BajaNomad

Mulege recommendations?

HeyMulegeScott - 1-19-2019 at 01:53 PM

We had originally planned to go straight to Bahia Conception but found a little slice of paradise here in Mulege that is close enough to go to the beach for the day and not crowded. Suggestions on places to eat, drink, and play in the area? We have a Jeep for exploring. Gracias!

TMW - 1-19-2019 at 02:05 PM

Try the pig roast at the Serenidad hotel on Saturday evenings. Also the El Patron restaurant and bar at the end of the road north side of the river where it empties into the Sea of Cortez.

David K - 1-19-2019 at 02:18 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
Try the pig roast at the Serenidad hotel on Saturday evenings. Also the El Patron restaurant and bar at the end of the road north side of the river where it empties into the Sea of Cortez.


El PATRON, MULEGE:









If El Patron is closed, the odds are the Casa de Pancho Villa restaurant is open, it is passed just before reaching El Patron, on a hill above the road... it is excellent and inexpensive.

bajabuddha - 1-19-2019 at 02:30 PM

Danny's tacos down past the church, wonderful beef, shrimp and fish tacos, bean soup to die for, and on Saturdays they serve nothing but carnitas (pork) you can order by the pound if you like (or just tacos), and go early because they usually run out by early afternoon.

Almost forgot, ask if they have flan. Home made and as good as it gets... IF Juan isn't too hung over to make it. El Yumm-o!

[Edited on 1-19-2019 by bajabuddha]

C205Driver - 1-19-2019 at 02:46 PM

Three2.... What’s the name of the place in your post? Is that Ray’s old place? Link to a website please!

HeyMulegeScott - 1-19-2019 at 03:21 PM

Thanks for the recommendations!

C20 - it's called Hacienda La Habana now. No website. We found on The Baja Camping Book.

tobias - 1-19-2019 at 03:34 PM

Casa de Pancho Villa was fanstastic but I think is no longer in business. That woman really made you feel at home and has a heart of gold.
There is a cart in the town square that sells tortas that are fantastic.
If you want to practice your spanish , there is a bar right across from the arch with two pool tables where tourists rarely go. The locals have been amazingly friendly every time I have gone in.

C205Driver - 1-19-2019 at 04:18 PM

Three2... if you use Campendium I found it there with a recent review.... Ray’s was an excellent restaurant; Ray died under mysterious circumstances....Yes, Mulege is a great find & looking for more from you about it..

chuckie - 1-19-2019 at 04:50 PM

Not so Mysterious.

BajaBill74 - 1-19-2019 at 05:02 PM

Restaurant Dony has the best shrimp salad IN THE WORLD.

It's so good that I don't order one anywhere else because it's such a let down.

bajabuddha - 1-19-2019 at 06:03 PM

Double-ditto on Dony's. Be sure to go for desayunos and order the juevos divorciados...... decadent. :coolup:

C205Driver - 1-19-2019 at 08:46 PM

Dony’s for me, has changed.... Not to stir the pot, but I think that they now cater more to the gringo tourism .. And that style of meal & associated pricing....Years ago when you sat on the sidewalk stools it was a more traditional Mexican restaurant.... But times change... But you never know unless you check it out personally, I’m done checking it out....

JZ - 1-19-2019 at 09:28 PM

Mulege at sunrise.



TMW - 1-19-2019 at 09:35 PM

Not sure how far you want to go in your Jeep but for a day trip you could head west out of town and at Rancho Las Cuevitas take a right and go to the Mission Guadalupe ruins. I understand the road is open to San Jose de Magdalena and on to Hwy 1 south of San Bruno. I'm sure David K or some of the Mulege off roaders could provide you a map and directions. Beautiful country back there.

Another interesting trip would be the same route but turn down the San Raymundo arroyo road to the coast La Ballena then south to San Juanico and on to La Purisima. You could stay at the hotel in La Purisima or drive out to Hwy 1 at KM60 and back to Mulege.

David K - 1-20-2019 at 10:36 AM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
Not sure how far you want to go in your Jeep but for a day trip you could head west out of town and at Rancho Las Cuevitas take a right and go to the Mission Guadalupe ruins. I understand the road is open to San Jose de Magdalena and on to Hwy 1 south of San Bruno. I'm sure David K or some of the Mulege off roaders could provide you a map and directions. Beautiful country back there.

Another interesting trip would be the same route but turn down the San Raymundo arroyo road to the coast La Ballena then south to San Juanico and on to La Purisima. You could stay at the hotel in La Purisima or drive out to Hwy 1 at KM60 and back to Mulege.






DouglasP - 1-20-2019 at 12:15 PM

Las Casita in Mulege. Get the meat platter for two...go hungry, leave full!

Los Equipales in mulege, also quite good!

LancairDriver - 1-20-2019 at 12:19 PM

That opening picture in the thread must be Rays old place. A very attractive looking RV campground. The road in there from Mulege was a powdered dusty mess to drive. Has that changed?

HeyMulegeScott - 1-21-2019 at 10:05 AM

Quote: Originally posted by LancairDriver  
That opening picture in the thread must be Rays old place. A very attractive looking RV campground. The road in there from Mulege was a powdered dusty mess to drive. Has that changed?


Wasn't too bad of a drive out. Glad we followed the signs and directions from Baja Camping book vs. Google trying to kill us again.

HeyMulegeScott - 1-22-2019 at 10:35 AM

Has anyone gone to the La Trinidad cave paintings lately? An older book mentioned you could drive up to the ranch and pay to have them guide you. I met Salvador (and read the other threads that mention him) in the town square and he offered to take us but it seemed a little spendy and we usually like to do self-directed tours.

