BajaNomad

First Baja road trip, looking for tips

Norbert - 2-4-2015 at 11:00 PM

Itinerary: Month of march- From Canada, TJ crossing, to Ensenada, to San Felipe, to Puertecitos, Gonzaga bay, Chapala, BoLa, Guerrero Negro, Santa Rosalia, Loreto.
Side trips- Agua Verde, Playa Malarrimo. Traveling in 4x4 camper, self contained. Would like tips ,good or bad, Mainly places not to miss, short hikes, long beach combing, shore fishing, ghost towns, mines, Would like any Info on cool experiences, and what not to miss. Thanks for any info, Googled all the bad, going for the good, just do not want to miss anything.

redhilltown - 2-5-2015 at 12:28 AM

Welcome Norbert! You will get a ton of advice I bet. Is this a first time trip? Many like myself like to cross south at Tecate and then take the road through the wine country to Ensenada...beautiful and a bit less chaotic (not to mention the wine tasting.) As to shore fishing dont bother until well south of Puertecitos...for the most part you'll be fishing for Corvina, Spotted Bay Bass and Triggers...bring some small hooks and squid and you'll get dinner. Chrome Krocodiles for casting. Mission San Borja is a great day trip near BOLA. Don't drive at night. Bring your fave bug spray. Stop at Coco's south of Gonzaga. Watch out for coyotes beach camping, they WANT your water and food. Have a good compressor for airing down when you need to and airing back up. And a good spare...or two. And have fun!

Visit the whales at Scammons lagoon/Ojo de Liebre

Whale-ista - 2-5-2015 at 01:41 AM

Just a few miles south of Guerrero Negro. Lots of whales this year, March will be a good time to visit.

Definitely memorable, not to be missed.

Update: just found this report- http://lsiecosystem.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Swartz-et...

It states: "Additionally, these late season increases occurring in late-March and early-April after the end of the birthing period in mid-February suggests that female-calf pairs from other winter aggregating areas (e.g., Laguna Ojo de Liebre and Bahia Magdalena) are moving into Laguna San Ignacio late in the winter breeding season. In contrast, in Laguna Ojo de Liebre no late season increase in the counts of female-calf pairs was observed in 2013 as was seen in Laguna San Ignacio."

So something to keep in mind regarding how whales move to different lagoons. But whales are unpredictable and every trip and every season is different.

Have fun!

[Edited on 2-5-2015 by Whale-ista]

shari - 2-5-2015 at 07:45 AM

Hola Paisono...fellow countryman! Welcome to the forum. What part of Canucklandia are you from? Read some trip reports here to get an idea of where to stop....depends on what you like to do. Five minutes past Guerrero Negro is the entrance to the lagoon where we have our base whale camp in Palapa #1 so do stop in and see us there...great place to camp with showers, bathrooms and a restaurant!

Have a great trip and we look forward to your reports here...nice to have some new blood!

AndyP - 2-5-2015 at 08:55 AM

Bring some kayaks if you can, paddling on the Sea of Cortez is pure magic. And pick up a copy of The Baja Adventure Book, it's out of date but filled with all kinds of inspiration.

David K - 2-5-2015 at 09:15 AM

So much to see and do... have a look at a couple trip reports and see if anything looks interesting to you... then let us know if you need more data!

2012 Peninsula long trip via San Felipe, Loreto, Cabo, Bahia Asuncion, L.A. Bay with fossils, cave art, beaches, missions and more: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=61576

2009 trip to Loreto via San Ignacio, Mulege, San Javier, San Borja, Santo Tomas, missions, beaches, resorts and more:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=40348

Also for a quick set of links to Baja area photos to see what's there: http://vivabaja.com/tours

AKgringo - 2-5-2015 at 09:43 AM

Sorry to tell you this, but If you only have a month, you are going to miss things! As D.K.'s signature states, "So much Baja, so little time!"
The shortest of six trips I have made down the peninsula was three weeks, and the bulk of all the trips was exploring for new spots to visit. I have found some great places away from the crowds, but as I write this, I can't decide if I will re-visit some of those places on my next trip or find new ones!
What a dilemma to have, I love my time SOB! (south of border)
You are gong to have fun, just try to stay longer and do it more often. Have a great trip!

[Edited on 2-5-2015 by AKgringo]

bajabuddha - 2-5-2015 at 09:57 AM

Word to the wise:
Since you're travelling south from The Great White North and have spent the winter there, hitting Baja makes one do surprising things. When you get up in the morning, tip for the day....

NEVER COOK BACON IN THE NUDE. :o :yes:

ehall - 2-5-2015 at 10:02 AM

Be sure to stop and see CoCo. He has alot of good stories to tell.

Russ - 2-5-2015 at 10:33 AM

There really hasn't been a lot of talk about camping in Punta Chivato lately so here is an up date. The camp beach is still a good place to play and fish.Small boats can be launched from the beach or you can use the launch ramp. I haven't been out fishing but I've been hearing some good reports lately. If the wind come up and you want out of it there is the Hotelito with a restaurant. If you contact me you can camp on my water front lot near the fish camp.

