flyguy
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San Francisco de Borja directions?
Just curious how many routes there are into the Mission, the distances and what the conditions of the roads are... been finding a lot on everything
about the mission itself but having trouble finding much on the different driving options  Looks like a magical place!
Thanks a lot.
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John M
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San Borja
From an old map - two routes in. The better is to turn off Highway 1 at Rosarito 25 or so miles south of the road to Bay of Los Angeles. The second is
to the south off the Bay of Los Angeles Road 27 or so miles east of Highway 1 and is rockier.
Each route is all dirt road, roughly 20 miles by either direction. The road is easy to follow with a fine reward for your effort.
[Edited on 2-19-2014 by John M]
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David K
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In 2009, went on both roads... the north one to the L.A. Bay highway was better. It seems to alternate... both are 22 miles long. Both are 2WD, but
trucks/ vans/ SUVs would be better than sedans.
West road:
North road:
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jbcoug
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Traveled both roads in August with Boe4fun. The south road was much better and less rocky.
\"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.\" Andy Rooney
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honda tom
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Both roads are similar. depending on where you are coming/going take one in the other out. someone will come out and greet you. give them 10 or 20
bucs for the grand tour, very cool place. plan on 45 min to an hour each way.
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by honda tom
Both roads are similar. depending on where you are coming/going take one in the other out. someone will come out and greet you. give them 10 or 20
bucs for the grand tour, very cool place. plan on 45 min to an hour each way. |
This!
In 2009, the west road was badly rutted/ eroded. A grader must have gone over the road since. The north road has always been a joy to drive, perhaps
do to the scenery? There is one short rocky hill, but no biggie, this is Baja afterall.
The cover of this book is along that road:
The mission...
The book is from 1984.
[Edited on 2-20-2014 by David K]
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flyguy
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Thanks so much for the info guys, getting so excited for this trip  looks like
after BOLA we can hit the Mission and then back out to the highway and continue south. That flat top mountain in the pictures above is epic looking
btw.... whats the name?
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by flyguy
Thanks so much for the info guys, getting so excited for this trip looks like
after BOLA we can hit the Mission and then back out to the highway and continue south. That flat top mountain in the pictures above is epic looking
btw.... whats the name? |
Educted guessing here, but that's Mesa la Lagunita... on the book cover and Cerro la Tecolate in my photo above... but you can call either one Mount
Flyguy if you want!
Have a great time... José and his family are wonderful hosts. They live next to the mission and can guide you to any outside sites. Inside the mission
there may be a representative from the Catholic Church to lead you around (José's family is not Catholic and has been banned from providing tours he
used to give). Now, this may have changed since my last time there (2009)? José has been hired to do reconstruction work on the mission, so I guess
that is okay with the Guerrero Negro priest, who includes San Borja in his jurisdiction.
Some photos from 2009:
See the 'space man' on the left side of the front door.
This is the furthest north stone mission in Baja California. The mission was founded in 1762... and closed about 1818.
Older adobe buildings from the Franciscans and Jesuits, protected by awning and plaster coating, as seen from the stone church finished in 1801 by the
Dominicans.
David K and José
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flyguy
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Mount Flyguy ... has a nice ring to it  . The Mission looks like a
photographers dream! I have heard there are hot springs? What "other near by sites" are there?
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John M
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Nearby sites
Your plan to leave Bay of LA - visit San Borja - exit via the southernmost road is perfect. Don't rush the dirt road driving, you and your vehicle
will appreciate it much more.
Just a few miles in from the Bay of Los Angeles Road, on the way to San Borja is a turn off to some nice pictographs at a site called Montevido - the
exact route I'm sure has been published here on Nomad and though a short road in, it is really a nice drive. Could be some soft sand when you reach
the paintings. Is your vehicle 4x4? Usually don't need it, but nice just in case.
At San Borja you can inquire of another painting site, Las Tinajitas - Jose can direct you.
The hot spring has been a part of the "tour" in the past.
One of the prettiest drives we've done in Baja actually starts at San Borja and leads south and east to San Gregorio - there are some neat adobe ruins
at the end of the road. If you are in to hiking you can also travel a part of the old El Camino Real, the route of the missionaries - some pretty
historic stuff there. Again Jose can help with directions - on a recent Baja Almanac it's shown as a foot trail and labeled Compostelo.
The little detour to San Borja could turn into 2 or 3 days of exploring quite easily. There is much more to see and do on this 40 mile adventure.
John M
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David K
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What John said!
MONTEVIDEO...
Go 2 miles towards San Borja off the L.A. Bay highway, take single track dirt road to the left... goes through great desert garden and after about 6
miles comes alongside cliffs covered in pictographs...
The road in:
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bajabuddha
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Dave K, i hate to say this, but that first pic of the last series reminds me one heckuvalot of my first ex-wife (sans the tatoos). Shows karma
happens? Whew. 
I heard from a doctor that owns property in Bahia L.A. several years back that San Borja has the best olives in Baja. Anyone know if they're still
pickin?
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabuddha
Dave K, i hate to say this, but that first pic of the last series reminds me one heckuvalot of my first ex-wife (sans the tatoos). Shows karma
happens? Whew.
I heard from a doctor that owns property in Bahia L.A. several years back that San Borja has the best olives in Baja. Anyone know if they're still
pickin? |
Doc Abraham Vasquez (owner of Camp Gecko) had me bring him a Pomegranate tree cutting from José at San Borja... told me they were the best. José
looked at his calendar to confirm the moon was in the proper phase to take a cutting for the tree! That was a dozen years ago... I wonder if the
pomegranate survived at its new bayside location?
The Montevideo 'butt' is colorful indeed... I am sure the cochimí considered it worthy of honoring!
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flyguy
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John M ... your advice will be well noted! thanks guys, as I dive deeper into what hidden gems Baja has to offer my excitement grows more and more!
The toughest part will be having to choose what to do with our 3-4 weeks ... rumor has it there is a waterfall/hot springs near Santiago ... hmmm 
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by flyguy
John M ... your advice will be well noted! thanks guys, as I dive deeper into what hidden gems Baja has to offer my excitement grows more and more!
The toughest part will be having to choose what to do with our 3-4 weeks ... rumor has it there is a waterfall/hot springs near Santiago ... hmmm |
Search 'El Chorro', 'San Jorge', 'Santa Rita' 
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wilderone
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The "hot springs" at San Borja is really a warm springs - but a soak is soothing nevertheless. It's on their private property, so inquire. There are
also nice camping facilities - fire rings and palapas. Early mornings are so peaceful - good bird watching. This place deserves more than a mission
tour to appreciate. Never saw olives for sale here.
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