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semana santa

mulegemichael - 3-14-2013 at 03:23 PM

just exactly when is the 2 week period this year so we can hole up during that time....we were considering heading north the first week of april through san felipe but just heard a rumor that that's right in the middle of semana santa.....any help??

bajalinda - 3-14-2013 at 04:03 PM

The last week of March and the first week of April are the 2 weeks when many people will be going on vacation - so March 24 (or 23) to April 6 or 7. In other words, the week before and the week after Easter.

You might want to wait a week for your drive north.

Mulegena - 3-14-2013 at 04:27 PM

Semana Santa Mexico 2013

Officially, Sunday to Sunday March 24-31
BUT
in practice Friday the 22nd of March to Tuesday the second of April the roads will be heavy-travelled up and down Baja.

The beaches of the Bay turn into instant mini-cities with gobs of happy people, cars & dogs & cops & camp-to-camp grocery and trinket vendors. Come Wednesday morning its all cleaned up and the beaches are barren as if it never happened.

Grab yer groceries early and hunker down 'til it blows over... unless you want to join in the fun.

mulegemichael - 3-14-2013 at 05:31 PM

i'll be a hunkerin"....i can really "hunker"...big time.

Curt63 - 3-14-2013 at 07:19 PM

Im a Semana Santa virgen. I'll get to view the spectacle for the first time this year.

We are delivering a new fishing boat for a Bajanomad buddy and delivering a quad to another Bajanomad buddy.

Great Advice!

bajajudy - 3-14-2013 at 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mulegena
Semana Santa Mexico 2013

Officially, Sunday to Sunday March 24-31
BUT
in practice Friday the 22nd of March to Tuesday the second of April the roads will be heavy-travelled up and down Baja.

The beaches of the Bay turn into instant mini-cities with gobs of happy people, cars & dogs & cops & camp-to-camp grocery and trinket vendors. Come Wednesday morning its all cleaned up and the beaches are barren as if it never happened.

Grab yer groceries early and hunker down 'til it blows over... unless you want to join in the fun.

I loved this post on semana santa
I have always found it the most wonderful holiday for the Mexican people. All the families camping on the beach.
We used to live on the road to La Playita(we still live in the same place but the road moved!) and, you are 100% correct about it starting early, because the trucks and cars loaded with mattresses, coolers...etc., all the necessities for beach life, would usually start Thursday.
We will also be prepared to stay home.
It seems to really die down Monday

Leo - 3-14-2013 at 07:41 PM

If you travel Hwy 1, make sure you have booked accomodation or stop early to check in and have toilet paper because the pemex stations will be out of it.

willardguy - 3-14-2013 at 08:03 PM

theres always the alternative. party like the ageing rockstar you know you are!

shari - 3-14-2013 at 08:12 PM

it is the only week most people have off all year so the locals take full advantage...the towns on the pacific side are ghost towns as everyone heads over to Las Bahias...the gulf side for nicer weather.

It is the most dangerous time for highway deaths as there are so many drunk, hungover, tired partiers traveling so be extra cautious...also gas stations run out of gas because of all the extra traffic on the road....so stock up on gas, booze and food and ear plugs...but if you want a true cultural immersion, head on down to Conception Bay and party hardy amigos

Bob and Susan - 3-15-2013 at 06:48 AM

I agree with judy ...its a great time of year

it's "family fun"

I never under stand why the americans and Canadians
"freak out" when this time of year arrives

when you see a family arrive to the beach with a "boat load" of kids ...it's great

shari - 3-15-2013 at 07:55 AM

Bob & susan...I daresay you may not have camped with a thousand locals a few feet from your tent playing loud music ALL night long...peeing & throwing garbage everywhere. It just isnt a pleasant experience if you just want to camp on a nice beach...and for people who arent aware it will happen, it can be quite a nasty surprise...on the other hand if you are a party animal you may just love it.

mulege marv - 3-15-2013 at 08:11 AM

alot of hunker'n will be going on over here as well !!
family fun ??? i think not !

bajajudy - 3-15-2013 at 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
Bob & susan...I daresay you may not have camped with a thousand locals a few feet from your tent playing loud music ALL night long...peeing & throwing garbage everywhere. It just isnt a pleasant experience if you just want to camp on a nice beach...and for people who arent aware it will happen, it can be quite a nasty surprise...on the other hand if you are a party animal you may just love it.

It is their beach.

ncampion - 3-15-2013 at 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajajudy

Quote:

It is their beach.

Yeah, but is it also their toilet and basurera?

shari - 3-15-2013 at 09:52 AM

Judy...it's everyone's beach....I'm just saying expats arent used to or expecting that level of party camping which is why they get freaked out.

rts551 - 3-15-2013 at 10:55 AM

There are alternatives. We usually go off into the desert, visit some out of the way missions, or just explore off-road...a few people ut and about, but not close to what the gulf beaches are.

Bajajorge - 3-15-2013 at 10:57 AM

During that period make sure your vehicles are fueled up, have as much groceries on hand, and make sure your Peso supply is adequate.
I don't even go into San Felipe or anywhere near town during that period. ATMs are empty, Pemexes are dry and mercados are empty of many items. Not to mention the crowds, no parking, etc.

sancho - 3-15-2013 at 11:19 AM

I pulled into San Felipe a few yrs. back on Mon.
the day after Easter, the place was mostly empty

El Jefe - 3-15-2013 at 11:39 AM

Out here it is mostly all about Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday. By Monday 90% of the folks are gone. We live 16 miles from San Jose on the dirt road and most days the beach out front is empty except for a few pangeros and an occasional beach goer. Last year on Saturday I counted 106 vehicles on the beach. Who knows how many people?