TMW - 2-5-2015 at 10:36 AM

Was at Playa Malarrimo a couple of weeks ago. Read my report for info going in. http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=77391

Another place not many go to is Timbabichi south of Agua Verde on the Sea of Cortez. Access is from CD Constitucion. My trip report from 2013 talks about it and the family there. Really nice beaches to the north. http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=60000

Norbert - 2-5-2015 at 10:38 AM

Thanks all!
We are from B.C. coast town of Powell River. We have flown to San Jose twice, rented a car and driven as far as east cape, windy! Will read all those trip posts, this is our first drive down, and first holiday for a whole month! We heard driving south through TJ is easy, but north through wine country, and Tecate is best. Will check out Shari for a whale trip for sure, and pick your brain for info on getting to Malarrimo for some beach combing. Can't wait, have been planning this for a whole year!

: http://www.discoverpowellriver.com/
Its said the protected ocean water here is the warmest north of Mexico!

Thanks a lot TMW!

AKgringo - 2-5-2015 at 12:33 PM

I still have a lot of spots mapped out to check off my 'Baja Bucket List', and now you have me thinking about adding places that aren't even on the map!
Timbachi may have just replaced one of the other spots I haven't been yet.
By the way, where is Playa Malarrimo?

Martyman - 2-5-2015 at 01:50 PM

I've gone through Tecate and it is an extra hassle. TJ is fine and the wine tasting is very close to the toll road to Ensenada.

TMW - 2-5-2015 at 02:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
I still have a lot of spots mapped out to check off my 'Baja Bucket List', and now you have me thinking about adding places that aren't even on the map!
Timbachi may have just replaced one of the other spots I haven't been yet.
By the way, where is Playa Malarrimo?


The turn off is near San Jose de Castro about 75 miles west of Vizcaino. Then it is about 27 miles to the beach. Lots of junk to look thru.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=77391


[Edited on 2-5-2015 by TMW]

chuckie - 2-5-2015 at 05:01 PM

My advice, don't overplan it....If it looks interesting do it...If you get stuck, get unstuck.....no worries...

Thanks TMW

AKgringo - 2-5-2015 at 05:06 PM

No really, I mean it this time! I missed that double arrow on the map the first time. For some reason I thought Playa Malarrimo would be on the gulf side.
That could work out well for another destination. I try to hit both sides of the peninsula on my trips, hopefully in tune with prevailing wind changes.

durrelllrobert - 2-5-2015 at 05:42 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Norbert  
Thanks all!
We are from B.C. coast town of Powell River. We have flown to San Jose twice, rented a car and driven as far as east cape, windy! Will read all those trip posts, this is our first drive down, and first holiday for a whole month! We heard driving south through TJ is easy, but north through wine country, and Tecate is best. Will check out Shari for a whale trip for sure, and pick your brain for info on getting to Malarrimo for some beach combing. Can't wait, have been planning this for a whole year!

: http://www.discoverpowellriver.com/
Its said the protected ocean water here is the warmest north of Mexico!


Western BC is just beautiful. We usually come home from my wife's place in Edmonton that way.

bajalearner - 2-6-2015 at 08:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by chuckie  
My advice, don't overplan it....If it looks interesting do it...If you get stuck, get unstuck.....no worries...


Ditto. And alongside this post is another post by Chuckie that talks about him traveling right now to Baja 59 years after his first Baja trip.

So my advice about your first trip is to enjoy every minute and don't sweat the small things because they're all small things. Take lots of pictures and maybe write a journal so you can revisit the trip when you get back home. Note things like the cost of things too so 59 years from now you will have things to laugh and b-tch at. :yes:

Norbert - 2-10-2015 at 11:39 PM

TMW Thank you For the Malarrimo trip, was not sure if Odile wiped it out.
Russ Thanks for the generosity ! Will message you.
Everyone's been a great help,
Here my biggest worry was asking a old or stupid question and attracting the wrath of Chuckie !
A small victory for me!

David K - 2-11-2015 at 12:41 PM

The only old or stupid question is the one not asked. Many of us here are able to help with answers, a few think that since they found the place it is now theirs to keep secret... Baja is big enough for all Nomads to enjoy.

Norbert - 2-12-2015 at 12:17 AM

David K , absolutely agree, just a newbie treading lightly. checked out your VivaBaja, wow, great info, amazing history, Starting our first trip, but planning our 2nd......

Chupacabra - 2-12-2015 at 10:39 AM

Buy this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Baja-Adventure-Book-Walt-Peterson/dp/0...

DianaT - 2-12-2015 at 10:43 AM

Quote: Originally posted by chuckie  
My advice, don't overplan it....If it looks interesting do it...If you get stuck, get unstuck.....no worries...


Yes --- plan as you go, or at least that is what we always do. Stay flexible, buy the books, talk to people as you go. And beware of those who are really only interested in getting their hands into your wallet.

Have a GREAT trip.