Baja.... anyone? David K's trip report from 2012 is good info.