Wanderglobe
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Rancho El Coyote
Hi Folks,
Here are some photos from my trip up to Rancho El Coyote located on the road to San Pedro Martir National Park. I highly recommend staying here. The
air was clean and fresh, the evenings nice and cool and the area was gorgeous. It was nice to get away from the flies of the coast. Most of all, the
hosts were incredibly hospitable, friendly and just downright nice.
To get there follow the signs from San Telmo for the San Pedro Martir National Park. Once you're on the road you can't miss it.
The drive to the ranch is gorgeous and you'll climb high into the mountains but be very careful and try not to get distracted by the scenery.
I counted 5 road cows on my drive up one of which ran in front of the bus right down the middle of the road.
After about 50 Km's you'll come to a turn off for Rancho El Coyote. Don't be put off by the fact that it's a dirt road. It was a very smooth ride into
the ranch.
After 8 Km's on the dirt road you'll eventually come to the ranch. This is a working ranch with a herd of about 800 free range cattle. The ranch
offers hunting, fishing, hiking and just relaxation.
If you're lucky you'll be greeted by Esteban Meling whose family owns both Rancho el Coyote and Meling ranch back on the main road. The land has been
in their family for over 100 years.
You can camp here for 100 pesos per person or take one of the cabins. I think I was quoted $35. I found a great little spot to park the bus down by
the fire pit and setup for the night.
There were bathrooms across the little bridge and more up by the house. They were immaculately clean and the hot water was nice after a week of
showering in the brackish water at San Quintin. You can drink the water out of the taps if you want.
There are no hookups here and wifi is available if needed but it's very slow and expensive for them so they normally don't advertise it. Firewood was
laid out at all the camp spots as well...a very nice touch.
The restaurant is great and accommodating as well. There are no menus, just ask what they have available.
As a vegetarian I asked for breakfast without meat and they laid out a spread that could have fed 4 people. This is only part of it, there was more to
come. I was even given my own thermos of coffee.
There are lots of critters around the ranch. I had adopted two puppies that had found there way there from another ranch and were waiting for the
owner to come and pick them up.
Remember though, if you feed them....
I also got a chuckle out of the confused cow who thought he was a goat to the point where he tried to mount one of them. The goat was none too
impressed.
I have no idea what this thing is. It looks like a cross between a turkey, a chicken and a duck.
I had to drive back to the US to replace a camera that I lost in the Bay of San Quintin but I think I'll be heading back up to the ranch as well as
the park so I'll post more photos and video then.
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David K
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Super nice to see... Much more than an off road motorcycle riders resort!
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Wanderglobe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Super nice to see... Much more than an off road motorcycle riders resort! |
True but much more accessible than Mikes Sky Ranch from what I understand. There's also plenty to do there. They have a pool and I did some mountain
biking and hiking in the area. All really nice past times. I just like how fresh and clean everything was. Not knocking San Quintin or other places at
all but it was a refreshing change from the dust and noise.
[Edited on 4-18-2012 by Wanderglobe]
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Hook
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Great report!
Did you talk in any detail about the fishing they offer, Wanderglobe? I am wondering if they are talking about those introduced trout or maybe if it
is lake or pond fishing.
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Wanderglobe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
Great report!
Did you talk in any detail about the fishing they offer, Wanderglobe? I am wondering if they are talking about those introduced trout or maybe if it
is lake or pond fishing. |
If I recall there were some trout at a stream that you had to ride on horseback to. Not sure exactly though. There's info at their site.
http://ranchoelcoyote.com/english/fishing/
Scott
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David K
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A turducken! Great... didn't know they actually existed! LOL
The trout stream would be Rio San Rafael (most likely) which flows past Mike's Sky Rancho... but they were also planted in another stream or two, a
hundred years ago.
The road between El Coyote and Mike's is best done in a 4WD. However, the road betwen Mike's and San Matias/ Valle de Trinidad (on Hwy. 3) is an
excellent road you could drive in the VW... 20 miles.
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Bajaboy
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Looks like a great place to take the kids camping. Putting it on my list.
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Ateo
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What a great looking place to visit. Gotta do this someday. Thanks and love the bus.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
A turducken! Great... didn't know they actually existed! LOL
The trout stream would be Rio San Rafael (most likely) which flows past Mike's Sky Rancho... but they were also planted in another stream or two, a
hundred years ago.
The road between El Coyote and Mike's is best done in a 4WD. However, the road betwen Mike's and San Matias/ Valle de Trinidad (on Hwy. 3) is an
excellent road you could drive in the VW... 20 miles. |
native trout are found in headwater streams of both the san rafael and san telmo river systems. trout are found in the permanent flowing sections of
streams on west escarpment of plateau. i think they are a variety of rainbow trout.
