I've traveled in mainland Mexico, Puerto Rico, and other "Catholic countries" during Semana Santa, and those experiences made me wary of planning
travel during this particular week. (crazy crowds, lot of unpredictable traffic, etc.)
Of course this year my kids are on Spring Break the same week as Semana Santa and I was hoping to bring my son down to Bahia de Los Angeles for his
first time.
My question is whether this will make a big difference in Baja in terms of traffic on the roads and difficulty of getting accommodations? Is Semana
Santa as "nutty" in Baja as it is in a lot of other parts of Mexico and Latin America?
Thanks
Brentwoody with a view - 1-31-2015 at 09:11 AM
it isn't like times square on NYEve. make a reservation online and hope for the best.sbsyncro - 1-31-2015 at 09:18 AM
Thanks. Kinda what I'm thinking but one of the reason why I love Baja is the lack of crowds. To drive 14 hours and arrive to something that feels
like Spring Break in San Diego would be a bit of a disappointment...ChicaSierra - 1-31-2015 at 09:26 AM
Hey Brent, We try to avoid Semana de Santa because it is quite busy and the campgrounds tend to fill up with the locals. We prefer to let them have
their fun that week, without us in the way, BUT we also aren't limited by the kids' schools schedule and have the option to avoid the
holidays....There may be parades and celebrations through the villages, which can be cool to check out or totally frustrating to get through. Also,
you may notice the fish populations have been hit pretty hard by that time....due to the higher demand during Lent. Just me two cents, here! That
said, I'm sure you will have fun, no matter when you go...it is Baja after all! Welcome back!David K - 1-31-2015 at 09:26 AM
All popular beaches near paved roads are where the fiestas and noise will be. See Pompano's photos of Bahia Concepcion for examples. However, my kids
and I would go to L.A. Bay (Camp Gecko) on Spring Break and it was busy, but not crazy. That was back in 2001, 2002, 2003.
Las Animas and San Rafael was untouched... just too far from pavement.
As Mama Espinoza says: Bad Roads Bring Good People... Good Roads Bring ALL Kinds of People.BajaRat - 1-31-2015 at 09:37 AM
What are the dates this year ?
Thanks, Lionel sbsyncro - 1-31-2015 at 10:02 AM
March 28 - April 5th, I believe.bajabuddha - 1-31-2015 at 10:12 AM
Easter Sunday is on April 5th, which means the onslaught begins the 31st of March (I've noticed over the past 5 years it gets a day or two earlier
every year).
The first wave of Santanistas start down Hwy. 1 with vehicles packed inside and out, twice as tall as when empty with all kinds of camping toys
semi-tied down in kaleidoscopes of colorful beach gear, some of which will inevitably fly off in front of you. They are the 'spot-pickers' for
friends and family who will shortly follow; the most important rule of the road is, THEY MUST BE FIRST. They will pass anything, anywhere, hell-bent
for election to get the best camping spot available... on any and every beach in Baja.
By Tuesday (the 3rd) the procession will begin, exponentially more traffic on Wednesday and heavy on Thursday with last-minute dashers on Friday.
Tiendas will raise their prices the pre-week, stock heavily on party foods, and run low (or out) anyway. Plan on many roadblocks besides just the
inspection stations; each little town will have out cones and a few cops checking for open containers and seat-belt infractions.
Used-to-was, Pemex stations would run out of gas and/or diesel; not so much any more, but still problematic on the El Rosario - south stretch...
Easter Sunday (starting Sat. afternoon, going into Monday) is the procession back home, hung-over, tired, and in a hurry. Nasty north travel. I'm
talking folks from Tijuana going all the way past Loreto. Everyone has their 'party' tolerances.... I camped on Semana Santa..... ONCE... and that
was 20 years ago. When wintering (boondocking beach camping) I'd move inland to a trailer park with hookups for a few weeks, stock up on groceries
and especially enough Pacifico to last a couple of weeks, and hunker down. Two years ago I took pics of Santispac beach with tents literally touching
each other, and 5 to 7 rows deep the length of the beach. Fun, huh?
Can't comment on the beaches at Bahia LA, but the road in is very good, there's a Pemex there now. If it's semi-solitude or semi-privacy you seek,
happy hunting.
[Edited on 1-31-2015 by bajabuddha]rhintransit - 1-31-2015 at 10:18 AM
Answer to all your questions...yes.
Traffic as previously described and wall to wall people and tents and boom boxes everywhere and all night long.
[Edited on 1-31-2015 by rhintransit]woody with a view - 1-31-2015 at 10:18 AM
actually, there are 2 in BdeLA. as soon as you roll into town fillup instead of waiting to fill on your way out. power outages happen and neither has
a generator to pump from their tanks.shari - 1-31-2015 at 10:28 AM
yes BOLA is busy that weekend as well as there are lots of stingrays then too so be careful with the kids. But the pacside beaches are deserted as all
the locals go to Conception Bay area or BOLA...but the weather is usually windy and cool on our side by then...which is why we all vacation on the
other side! Who wants to house sit our place during Semana Santa?sbsyncro - 1-31-2015 at 10:30 AM
Thanks guys - and especially bajabuddha for your depiction, which had me chuckling.
I think I'll take a pass that week and try again in May or June when the wind dies down, the water warms up, and my biggest worry will be the the
other gringos over-paying for stuff.
I want my kid's first Baja trip to be an accurate depiction and that just sounds like too much of a zoo, as I'd feared.
