BajaNomad - Day Trips from Rosarito?

Day Trips from Rosarito?

phoenix2121 - 6-12-2014 at 04:02 AM

I'm loving some of the trip reports and it is making me start looking for some cool little day trips from our home in Rosarito. We're looking for places to camp, or hike, or just sight see... natural type stuff, not shopping, etc... cool little areas that we probably wouldn't find out about from people other than those have been there.

Keep in mind, we're both young (early 30's) with a 12-year-old... so, we can handle rough-ish terrain, as long as our little Jeep Liberty can get us there.

So nomads, what is there to see and do within 2-3 hours of Rosarito? Maybe we can stretch it to 4 hours if it's a must-see!

David K - 6-12-2014 at 08:24 AM

A few years ago, but this may be a close area to explore:

http://vivabaja.com/305/

Also the mission ruins at Descanso (between Puerto Nuevo and Cantamar)... including the oldest ruins that are being dug into to make it a cemetery, on the south rim of the Descanso valley.

http://vivabaja.com/missions2/page11.html

el salto campground and waterfall

willardguy - 6-12-2014 at 10:19 AM

just at the top of the hill on the free road leaving la mision (k76) nice campground and hike back to the waterfall (el nino's a comin?) don't let junior get too over zealous, its a looong way down!

Guadalupe Valle

bajaguy - 6-12-2014 at 10:43 AM

The Russian museum and the mission ruins/site, then have a pizza at Ochento's in San Antonio de las Minas

phoenix2121 - 6-12-2014 at 03:55 PM

Great suggestions.

A couple questions... I see a lot of these pictures with people driving off-road, or camping in semi-remote spots.

1.) What are the legalities for leaving the roads in these areas? I mean, anyplace that looks remote, can you just drive off the road and look around?

2.) What about camping? Can you camp in these same sorts of areas?

Also... if you have any others, I'd love to check those out as well.

David K - 6-12-2014 at 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by phoenix2121
Great suggestions.

A couple questions... I see a lot of these pictures with people driving off-road, or camping in semi-remote spots.

1.) What are the legalities for leaving the roads in these areas? I mean, anyplace that looks remote, can you just drive off the road and look around?

2.) What about camping? Can you camp in these same sorts of areas?

Also... if you have any others, I'd love to check those out as well.

Use your best judgement, these were day trips for us, so no camping. There are campgrounds in the Guadalupe Valley area. If you remote camp, just haul out any trash and don't start a wild fire... naturally... keep things good for future campers.

As mentioned, there are hot springs and other water falls east of L.A. Cetto winery... and a really out-of-place cardon cactus that was transplanted there by ???

apple - 6-12-2014 at 08:05 PM

Valle de Guadalupe is a great day trip. So is visiting Ensenada to eat at every taco stand and La Guerrerense, and then checking out the La Bufadora

redhilltown - 6-12-2014 at 11:25 PM

The farming valley that runs down to the coast from Santo Tomas to La Bocana and Puerto Santo Tomas is a great day trip. Dirt road but very "do-able". If you get to the little fishing village at Puerto Santo Tomas you can probably buy some of the day's catch from the locals or talk to Sam who runs the resort at the end of the road...not sure if it is Uni season or not. A really beautiful drive.

http://www.mexfish.com/psto/psto.htm

David K - 6-13-2014 at 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by redhilltown
The farming valley that runs down to the coast from Santo Tomas to La Bocana and Puerto Santo Tomas is a great day trip. Dirt road but very "do-able". If you get to the little fishing village at Puerto Santo Tomas you can probably buy some of the day's catch from the locals or talk to Sam who runs the resort at the end of the road...not sure if it is Uni season or not. A really beautiful drive.

http://www.mexfish.com/psto/psto.htm

Along this road to La Bocana/ Puerto Santo Tomas are the two first sites for Mission Santo Tomás:

http://vivabaja.com/missions2/page8.html

The third and final mission site is in town, next to the El Palomar campground, by the tall palms on the left as you enter town.

David K - 6-13-2014 at 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by apple
Valle de Guadalupe is a great day trip. So is visiting Ensenada to eat at every taco stand and La Guerrerense, and then checking out the La Bufadora

The last California mission and the name of the valley, plus an interesting museum is there: http://vivabaja.com/missions2/page12.html

SlyOnce - 6-13-2014 at 09:25 AM

Playas is often overlooked, come visit, and walk on the Malecon. I highly recommend Ruben and Charlie's for mariscos, but there are hundreds of other places. Also there are coffee shops, ice cream, hamburgers, tamales, .....

