BajaNomad

Catavina Camping?

kiterkip - 12-27-2012 at 07:17 AM

Can anyone share information on tent camping this time of year at Catavina? Did a quick BajaNomad search and just got lost.
My camping is not serious stuff, I'd like to eat dinner and breakfast in a restaurant (no campfire), and get back on the road south.
Is it too cold this time of year (New Years Day)? Is there a nearby hotel if the temperatures are too cold?
Will other folks likely be there for security in numbers?

[Edited on 12-27-2012 by kiterkip]

catavina camping

captkw - 12-27-2012 at 07:30 AM

The rock garden is very cool and no its not warm right now and camping except for the ranch is off little trails (roads) by yourself... I have seen the fog get damn close but never at the road... its one of the most queit places on earth once you get away from the road..there are some posts around here about the ranch camping called......6 in the morn & I forgot the name......damn.....have to get coffee..somebody help!!:lol:

[Edited on 12-27-2012 by captkw]

Timo1 - 12-27-2012 at 07:40 AM

Santa Ynez...you'll see the turn to the left just south of town...great camp spot with food for sale

kiterkip - 12-27-2012 at 07:41 AM

Ooooh, Thanks. That clue got me soome google info. Sounds like a room with a space heater would be bettter:
"Remember to make sure your furnace is working as the campground is at ’1800 in the mountains."

[Edited on 12-27-2012 by kiterkip]

OK rancho Inez.....I think !!

captkw - 12-27-2012 at 07:45 AM

pappy - 12-27-2012 at 09:08 AM

it can get ice cold this time of year. (in the night/early am hours). it's pretty amazing to camp out in that area though.

David K - 12-27-2012 at 09:27 AM

Oscar and Matilda manage (or did) Rancho Santa Ynez restaurant, bunk rooms (nice), and camp area... go south of the Hotel Mision Cataviña across the creek, and take the paved driveway left of Hwy. 1 a mile south of Cataviña.


Lunch at Santa Ynez in 2001


Oscar and Rayo 2003


Oscar and Matilda, seated on the right, 2007

Martyman - 12-27-2012 at 10:00 AM

Just north of town is a small pink hotelito. Nuthin' fancy but it works.

David K - 12-27-2012 at 10:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Martyman
Just north of town is a small pink hotelito. Nuthin' fancy but it works.


Ever since it was observed they don't wash the sheets after each client sleeps there, Nomads haven't recommended that place anymore... Cabanas Linda (I think)...

David K - 12-27-2012 at 10:33 AM

Here is a compilation of posts from the past 5 years:

The Cabañas Linda/ Motel Linda/ etc. is not very well reviewed... Maybe better now, but the following are samples from 2008 to 2012:

"Hotel Linda is the absolutely worst faciility we have stayed at on Highway 1. I do everything I can to make sure we don't hit Catavina near dark. We'll hold at Guerrero Negro going north or El Rosario going south if we don't have at least 4 hours of driving time. It's Baja, why rush?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

" Cataviña (cah-tah-vee-nuh):

Our plan B was to stay at Rancho Santa Ines' motel for two nights - located on the trailhead to Mission Impossible. But according to local Americano Ralph Shoemaker, the employees were getting 'Lazy' and did not like tending to a motel with few to no visitors. So, we drove up to our plan C - Motel Cabañas Lindas. For $27, we were able to stay in a motel with cold showers, c-ckroaches, and no water the next morning. The morale of Baja Grande fell to new lows."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"one of our guests stayed at the cabanas linda and they were not happy ... I think there was no hot water and I think they didnt like that the electricity gets turned off at night ....."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the pink motel on the north side of town.

I've stayed there a few times. One time we stayed there and there were a couple of other families staying too on their way to Central America. They lefty early. My brother was outside when the owner/maid/whoever came to clean the rooms. She never changed the sheets just straintened them out made the beds. After that when we stayed there my brother never sleep in a bed he used his camping cot. I just put my sleeping bag on the bed. "
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just making sure that we don't want anyone to get a disease or bed bugs from any place, after reading Baja Nomad!

There were two good reports in 2008, but none since then... One of the good reports on the place was from someone who likes to bring dogs into a motel room, and that is allowed there.

kiterkip - 12-27-2012 at 10:41 AM

Thanks, Think I'll skip the pink hotel.

mtgoat666 - 12-27-2012 at 11:33 AM

One of the best hotels in all of Baja is located in Catavina. But it gets poopooed by many nomads because it costs more than $30 per nite. Spend it while you got it, as it is worthless after you are dead :light:

dtbushpilot - 12-27-2012 at 11:50 AM

We like the Desert Inn (or whatever it's called now). It is pricey and drinks in the bar aren't cheap either but it is a beautiful place with nice people and secure parking and pretty good food. Try to get there a bit early as they fill up often. Last time there (2 weeks ago) we arrived just at dark and checked in, as I was bringing our bags in I overheard them telling someone that they were full.