[Edited on 1-31-2015 by sbsyncro]sbsyncro - 1-31-2015 at 10:34 AM
yes BOLA is busy that weekend as well as there are lots of stingrays then too so be careful with the kids.
People often warn about the stingrays during the spring months. When I was there in late July this past summer there were HUNDREDS of them in the
sand out in 6 to 10 feet of water along all the beaches . I can only imagine what it must be like in spring time!Pompano - 1-31-2015 at 11:23 AM
Opps.....finally found the right thread for this Easter-time trip event.
The reports of crowding and night-long music are true. Not a quiet time nor will you have any privacy. But some folks like it that way. This is
what Coyote Bay camping beach will look like. Pretty much any beach in Baja Sur that can be reached easily from the highway will be full of party
folks for Easter. A time to be super-cautious on the highways.
Good luck... whenever you decide to visit.
p.s. We've enjoyed great sushi when visiting in Santa Barbara, but can't think of it right now..might have been Sakana?
AKgringo - 1-31-2015 at 11:52 AM
My usual preference of beach campsites involves some challenging 4x4 access, which limits the size of the crowd. You will probably still have
neighbors though, unless you are on a beach that you wouldn't ever stay at out of the holiday season.
If that is the time you have to go, go anyway. Your kids will remember the trip, and it is probably more fun than staying home!
Sad to say, after Semana Santos two years ago, I was filling garbage bags with other people's litter at just about every beach I explored. What is so
hard about hauling your own trash out?
(edit) I have to say, I was thankful for neighbors on one remote beach, I was glad to have help getting off of it! My dog and their dogs did the
icebreaking for us, and with my lousy Spanish, and their equal English, we all had a great weekend.
[Edited on 1-31-2015 by AKgringo]MMc - 1-31-2015 at 12:06 PM
I love Easter Week, We move to places that take a bit harder to get to and the Pacific side is empty. Sometimes a croud can be fun in Baja.
[Edited on 1-31-2015 by MMc]Tomas Tierra - 1-31-2015 at 03:11 PM
Ola SBS.. Welcome to the board! Do you drive a vw syncro?? If so, head for the pac side and sleep in the van no?
We are bypassing the gulf side this year for SS. We will be traveling the the first and second, Kids spring break dictating our time as well..traffic
will be hell on the way down, but as long as im pointed south im happy..decided on San Ignacio Lagoon for some whale watching, then hideaway in the
mangroves for some fishing/ kayaking.... Praying the wind gods will smile! If not, there are some cool inland trips from there as well... DON'T THROW
IN THE TOWEL! Take your kid to Baja !
TTBajaboy - 1-31-2015 at 03:13 PM
We do it every year as well. No big deal. I can't think of any real issues. Have fun.Whale-ista - 1-31-2015 at 03:16 PM
Don't give up yet! Spring is a lovely time in Baja- the flowers are already appearing! +There are great opportunities on Pacific side.
I've been in Ojo de Liebre (near Guerrero Negro) when locals come to spend the day on the water under a palapa. Popular pastime on any Sunday (not
sure about semana santa). They hang w/friends, family, picnic, and stay in the shade of the palapa most of the day. Not there for whales, just a "day
at the beach" for locals.
(And as another person mentioned: my friendly poodle makes introductions easier.)
Or- Have you considered San Ignacio lagoon? Pacific side, so cooler, quieter during SS. Still relatively remote. I think the last section of road thru
salt flats has not been completed so it keeps the less motivated drivers away. (Good clearance is helpful, and/or drive slowly)
Nice campgrounds at Kuyima- they offer prepared meals, w/fresh made tortillas served family style +great fresh fish, (if you don't catch any
yourself). Also have clean restrooms/showers and whale watching trips, and/or you can dry/remote camp in the area (without the warm sunny Sea of
Cortez crowd) and when you want, come into camp, then pay for meals, whalewatching, etc. a la carte.
It's pretty remote- still off the grid. All power is generator, solar and/or wind.
Hope that helps!ChicaSierra - 1-31-2015 at 03:30 PM
Yep, I was totally referring to the SOC.
OH YA...THE BLOWING TARPS! It is always windy that week, for some reason. And the trash from all the blowing....I like the idea of going after all
the hub bub to help with the trash, being a steward of the land. Ken Cooke - 1-31-2015 at 04:55 PM
The Pole Line Run will be during Easter weekend, so it will be quiet and peaceful. I have been to San Felipe during Semana Santa with my Wife (from
Colombia), and she loved the energy of the local people. Look at as an opportunity to interact with the people of Mexico, practice your Spanish, and
hear music you otherwise aren't exposed to normally.
holy weeks
captkw - 1-31-2015 at 07:54 PM
sbsyncro..welcome..been gone for a while up in the Yosemite area and just got back online.........I'd would stay clear of Baja any time near S.S.
(holy week) as the road traffic is crazy (many accidents) and its just not a week...4/5 days before and after.....IMO would go down 10 days after for
your kids sake......more folks die on the Baja roads during this time than you could ever guess...FACT !!Hook - 1-31-2015 at 08:03 PM
I havent been to BoLA at Semana Santa in a lot of years but it isnt nearly as bad as Concepcion or the beaches out by La Paz.
But the likelihood of strong winds at BoLA in late March is too much for me to take a chance on it. Especially with that boat. No place in Baja has
worse winds that BoLA, when it's up.
steward of the land.