CECUT in TJ (the cultural center) is just awesome, especially for art, music, museums and entertainment. Its right next to Plaza Rio. They always have shows and music free on Saturday and Sundays and great performances, dance, and music in a first rate theater, plus an IMAX.

El Trompo by Macro Plaza in TJ is a hands on science museum. There is plenty for a 12 year old and the adults enjoy it too. Takes about 4 hours to see and do everything there.

I know you were looking for trails but here are some other ideas.

dasubergeek - 6-13-2014 at 12:01 PM

About 40 km east of Ensenada is Ojos Negros, where all the cheese is made (it used to be called Real del Castillo and was the capital of Baja, if you can imagine that). It's a pretty rural place despite being so close to Ensenada. There are cheese caves and wineries around everywhere.

redhilltown - 6-13-2014 at 11:47 PM

What I think that is great about the post and all the suggestions is that you really don't have to get THAT far into Baja to have a great Baja (and historical) experience!!!

The REAL baja

bajaguy - 6-14-2014 at 05:42 AM

Puts to rest the "you have to get south of (fill in the blank)____________ to experience the real Baja" crowd.

Looks like these suggestions are in the REAL baja

Quote:

Originally posted by redhilltown
What I think that is great about the post and all the suggestions is that you really don't have to get THAT far into Baja to have a great Baja (and historical) experience!!!

elgatoloco - 6-14-2014 at 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Puts to rest the "you have to get south of (fill in the blank)____________ to experience the real Baja" crowd.

Looks like these suggestions are in the REAL baja

Quote:

My sentiments EXACTLY. The REAL Baja aka THE BAJA has always started at the border. No ifs ands or butts. :saint:

Anyone who says otherwise is either delusional or just a pompous ass. :biggrin:

YMMV

phoenix2121 - 6-21-2014 at 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SlyOnce

El Trompo by Macro Plaza in TJ is a hands on science museum. There is plenty for a 12 year old and the adults enjoy it too. Takes about 4 hours to see and do everything there.

We spend quite a bit of time in TJ and Playas... however, I've never been to El Trompo... we'll give that a shot one of these days. We've been to the other places you've mentioned. Great times!

durrelllrobert - 6-21-2014 at 10:09 AM

Quote:

...but some sections of the road are the worse washboards that I have ever driven. At least in my 6800 lb SUV and it might be worse in a lightweight Liberty.

durrelllrobert - 6-21-2014 at 10:14 AM

Have you taken the 12yo to Bajaa Studios tour? Lots to enjoy and tour will easily kill 2-3 hours.

phoenix2121 - 6-21-2014 at 10:27 AM

I haven't. That sounds like a good idea... are they open every day?

Bajahowodd - 6-21-2014 at 05:01 PM

Many great restaurants and fun shopping in Ensenada. Before the Homeland Security folks decided to make the border an ordeal, we used to go down to Ensenada twice a month.

I know some folks are going to crow about Sentri and Fast Pass, but at the end of the day, If people were able to cross the border at SY or Otay ten years ago in 20 minutes, WTF do they really think they are going to capture, or prevent? It's a trumped up make work project for the feds.

elgatoloco - 6-21-2014 at 06:22 PM

Never fear. One of the stated goals of the $741 million reconfiguration is a goal of no more then 30 minute wait. Can hardly wait til 2018. :saint:

Tax dollars hard at work :dudette:

Bajahowodd - 6-22-2014 at 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elgatoloco
Never fear. One of the stated goals of the $741 million reconfiguration is a goal of no more then 30 minute wait. Can hardly wait til 2018. :saint:

Tax dollars hard at work :dudette:

For those among us who are still alive and able to drive.... :lol:

durrelllrobert - 6-22-2014 at 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by phoenix2121
I haven't. That sounds like a good idea... are they open every day?

Ooops, I haven't been there since it was the Twentieth Century - Fox studios and they had tours every day.

Apparently the tours all stopped when it became Baja Studios but you can take an interactive tour on their web site:
bajafilmstudios.com/…hp?option=com_content&view=.....

David K - 6-23-2014 at 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Have you taken the 12yo to Bajaa Studios tour? Lots to enjoy and tour will easily kill 2-3 hours.