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
A turducken! Great... didn't know they actually existed! LOL
The trout stream would be Rio San Rafael (most likely) which flows past Mike's Sky Rancho... but they were also planted in another stream or two, a
hundred years ago.
The road between El Coyote and Mike's is best done in a 4WD. However, the road betwen Mike's and San Matias/ Valle de Trinidad (on Hwy. 3) is an
excellent road you could drive in the VW... 20 miles. |
native trout are found in headwater streams of both the san rafael and san telmo river systems. trout are found in the permanent flowing sections of
streams on west escarpment of plateau. i think they are a variety of rainbow trout. |
The Neson Trout were found in only one stream, and an American (named Utt) transplanted them into the other streams... I need to run, but later I will
provide the history and names in full!
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Mexitron
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Thanks for the report---never been to R. Coyote though have driven right by it many times. Sounds like a nice place to hang out.
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goldhuntress
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Nice photos and report! Looks like a great place. The cattle are much fatter in the north than they are further south, lots more food available up
that way I guess. FYI that is a Muscovy Duck. Actually it's a really interesting and unique bird. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscovy_Duck
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LaPazGringo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Super nice to see... Much more than an off road motorcycle riders resort! |
No kidding, David! Much agreed...
Thanks for taking the time to post the report and pics. They were most enjoyable. 
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Wanderglobe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajaboy
Looks like a great place to take the kids camping. Putting it on my list. |
Awesome. That's the whole reason I'm down here working on this travel doc, to show people that there's so much more to Mexico than all inclusives. I'm
kind of preaching to the choir on this forum though.  Still, glad some of you are
seeing something new. It's all new to me.
| Quote: | | What a great looking place to visit. Gotta do this someday. Thanks and love the bus. |
It's worth it in my books. Peace, quiet and no loud, tinny ranchero music. Heaven. Glad you like the bus. Thanks.
| Quote: | | Thanks for the report---never been to R. Coyote though have driven right by it many times. Sounds like a nice place to hang out.
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Agreed. I'm heading back there in a couple of days. Can't wait.
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Wanderglobe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by goldhuntress
Nice photos and report! Looks like a great place. The cattle are much fatter in the north than they are further south, lots more food available up
that way I guess. FYI that is a Muscovy Duck. Actually it's a really interesting and unique bird. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscovy_Duck |
I don't eat it but if I did I'd much prefer beef from a cow that was raised on this ranch as opposed to being raised in a feed lot. Their cows just
looked healthier. I stayed at a friends place for a few weeks and he was right down the road from a feed lot. It's one of the most disgusting looking
and awful smelling places I've ever seen.
Thanks for the info on the duck.
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Skipjack Joe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Wanderglobe
I don't eat it but if I did I'd much prefer beef from a cow that was raised on this ranch as opposed to being raised in a feed lot. Their cows just
looked healthier. I stayed at a friends place for a few weeks and he was right down the road from a feed lot. It's one of the most disgusting looking
and awful smelling places I've ever seen.
Thanks for the info on the duck. |
Yeah, it looks like I picked up the Central Valley Fever from the fungus that grows in the dirt of those lots.
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
A turducken! Great... didn't know they actually existed! LOL
The trout stream would be Rio San Rafael (most likely) which flows past Mike's Sky Rancho... but they were also planted in another stream or two, a
hundred years ago.
The road between El Coyote and Mike's is best done in a 4WD. However, the road betwen Mike's and San Matias/ Valle de Trinidad (on Hwy. 3) is an
excellent road you could drive in the VW... 20 miles. |
native trout are found in headwater streams of both the san rafael and san telmo river systems. trout are found in the permanent flowing sections of
streams on west escarpment of plateau. i think they are a variety of rainbow trout. |
Enjoy this web page with details on the trout of Baja and how Utt with a Meling transplanted the species into other Baja streams and above the San
Antonio waterfall.: http://www.scottdonaghe.com/articles/bc_trout/bctrout.html
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David K
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Baja Legends
Our own Nomad author, Greg Niemann has a chapter on the Baja trout: Baja Trout
I found the story as told by Utt online... and it was worthy of a separate post, here: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=59581
[Edited on 4-19-2012 by David K]
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Hook
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Great articles on the history of the trout, DK. Thank you for posting these.
When I saw the name Utt in the first article, I suspected he was a member of the pioneering family from Tustin.
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David K
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Baja history... even recent history is fascinating to me... I am happy you enjoyed it as well!
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