newtobaja
Junior Nomad
Posts: 42
Registered: 11-3-2009
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First time baja trip
Hi folks,
This was my first trip to Baja/Mexico. Thanks very much to the tips from folks on this forum. The photos can be found at
http://picasaweb.google.com/wsiddiqi
Let me know if you have specific questions
Road: Highway 1 was fine all the way south except in 2 spots: south of catavina and north of GN. No gas problems even though I was worried about it.
Kids didn't give problem during the drive. We had books on tape and activities. ALso during the drive down, we only drove half a day, taking time to
look at places etc and stayed at interesting hotels so kids enjoyed the hotels as well. Took 5 days to get to LP (from silicon valley) and then took
2.5 days to get back to SV on the way back. Day 1 (to San Diego), Day 2 (to El rosario with stops for costco money exchange, getting FMT, looking
around ensenada), day 4 (to loreto with stops for santa rosalia and BC), day 5 (to la paz with checking out loreto in the morning). Multiple military
checkpoints. Didn't get any hassles. Soldiers were very polite and as soon as they found we were americanos on vacaciones, we were sent on. though
on the northbound, it did add to the delay as other cars, mostly with young single males were getting the thorough check. Didn't understand why there
were military truck on the malecon drive in LP with soldiers with masks etc. Reading the newspaper after I got back, explained it (They busted a major
drug lord in LP last week)
Food. First time with the fish tacos. Loved it. had mostly seafood & meat during the trip. No stomach problems at all. Surprised by the small # of
of veg options in the restaurant and also at the market. We were hoping to get good guavas and sugar cane but they were so-so. Looked around the
mercado in LP.
General: Folks were friendly throughout. Managed to have conversation with the locals with my phrase book. Place was clean. I've been to several
developing countries and was impressed by the comparative cleanliness of baja. Folks do seem to have sense of civic pride. (lack of people throwing
rubbish etc)
Actitivities: Enjoyed snorkelling, whale watching, beaches. Wife also liked souvenier shopping. Best prices were at Pescadero. Bahia Chilenos &
Maria in Cabo were excellent snorkelling places.
Hotels: Stayed at the following place -
Baja cactus motel - awesome!
san ignacio springs b&B (yurt place), la damiana inn loreto - very nice.
Bugambilia Hotel (LP), Mar de Cortez Cabo - did the job, clean/sterile, spacious
Los milagros hotel cabo - nice rooms though they need to be a bit more tourist friendly
Hoping to do a followon trip perhaps this time to san felipe or BLA for some fishing, snorkelling etc.
[Edited on 1-19-2010 by newtobaja]
[Edited on 1-19-2010 by newtobaja]
[Edited on 1-20-2010 by newtobaja]
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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Well done! Thanks for the report:
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Thanks for the great photo album. Just wondering about the stay in Cabo. As I recall, along with many nomad members, the Cabo thing was not a
priority. Hoping you'll do it again soon, as so many of us got hooked on Baja.
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Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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Nice pictures! I love the picture of the pink wall with orange door and piñatas, but it wasnt'd labeled. Where was that?
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newtobaja
Junior Nomad
Posts: 42
Registered: 11-3-2009
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Added a caption there. Its one of the candy/pinata stores in La paz.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Paula
Nice pictures! I love the picture of the pink wall with orange door and piñatas, but it wasnt'd labeled. Where was that? |
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newtobaja
Junior Nomad
Posts: 42
Registered: 11-3-2009
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Yup - was hoping to stay longer in bahia concepcion but the water was cold and the weather was cool & cloudy so decided to continue on south.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Thanks for the great photo album. Just wondering about the stay in Cabo. As I recall, along with many nomad members, the Cabo thing was not a
priority. Hoping you'll do it again soon, as so many of us got hooked on Baja. |
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ELINVESTIG8R
Select Nomad
Posts: 15882
Registered: 11-20-2007
Location: Southern California
Member Is Offline
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Newtobaja, welcome to Baja Nomad. Great pictures and report.
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Senior Nomad
Posts: 980
Registered: 11-5-2009
Location: BAJA SUR
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hola newtobaja and welcome. how was the stay in la paz at hotel bugambilia ? i have't been there since they remodeled about a year or so ago. one of
the nomads said the wall around the parking area was removed and was concerned about security for his vehicle. is it still walled and gated ?
also, how was your drive through constitution ? they were pretty devastated from hurricane jimena last year and as most of the traffic lites were out,
they were giving mass citations for not stopping even though the lites didn't work.
will check out your photos later.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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wow great pix, the Nomads trip reports, is like going with you on the trip. very Nice... Bien venido to Baja Nomad.
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6344
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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Very nice trip report!
Brings back many memories, Was. You certainly picked the best forum to post your trip.
Bienvenido, amigo.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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newtobaja
Junior Nomad
Posts: 42
Registered: 11-3-2009
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yes their compound is walled and gated.
the common area has been nicely repainted and decorated. The rooms are big, spacious but somewhat sterile. The washrooms, tiles seem to be decorated
in some colorful fashion but the contractor didn't do a good job there as the caulking was coming out.
In terms of CC - we simply drove through it. Some of the lights were working and some were not. Most people were stopping at the lights, stop sign etc
and I didn't see many police around. It looked like another baja town though it was pleasant to have 4 lane highway between CC and CI.
I didn't realise the town had been devastated in a hurricane and didn't really see much mess. OTOH - I wasn't paying close attention either.
| Quote: | Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
hola newtobaja and welcome. how was the stay in la paz at hotel bugambilia ? i have't been there since they remodeled about a year or so ago. one of
the nomads said the wall around the parking area was removed and was concerned about security for his vehicle. is it still walled and gated ?
also, how was your drive through constitution ? they were pretty devastated from hurricane jimena last year and as most of the traffic lites were out,
they were giving mass citations for not stopping even though the lites didn't work.
will check out your photos later.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT |
[Edited on 1-20-2010 by newtobaja]
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Senior Nomad
Posts: 980
Registered: 11-5-2009
Location: BAJA SUR
Member Is Offline
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Hola newtobaja, thank you for the report. i'll be heading that way at the beginning of march and was curious about bogumbillas. i heard they removed
the walls of the parking area, probably on this site.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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