BajaNomad

How crazy does Baja get over Easter

JZ - 1-5-2017 at 05:45 PM

Around Gonzaga, BoLA, Mulege, and Loreto? What's Hwy 1 like?

I've only been in Sonora around Eastern and like 50K descend on a town of 5K.

Unfortunately, just found out our kids Spring break is the week of Easter this year instead of the normal week after.



[Edited on 1-6-2017 by JZ]

willardguy - 1-5-2017 at 05:55 PM

there's no shortage of remote campsites if you want to avoid the fracas.....now get ready for the drunk drivers, trash and loud music comments ;)

pacificobob - 1-5-2017 at 06:23 PM

i'll be doing a mostly off pavement ride over easter in spite of knowing better. mostly in BCS. we will bring the sleeping bags and expect to find full accommodations at times. i have seen quite a few garly accidents on the highways during easter week, especially on the mainland. no doubt many are driving loaded to the gils. have fun, be safe,cheers

JZ - 1-5-2017 at 06:38 PM

Yeah, think I'm gonna pass. Pretty p^ssed. Wanted to hit up Loreto.

I've spent quite a few Easters in San Carlos on the mainland. Literally 30,000 to 50,000 in the town and it takes 2hrs to go 3-4miles. Pretty crazy and fun, and we could hide out on the water when we wanted to. Just not up for it this year.


[Edited on 1-6-2017 by JZ]

mtgoat666 - 1-5-2017 at 08:39 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
Around Gonzaga, BoLA, Mulege, and Loreto? What's Hwy 1 like?

I've only been in Sonora around Eastern and like 50K descend on a town of 5K.

Unfortunately, just found out our kids Spring break is the week of Easter this year instead of the normal week after.
[Edited on 1-6-2017 by JZ]


Can be crazy, or not. Do not try to cross border northbound on same day as every other semana Santa traveler, last year TJ was jammed! I once drove hwy 1 the Saturday of Easter weekend, and there was no traffic, maybe that's the one day everyone chooses to get plastered in place? The First and last days of seaman Santa on hwy 1 are crazy! And sometimes all the days in between too!

If your kids break is then, then suck it up and do it, the experience will be experiential.

[Edited on 1-6-2017 by mtgoat666]

El Jefe - 1-6-2017 at 09:45 AM

It's not what it used to be. In the last ten years the Semana Santa week has gotten shorter and shorter. Families used to set up on the beaches for the whole week and the party was on. Nowadays we don't see the big crowds until Friday before Easter. There will be some that come earlier, maybe Wednesday or Thursday. But the big crowd, which is smaller every year, arrives Friday afternoon and is gone by Sunday afternoon. They still have LOTS of fun and it is great to be a part of it all. So many smiling kids and happy families.

We stay off the roads over the weekend and settle in and enjoy the show.

It seems these days that people have jobs that do not allow them to leave for the whole week. Especially in the tourist areas. And a few years ago the word was going around that people were afraid to abandon their neighborhoods for a week due to burglaries.

So I think a family could have a perfectly good time down here the week before Easter if they knew what to expect and sat tight over Easter weekend. Enjoy the party.

carlosg - 1-6-2017 at 10:43 AM

This may help in planning your Easter trip down to Baja, its a link to the official school calendar (https://www.gob.mx/gobmx/articulos/calendario-escolar-2016-2...) you can see that starting on the 7th of April things get crazy because every one is on party mode for the following two weeks, so plan accordingly, stay safe and have lots of fun... We're lucky because our children start their spring break on March 17 thru April 3 and we'll be headed to Tembabichi this year...:bounce:

[Edited on 1-6-2017 by carlosg]

Marc - 1-9-2017 at 12:23 PM

Don't even think of Easter week. Santispac during holy week! Not one inch of space on the entire beach from waterline to the hill. Mexican om pa pa at full volume and more garbage than I have ever seen; they just walk around in and on it.

On the bright side; everyone was friendly and willing to share the beer.
On Good Friday all are gone. This was 1995.

Spearo - 1-9-2017 at 04:28 PM

Bring ear plugs and the patience of Mother Teresa and you'll be ok. Try to do your driving early in the day because everyone will be tanked later, only a few in the morning.

I spent a couple of semana santas on Playa Escondida a few years back and it was fine. Loud, dirty but fine. My buddy and I were adopted by a couple of the viejas and they tried to feed us to death.

Gulliver - 1-9-2017 at 08:43 PM

Living here in Mulege there are two things I try to do.

One is to ride my bike down to Santispac on Saturday just to see the zoo. Don't get me wrong. No worse noise and behavior than I hear and see across the river from me at least once a week at the sports bar. Drunken gringos doing Karaoke to Led Zepplin gets old fast. Not as much trash though. They sure seem to be having fun (at both places). I guess. Wish they'd turn it down a skosh.