Sure looked closed and out of business last Saturday when we drove by... ?

durrelllrobert - 6-23-2014 at 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Have you taken the 12yo to Bajaa Studios tour? Lots to enjoy and tour will easily kill 2-3 hours.

Sure looked closed and out of business last Saturday when we drove by... ?

As I understand it from their we site they are currently filming "Ghosts of the Pacific abut US pilots during WWII.
This is what the web site currently says about tours:

Studio Tour

The Studio Tour, originally known as Foxploration, opened in May 2001 and offered visitors a range of Titanic-themed displays and exhibits, along with items related to other movies shot at the studios.
Unfortunately the studio tour is not open to the public at the present time.

[Edited on 6-23-2014 by durrelllrobert]

Bajahowodd - 6-23-2014 at 04:55 PM

There had been some issues especially with the actors not wanting to be in Mexico during the height of the cartel carnage. There was a time when actors were put up in hotels in San Diego and flown via helicopter to the studios and back to SD..

As we all know, things have quieted down considerably since then.

phoenix2121 - 6-28-2014 at 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Have you taken the 12yo to Bajaa Studios tour? Lots to enjoy and tour will easily kill 2-3 hours.

Apparently they don't do tours anymore. We were going to go this weekend.

wilderone - 6-28-2014 at 09:11 AM

Agua Caliente hotsprings and campground off Mex. 3 is a great day. They were under "new management" - another cousin or something - and making some improvements a few years ago. He showed us a new hotspring tub and restroom under construction. They have a large hotspring-fed pool (like a swimming pool) with changing room. A few rooms to rent, a nearby campground with huge oaktrees. A stream meanders through the canyon for a nice hike. The cost was $7/pp as I recall; $10 to camp. Might be a little more now.

San Carlos hotsprings is another place for a fun day - off Mex. 1, turn at the Baja Country Club road in Maneadero.

My son used to go to a place and meet a panga to go fishing somewhere around Rosarito. They take out whoever shows up. He want with a friend and I think they paid $50 total - gotta meet them early in the AM. You might ask around and see if those pangas are still around. Take your own life vest, gear.

Laguna Hanson and the Natll Park campground around there is a nice drive. Head in the same direction on Mex. 3 out of Ensenada as to Agua Caliente. The lake might be dry, but the area is nice to hike, and there was a guy who came around with horses to ride.

And a little further drive is Meling Ranch - not sure what's going on there now. Most of the lodging property was sold a few years ago, and some of the land was planted in barley. Mike's Sky ranch nearby, and other mountain hideaways. Continue to Sierra San Pedro Martir for camping.

And to answer your question about off-road driving-- Just follow the dirt road where there is one, they can be challenging enough. Thousands of miles of dirt roads. Be respectful of the desert environment.

The Kumeyaay Indian Reservation and Campgrounds in the Valle de Guadalupe

Gypsy Jan - 6-28-2014 at 12:10 PM

http://www.kumeyaay.com/local-reservations.html

phoenix2121 - 7-3-2014 at 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wilderone
Agua Caliente hotsprings and campground off Mex. 3 is a great day. They were under "new management" - another cousin or something - and making some improvements a few years ago. He showed us a new hotspring tub and restroom under construction. They have a large hotspring-fed pool (like a swimming pool) with changing room. A few rooms to rent, a nearby campground with huge oaktrees. A stream meanders through the canyon for a nice hike. The cost was $7/pp as I recall; $10 to camp. Might be a little more now.

San Carlos hotsprings is another place for a fun day - off Mex. 1, turn at the Baja Country Club road in Maneadero.

My son used to go to a place and meet a panga to go fishing somewhere around Rosarito. They take out whoever shows up. He want with a friend and I think they paid $50 total - gotta meet them early in the AM. You might ask around and see if those pangas are still around. Take your own life vest, gear.

Laguna Hanson and the Natll Park campground around there is a nice drive. Head in the same direction on Mex. 3 out of Ensenada as to Agua Caliente. The lake might be dry, but the area is nice to hike, and there was a guy who came around with horses to ride.

And a little further drive is Meling Ranch - not sure what's going on there now. Most of the lodging property was sold a few years ago, and some of the land was planted in barley. Mike's Sky ranch nearby, and other mountain hideaways. Continue to Sierra San Pedro Martir for camping.

And to answer your question about off-road driving-- Just follow the dirt road where there is one, they can be challenging enough. Thousands of miles of dirt roads. Be respectful of the desert environment.

Awesome answers! How far are these places from Rosarito (roughly)?