David K - 12-27-2012 at 12:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
We like the Desert Inn (or whatever it's called now). It is pricey and drinks in the bar aren't cheap either but it is a beautiful place with nice people and secure parking and pretty good food. Try to get there a bit early as they fill up often. Last time there (2 weeks ago) we arrived just at dark and checked in, as I was bringing our bags in I overheard them telling someone that they were full.


It is called MISION CATAVIÑA

David K - 12-27-2012 at 12:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666
... Spend it while you got it, as it is worthless after you are dead :light:


Wise words! :lol:

Ken Cooke - 12-27-2012 at 01:10 PM

Be sure not to drive at night! Look at what we found 10 mi. south of Cataviña!


This restaurant (directly across the street from Desert Inn) is a great place for simple food without paying too much money. The price is right, but carry some hand sanitizer because the facilities out back aren't always in the best condition.


1/2 mi. south of Cataviña


Comfortable-looking accomodations.


A dirt road goes past Rancho Santa Ines heading towards Mission Santa Maria. It is a hairy trail is traveled alone in a 4WD. Know your limits, and best to drive with other company.

Bajaboy - 12-27-2012 at 02:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Here is a compilation of posts from the past 5 years:

The Cabañas Linda/ Motel Linda/ etc. is not very well reviewed... Maybe better now, but the following are samples from 2008 to 2012:

"Hotel Linda is the absolutely worst faciility we have stayed at on Highway 1. I do everything I can to make sure we don't hit Catavina near dark. We'll hold at Guerrero Negro going north or El Rosario going south if we don't have at least 4 hours of driving time. It's Baja, why rush?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

" Cataviña (cah-tah-vee-nuh):

Our plan B was to stay at Rancho Santa Ines' motel for two nights - located on the trailhead to Mission Impossible. But according to local Americano Ralph Shoemaker, the employees were getting 'Lazy' and did not like tending to a motel with few to no visitors. So, we drove up to our plan C - Motel Cabañas Lindas. For $27, we were able to stay in a motel with cold showers, c-ckroaches, and no water the next morning. The morale of Baja Grande fell to new lows."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"one of our guests stayed at the cabanas linda and they were not happy ... I think there was no hot water and I think they didnt like that the electricity gets turned off at night ....."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the pink motel on the north side of town.

I've stayed there a few times. One time we stayed there and there were a couple of other families staying too on their way to Central America. They lefty early. My brother was outside when the owner/maid/whoever came to clean the rooms. She never changed the sheets just straintened them out made the beds. After that when we stayed there my brother never sleep in a bed he used his camping cot. I just put my sleeping bag on the bed. "
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just making sure that we don't want anyone to get a disease or bed bugs from any place, after reading Baja Nomad!

There were two good reports in 2008, but none since then... One of the good reports on the place was from someone who likes to bring dogs into a motel room, and that is allowed there.



Plenty of bad posts about Mama Espinosa's but some people still eat there despite the horrible service and crappy food...to each his own...

DianaT - 12-27-2012 at 05:05 PM

We have had good and not so good experiences at Linda's Cabanas --- the pink hotel in Cataviña ---- and yes, they allow us to drag our dogs in there. But then again, our dogs also stay at the fancy Mision Cataviña which is a place we like A LOT.

So, if you want the cheaper one, just check out the room first --- water and all.

And many might be real surprised at some of the places we have found where the sheets were not clean, nor were the facilities and the roaches were many. It is always good to check out any place!

Good point Bajaboy.

KurtG - 12-27-2012 at 05:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by Martyman
Just north of town is a small pink hotelito. Nuthin' fancy but it works.


Ever since it was observed they don't wash the sheets after each client sleeps there, Nomads haven't recommended that place anymore... Cabanas Linda (I think)...


David,
Are you aware that Cabanas Lindas is run and I believe at least partially owned by Oscar and Matilda?

Bajatripper - 12-27-2012 at 06:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by Martyman
Just north of town is a small pink hotelito. Nuthin' fancy but it works.


Ever since it was observed they don't wash the sheets after each client sleeps there, Nomads haven't recommended that place anymore... Cabanas Linda (I think)...