The second is to stay off of the roads on Sunday. I can't attest to blood alcohol content but these are largely families who need to be at work on Monday morning and are pushing the envelope. As the signs say, it's not a road for high speed.

[Edited on 1-10-2017 by Gulliver]

bent-rim - 1-10-2017 at 11:00 AM

Easter week is a nightmare and the week after most of the stores are low or out of stuff.

JZ - 1-10-2017 at 08:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Marc  
Don't even think of Easter week. Santispac during holy week! Not one inch of space on the entire beach from waterline to the hill. Mexican om pa pa at full volume and more garbage than I have ever seen; they just walk around in and on it.

On the bright side; everyone was friendly and willing to share the beer.
On Good Friday all are gone. This was 1995.


Probably out of date info. In my experience over the last 10 years from the mainland is that good Friday and the Saturday after are the worst. Starts Thursday. But Sunday it's all cleared out. That's the bad travel day.


[Edited on 1-11-2017 by JZ]

nbacc - 1-11-2017 at 03:21 PM

Do not do it unless you like lots of company!

Bajavan - 3-4-2017 at 10:14 PM

Been down to Baja plenty but never Easter week.

Planning to head down from Orange County to El requeson Holy Week. Leave Sunday 4/9 spend the night at el rosario then head down to Requeson the next day for 2 days. Plan is to start heading back north wednesday. Spend the night Wednesday at Gonzaga bay and be back home Thursday.. is it crazy to do this on Easter week? I have a 2 1/2 year old son so I am trying to avoid add major hours to an already long trip.

Thanks for any suggestions.

del mar - 3-4-2017 at 10:54 PM

not enough to not go! salud

willardguy - 3-4-2017 at 11:28 PM

its true...us full timers lock ourselves in the bathroom until we get the all clear to come out.
go and have a great time :coolup:

MMc - 3-4-2017 at 11:37 PM

Go to the pacific side in the middle of Baja, it's much quieter.

Bajavan - 3-4-2017 at 11:46 PM

Thanks all..What about leaving Friday the 7th and out of Concepcion by Monday the 10th?

rhintransit - 3-5-2017 at 07:53 AM

Extremely crazy in Loreto. I try to go somewhere else when I can during Semana Santa. All beaches full, town full, parties all night.

BajaBlanca - 3-5-2017 at 07:55 AM

The Pacific side or at least our neck of the woods is really quiet.

Activities with kids would be fishing off the shore, kayaking (there are rentals), biking (some kids are creating bike trails), beach walking, and there is a lagoon boat trip that is not expensive and they take you to these amazing sand dunes which are so fun to roll down on).

The Sea Of Cortez is not THAT far that you couldn't take a day trip to swim in warmer waters.

bajapedro - 3-5-2017 at 06:36 PM

Avoid San Felipe during Easter weekend at all costs!
Wall to wall people everywhere. Traffic Friday and Sunday is crazy.

JZ - 3-5-2017 at 07:12 PM

Decided to go skiing instead.

bajabuddha - 3-5-2017 at 09:33 PM

JZ, between you and bajavan, I wouldn't do your trip if you paid me a nickel for every Santanista on all the beaches in Baja, and with that I could buy a golf course condo in CSL. If you're already IN Baja during Semana Santa and want to experience the festivities, fine... but on the road to and from, it's a crap-shoot, literally. Been there, done that. the long stretches of highway are a death-trap. However, there's still lots of spaces for new crosses.

Fly to Mauna Loa in Hawaii and ski, ski, ski..... much less crowded, and much less dangerous.

Bajavan - 3-5-2017 at 11:45 PM

I will go another week then. I like quiet Baja not crazy Baja. Thanks all.

BajaBlanca - 3-6-2017 at 11:13 AM

Sounds smart. Skiing and another time, both are smart choices.

bkbend - 3-7-2017 at 11:07 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajapedro  
Avoid San Felipe during Easter weekend at all costs!
Wall to wall people everywhere. Traffic Friday and Sunday is crazy.


Been there, done that and enjoyed it. No, it's not a quiet peaceful camping trip, but it's a different experience and exposure to a different culture. The whole family had a blast and I'd recommend everyone try it at least once.

Gulliver - 3-7-2017 at 11:30 AM

I agree about doing it once just to see how you like it. The people are almost uniformly nice and most of them are family groups. Just messy and lots of OMPAH music. The messy has gotten a lot better over the years.

For me, I'm sort of a "far up in the mountains and quiet" sort of Baja fool so a big crowd anywhere is something I pass by.