BajaNomad

How bad is Semana Santa?

Norbert - 1-2-2016 at 08:33 PM

Driving down on our 2nd Baja road trip this March, this time Semana Santa is a lot earlier , we are beach camping with truck and camper, will be between Mulege, and Loreto at that time, are the beaches really crowded ? and do I have to stick to 4x4 only access beaches, or are they bad too, and have to head for the mountains for a week?

bajabuddha - 1-2-2016 at 09:28 PM

Do you enjoy very large crowds, camping and touching both ends of your 'spot' with several families and rows of tents four to five deep from the beach, from infants to oldsters, and all blasting boom-boxes until the wee-hours? Everyone shares... shares toys, shares tunes, shares food, shares beer, and ... you name it. Great beach party if you are a people's person. If you want even a little space and privacy, and a good night's sleep, the Easter Coņejo is not for you. I've never seen violence, but it's just not for the quiet/peaceful of heart. There's 3 to 5 days for everyone in Baja to have as much fun as possible in a very short time-frame; 'nuff said.

BTW, Semana Santa (Easter) is 3/27 this year. The party starts the week earlier on the highway with the few intrepid 'early-grab-the-campspot' drivers. The 24th is when the onslaught begins, and even the 28th is still a highway nightmare, with everyone "I HAVE TO BE FIRST" with camping gear tied high on the roofs of vehicles racing down Hwy 1 both going to the party and coming home, to be rivaled by the Baja 1000. Your biggest danger during the holiday is on the highway; many fresh cruceros are placed during the season, be careful and forewarned.

ehall - 1-3-2016 at 06:43 AM

Baja Buddha is correct. Made the mistake once. Start of the week we had the beach to ourself but by the weekend there were 3 rows of tents and the party went on all night.

bkbend - 1-3-2016 at 10:17 AM

Yes, I made the mistake of driving once during the lead-up to Semana Santa. I won't do that again. Went past two different wrecks between Mulege and BdLA. On a different trip had the ehall experience with a lonely beach that became a zoo. I wouldn't dissuade anyone from camping at that time, it was, well, an experience. Don't fight it, enjoy it, the aromas at meal time were incredible.

durrelllrobert - 1-3-2016 at 10:49 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Norbert  
Driving down on our 2nd Baja road trip this March, this time Semana Santa is a lot earlier , we are beach camping with truck and camper, will be between Mulege, and Loreto at that time, are the beaches really crowded ? and do I have to stick to 4x4 only access beaches, or are they bad too, and have to head for the mountains for a week?


Not as bad in Mexico as they are in China:

micah202 - 1-3-2016 at 11:55 AM

Quote: Originally posted by durrelllrobert  


Not as bad in Mexico as they are in China:




....they celebrate Semana Santa in China too? :wow:


,

David K - 1-3-2016 at 12:27 PM

Exactly... if you have 4WD and an air pump, then you can go to beaches where nobody else is. Anything near a paved road or a graded dirt road could be packed.

alacran - 1-3-2016 at 09:16 PM

Semana Santa, is the time fot play for many, many nationals to go and have fun in Baja, also the time for many "pochos" to come to Baja.

bajarich - 1-3-2016 at 10:48 PM

It's a great cultural experience. We once were at Playa Santaspac for Semana Santa and there was a carnival with rides and a ferris wheel there. It was a lot of fun. The worst part is the drone of the jetskis constantly.

We met a nice Mexican family from Constitution down at Agua Verde on SS and have made friends with them. They are always there at the first of the week before it really gets crowded. Yes even Agua Verde has crowds and the worst part is the mess they leave afterward, and the constant noise of jetskis of course.

The big thing is to not be on the roads on Easter Weekend or the Monday afterward. Too many borachos!

Hook - 1-3-2016 at 11:47 PM

I hope you are not one who demands personal space because Mexicans dont really believe in that at Semana Santa. Even with lots of space around your camp, they may choose to set up right next to you; literally 10 feet from your camp and pass through your camp on foot, if they feel they need to.

I can live with that, usually. What gets old is the exploding fireworks and the uber loud music that goes on ALL-NIGHT-LONG, EVERYNIGHT!!!!!

If you're lucky, the music will at least be Norteno music. If you're unlucky, it will be today's Mexican contemporary music. Just depends on the age group of the owner of the stereo.

It's amazing how they can go all night, night after night. But this is their biggest cut-loose time of the year. They aren't going to waste a minute.

In short, IF you like to sleep at night, better find a beach with very small crowds. And even then, all it takes is one loud stereo or one very large cohete stash.

[Edited on 1-4-2016 by Hook]

Alm - 1-4-2016 at 11:55 AM

Norbert, unless you are permanently in partying mood - pick some other time for your trip.
There will be 10 times more people everywhere.
Stay home, have a drink, go to church, and then start off to Baja next week.

On a beach where normally there are "some" people, mostly gringos, there will be people camped right next to you, mostly Mexicans, in tents, arriving 6-8 people in a small car 'cause gas is expensive.

On a beach where normally there is very few people because of poor road, there will be "some".

On a small secluded beach with NO road access, where normally there is no people at all, there is a good chance that gringos will come in a boat, or a dozen of locals in a couple of pangas - a picnic for a day. And, since it's small and secluded, it will feel like you've been invaded.

Places that you plan to visit is what is called Concepcion Bay. There are fairly good roads to those beaches, there are campers there all year round, many have permanent spots, it can get crowded there even in off-season.

[Edited on 1-4-2016 by Alm]

durrelllrobert - 1-4-2016 at 12:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by micah202  
Quote: Originally posted by durrelllrobert  


Not as bad in Mexico as they are in China:




....they celebrate Semana Santa in China too? :wow:


,

Yes, there are Christians in China. Easter is a Christian holiday celebrated worlwide.

Alm - 1-4-2016 at 04:38 PM

There is no Semana Santa in China - not as a vacation period, and Easter is not a stat holiday. Most of them wouldn't know what this is, if you ask them. Work, work, work, no time to think. Government does the thinking.

shari - 1-5-2016 at 09:14 AM

Semana Santa is the only week that locals get off which is why it is packed on all the beaches on the gulf... BUT if you are in Baja that week, the pacific side is empty as everyone goes over to the gulf for the nice weather. It get real windy in the end of March on the pacific side in the afternoons but it will be gloriously void of humans!

chuckie - 1-5-2016 at 10:47 AM

I find even the title of this thread offensive...Once again, We have entitled gringos complaining about what Mexican people do, in Mexico, on Mexican beaches, on a Mexican holiday..Deal with it, better yet get into it and enjoy it...or stay home..stop trying to make Mexico into east Podunk...shheeeees..

Norbert - 1-6-2016 at 12:42 AM

Wow offended chuckie? We are going regardless, Maybe should of asked where some off road beaches are to avoid the masses, and avoid offending any, thanks for all the tips everyone, may head to the west for a week,

Alm - 1-6-2016 at 01:33 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Norbert  
Maybe should of asked where some off road beaches are to avoid the masses,

If you want to avoid crowds, Semana Santa is simply a wrong time to go. Offroad beaches in Concepcion Bay - you must be kidding. Most beaches are right next to highway, unless you drive all the way around the bay and onto the other side.

Shari is right about Pacific coast though - less people, more wind, it's not summer yet.