If they aren't washing the sheets at the pink place on the road, they aren't washing them at Rancho Santa Inez, either, since they're the same owners (the pink hotel is managed by their daughter). One of Oscar's favorite sayings is "they can either fall in my trap here, or go into town (Cataviña) and end up in my trap there."

David K - 12-27-2012 at 06:44 PM

Yes I know... and reporting bad business practices isn't dependent on my knowing them or not. Don't know why Espinoza was mentioned but I hadn't had a bad meal and Jim of the new Baja Calendar recently had awesome crab chile rellanos there.

805gregg - 12-27-2012 at 06:54 PM

No need to camp, nothing there, keep going, try and make San Ignacio.

David K - 12-27-2012 at 06:56 PM

LOL:rolleyes:

willardguy - 12-27-2012 at 07:03 PM

I suppose if it just gets toooo cold, you could always snuggle up next to gotta peso!

David K - 12-27-2012 at 07:07 PM

Good one WillardGuy!

KevinFromUtah - 12-27-2012 at 07:18 PM

If you want to meet a true character, go into the little restaurant across from the main hotel in town (not the pink one) and ask for Carlos. Not sure where he's from, but he could give Bob Marley a run for his money with his dreads. Total Rasta type guy, very cool and enjoys visiting.

Stayed in the little pink hotel, and the reviews are pretty accurate. When checking in was told "power goes off at eleven." When I asked for my key they just shrugged and said "it's unlocked." There was hot water, however, which we didn't discover until check out because my friend didn't think to check both handles :light: But no bathroom door haha.
Acceptable for a couple young guys who didn't mind, but wouldn't recommend if you're looking for anything too comfy. Or clean.

Catavina camping is the best in Baja

thebajarunner - 12-27-2012 at 09:00 PM

U2u me and I will give you the greatest campsite ever
Shelter from the wind
Ideal campfire spot
And no, we don't post the best info but we do share
Can't help you with the weather but the campsite is supreme!!

Baja Bucko - 12-27-2012 at 10:37 PM

If you go over to Marv's cabin, Oscar will show up and tell you you can't be there. If you are a friend of Ralph's you still may not be allowed to camp there...Oscar wants his "rent"....It will be interesting to see how things pan out w (new) owners and Oscar who thinks he is the owner......

The place has really gone downhill-Josefina would be embarrassed if she was alive. Oscar's actions are making her roll over in her grave. He has been cleaning up the place---read thru that comment......

It just ain't the same ole' atmosphere as it was 30 yrs ago. Last time I ate at Matilde's I got sick (over 5 yrs ago).

The best place to eat now is the restaurant across from the fancy hotel.....so camp offroad and outta sight but get a meal at the restaurant!

Islandbuilder - 12-28-2012 at 12:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
We like the Desert Inn (or whatever it's called now). It is pricey and drinks in the bar aren't cheap either but it is a beautiful place with nice people and secure parking and pretty good food. Try to get there a bit early as they fill up often. Last time there (2 weeks ago) we arrived just at dark and checked in, as I was bringing our bags in I overheard them telling someone that they were full.


It is called MISION CATAVIÑA


It's worth going in for a drink just to see the ceiling in the dining room. Some very impressive brick work!
It was snowing when we came through last February. Took a while to warm up the room, but better than ground camping.

David K - 12-28-2012 at 12:12 AM

Snowing in Cataviña? Yah, it gets cold enough there!

Bucko, is there still the hidden key or the combination lock? Marvin gave me the numbers and hidden location, but I never used it.

Islandbuilder - 12-28-2012 at 12:20 AM

Yea David, freezing cold and snowing. We arrived at the same time as a trio of folks on bikes who had trouble letting go of their grips. They started with a ride through Copper Canyon, crossed to La Paz on the ferry and then were heading to San Diego. They we're prepared for last years cold snap.

kiterkip - 12-28-2012 at 08:05 AM

Thanks to All for the helpful (and colorful comments). Sounds like MISION CATAVIÑA is my style. Hopefully they'll have room on about 4PM 1/1/13. I don't want reservations because the whole purpose of driving in Mexico is wandering aimlessly.

Honorable Mention: I have to say this somewhere. BajaNomad is maybe the best public forum anywhere. I also frequent TomZap/Barra De Navidad, and with almost ANY query there will without fail wake up a few curmudgeonly a-holes who seem to do nothing but drink, sweat, and complain. They bitterly complain about Mexico... from an IP address north of the border.
BajaNomad rules! Peace, Love....