Mulege Canuck - 1-22-2019 at 04:40 PM

About 150m SW of the arches, is a fish taco place. It is half llantera and half taco stand. They make fresh Ceviche on Sundays. The best in town.

TMW - 1-22-2019 at 05:07 PM

Here is a piece on La Trinidad from 2017.
http://www.hiddencorners.com.mx/cave

I believe there was an article on La Trinidad recently in the Discover Baja newsletter or maybe the Bajabound newsletter. I see if I can find it.

David K - 1-22-2019 at 05:16 PM

Quote: Originally posted by TMW  
Here is a piece on La Trinidad from 2017.
http://www.hiddencorners.com.mx/cave

I believe there was an article on La Trinidad recently in the Discover Baja newsletter or maybe the Bajabound newsletter. I see if I can find it.


January 2019 Baja Bound article by Nomad 'GregN': https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajafever/bajas_col...

Canyon de Trinidad, Mulegé

Farther to the south, in the mountains west of Mulegé, are several cave paintings notably in the Cañon de Trinidad. Mulegé hotels can hook you up with a local guide, Salvador Castro or Ciro Cuesta to name two. Back in 2000, I set off one Sunday morning while unsettling rain clouds lingered on the mountaintops.

I followed a good graded dirt road through suburbs of the tropical village of Mulegé, past palm groves, farms, orchards and ranches, up through desert into the mountains on a marked road to San Eustancio. Just past a compact little rancho turn left at a small sign to “Rancho Trinidad.”

That last mile or so of the 17-mile journey from town is rougher and requires high clearance vehicles. There is one cattle gate which you must open and then close behind you. Soon you arrive at a rustic rancho on a bluff with a magnificent view to the south, from a verdant valley to steep mountains. In every direction are high rocky peaks dappled with green and white palo blanco trees perched on improbable overhangs and looking like white-stemmed bunches of broccoli clinging tenaciously to steep hillsides.

Rancho Trinidad at road’s end has plenty of water, including a large cistern you could swim in, numerous trees and cattle. It is owned by a Santa Rosalía doctor and managed by Placido Castro and his wife Armida Arce de Castro who raised four children during the 22 years they’ve been there.

I signed the official register, paid the minimal fee, and set off afoot with Placido. There are two cave painting sites in the Cañon de Trinidad behind the rancho, one is about a 1½-mile round-trip on a good trail with some boulder hopping, and the other is about a three-hour round-trip from the rancho.

Heading for the closer site, we crossed a makeshift dam and numerous pools of water. The steep canyon walls speckled with greenery gave the place an ethereal look, like a set out of a “Lost Horizon” movie. Rounding a bend, we came to a cave the early people had obviously used for lodging. Across the creek, a couple of locations offered some outstanding examples of cave art.

The murals included outlines of hands and many animals, including fish, deer and smaller game. One scene looked like a stag mounting a doe, denoting the early people’s attention to animal husbandry. There was a hunter dancing in jubilation over the slain deer at his feet. There were even arrows protruding from a human figure reminding current viewers of man’s affinity for warfare.

On the trail back and around the rancho are other reminders of early man’s time spent in the area. There are several wonderful petroglyphs etched into boulders, and metates used for grinding grain.

Armida had been busy in her detached and open kitchen while we were gone. In true Baja hospitality, she offered me some machaca (dried beef). Imagine the contrast with stepping out of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and being accosted by a vendor of over-priced hot dogs.

Forget the Louvre, the Prado, the Getty or the Met. The cave paintings of Baja California are wonderfully displayed in nature’s own magnificent art gallery.



[Edited on 1-23-2019 by David K]

TMW - 1-22-2019 at 05:25 PM

This is from Discover Baja and was in their 2018 Nov. Bulletin.

La Trinidad
Location: Sierra de Guadalupe, West of Mulegé, BCS

Why We Love It: This is another cave painting site that can be visited from Mulegé in a day trip, either venturing out on your own or by hiring a guide from Mulegé.

What it’s Famous for: The paintings feature a collection of animal depictions, including a famous painting of a large orange deer with a checkerboard pattern. The deer is a recurring theme in prehistoric rock art throughout Baja and the La Trinidad deer is known for being the best example of the motif.

How to Visit: Visiting the cave paintings requires a permit from INAH and hiring a local guide. Guides can be hired from Mulegé or at Rancho La Trinidad, located 29 kilometers west of Mulegé. The ranch can be reached by car and from there you will hike in with a guide to the cave paintings. Most travelers hire a guide from Mulegé for the sake of convenience. For a guide from Mulegé, try Salvador Castro Drew (tel. 615/153-0232, cell tel. 615/103-5081, mulegetours@hotmail.com) or Ciro Cuesta (tel. 615/153-0566, cell tel. 615/106-8892)

DBTC Insider Tip: There are two groups of paintings at La Trinidad. It’s about a 45-minute hike to get to the first set and an extra hour to get to the second set. Many guides only take visitors to the first set, so inquire ahead of time when making arrangements if you want to see both sets of paintings.

Getting to La Trinidad cave paintings used to require a rigorous excursion of swimming through gorges and multiple river crossings. Since Hurricane Odile in September 2014, the trek has been dry, but conditions could change at any time so be sure to inquire ahead of time.

HeyMulegeScott - 1-23-2019 at 08:00 AM

Thanks, guys!

HeyMulegeScott - 1-26-2019 at 04:38 PM

San Borjitas Cave paintings were awesome.