In the past few years we see hardly any palo blanco stick and blue tarp shacks like the old days, now it's Costco dome tents, folding tables and blow up mattresses. And there are ATVs, jet skis etc. These folks know how to have a fun weekend for sure. It gets pretty crazy with lots of traffic going through the neighborhood. We are all highly entertained, and then glad when it is over.

Last year the home owners got all organized to go down and do a big beach cleanup on Monday. But it was already all bagged up in a huge pile awaiting the city crew to come out and pick it up. Every year the beach is left in better condition than the last. Pretty nice.

I guess our only complaint last year was that the city could have left more than two porta potties out here for the weekend. :biggrin:

David K - 3-15-2013 at 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
There are alternatives. We usually go off into the desert, visit some out of the way missions, or just explore off-road...a few people ut and about, but not close to what the gulf beaches are.

EXCELLENT way to enjoy Baja during Spring Break!

BajaBlanca - 3-15-2013 at 02:48 PM

middle school does NOT go back to classes til APRIL 8.

Pescador - 3-15-2013 at 03:39 PM

Egads, I guess I will move to Mexico, vacation in Mexico, or whatever, but I sure hope I can avoid all the Mexicans during Semana Santa.

shari - 3-15-2013 at 04:17 PM

Pescador...it's not the nationality that bothers me that weekend...I would be equally bummed if it were any other race making all that noise and camped on top of each other...it is our only week off in the whole year and both Juan & i do not enjoy this "wild all night party scene"... we want quiet, relaxing beach camping which is why we take our boat to find a remote beach with no road to it...nada que ver con raza

willardguy - 3-15-2013 at 04:23 PM

come on shari, get back in the game. a little ricea and a dance floor, you're back! :lol:

shari - 3-15-2013 at 05:15 PM

hahaha...now THAT'S really funny man! I love a good dancefloor but dont want to camped next to it.

mulegemichael - 3-15-2013 at 06:47 PM

life's tough, mi amiga, shari...so go to la montanas for a week or so...i know some really nice remote hot springs that you wouldn't believe!!...call me. m.

BajaBlanca - 3-15-2013 at 07:33 PM

Interestingly enough, la bocana is usually deserted during holy week - folks head to san ignacio mostly or the beaches like concepcion to camp out.

really good idea to head into the mountains or to beaches with no real access as these are for sure not going to have loud music all night long.

David K - 3-15-2013 at 07:42 PM

Good time to look for a Lost Mission!! Blanca, the Lost Santa Clara Mission is in your back yard (almost)! How cool if a lost mission expedition had its base camp at your place... with that good cooking and big area for camping!

See Mission San Juan Bautista, Emp. ('started') on the top left, straight WEST from San Ignacio mission? This and the Jesuits letters of it are the basis for the Santa Clara Mountain lost mission legend!

[Edited on 3-16-2013 by David K]

rts551 - 3-15-2013 at 07:54 PM

Already looked...nothing but remote ranch sites around the base of Santa Clara. I would be carefull about tramping around there. Looked like some of those remote ranches really did not want visitors. enough said.

acadist - 3-15-2013 at 08:54 PM

Man, I wish I could be there!!! My 50th bday would be smack dab in the middle of it, think I'll through my own wild party with the family!!!

David K - 3-16-2013 at 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rts551
Already looked...nothing but remote ranch sites around the base of Santa Clara. I would be carefull about tramping around there. Looked like some of those remote ranches really did not want visitors. enough said.

Must be a a good source of water (for the Indians and for the new farming methods they were told to utilize. Evidence would be at a ranch, in the middle of the mountain group. Historians don't believe in any lost missions, but history buffs and desert rats use them as a reason to go into the desert!

Our last time spending with Baja Lou was searching for the Lost Santa Isabel mission. Lou was smiling away, really enjoyed being there with all of us.

tiotomasbcs - 3-16-2013 at 10:34 AM

Pompano, please repost your classic photos of Party Central from Bahia. Excellent coverage of Semana Santa's wild jubilation!! Bigger every year, verdad?! Tio

Pescador - 3-16-2013 at 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
Pescador...it's not the nationality that bothers me that weekend...I would be equally bummed if it were any other race making all that noise and camped on top of each other...it is our only week off in the whole year and both Juan & i do not enjoy this "wild all night party scene"... we want quiet, relaxing beach camping which is why we take our boat to find a remote beach with no road to it...nada que ver con raza

I was not really giving you a bad time. I just thought the posts were funny. My very first trip to Fiesta San Javier was exactly what you are describing for the beaches in our area for Semana Santa. Porta potties are in very short supply and most of the party people have been doing it that way for years and years and it does not show much sign of changing. I don't head to the beaches that week, but I don't normally head to the beaches much anyway. In the US or Canada you would have to file for a permit, provide sanitation facilities for all expected party participants, and all of the revelers would have to really pony up and pay big bucks for the event. Let's see one Porta Potty rental for every 10 people, portable showers set up for 150 pesos a shower, catered food, etc., etc.,

If I remember correctly, seems like Sturgis, South Dakota, which had all of that was a really expensive happening. Perhaps the people at the La Canada facility in Santo Tomas have figured out a way to make a big profit from the party goers, and maybe some enterprising person will do that at Concepcion.

mulegemichael - 3-16-2013 at 12:17 PM

one of our local amigos here in mulege has invested in a large # of porta pottys and a pumper truck and this will be his first year on concepcion..we'll see how it goes and wish him luck!!

acadist - 3-16-2013 at 04:15 PM

5 pesos a pee?