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expat2B
Junior Nomad
Posts: 45
Registered: 11-8-2004
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avoiding spring-breakers?
Caro Nomads: Wanted to seek some advice re where to go for a 3-day trip, within a day's drive of the border during the 3rd week of March. Our ideal
target would be a town/small-med.-sized city with reasonable lodging, dining, and sightseeing options. We thought of Ensenada and San Felipe, but
remembered that our schedule might overlap with the college spring-breakers, which we would prefer to avoid. Under different circumstances and given
more time, we'd press-on south to places like BOLA or San Ignacio. Thanks in advance for your tips.
Saludos
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John M
Super Nomad
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Location: California High Desert
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El Rosario
Could be a decent option. I haven't been there during the spring break time but would think it isn't a "destination" for that crowd.
Motels, restaurants.....less than one day's drive from the border...
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expat2B
Junior Nomad
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Thanks, for the tip, John. We may also look at San Quintin. The Moon and AAA guidebooks suggest SQ might have a few more dining/lodging options.
Saludos.
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John M
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San Quentin
Do a search here for the El Rosario map David K has been working on. We've stayed several times at the Baja Cactus Motel in El Rosario - couldn't
have nicer accomodations, especially the newer rooms toward the back. I don't know what sort of day trips interest you but there has been an awful
lot posted here in the last 3 or 4 months. Less than an hour south of San Quentin. Sure quieter area than San Quentin.....
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Sharksbaja
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Many Mexicans
Last year I was amazed at the number of vacationing Mexicans(can they do that?)
Especially in some camping areas. I mean LOTS of em! Having much fun too. Kinda like the good ol' days in da USA.
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bajalou
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Samana Santa brings many thousands of Mexicans to San Felipe - the beach at the Malacon will be completly covered with tents. There will be tents
between parked cars on the street. They have a wonderful time but the town suffersfrom all that activity. Most gringos try to stay away that week.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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El Rosario is a great option... and as stated above the last year has been fun seeing the many area attractions...
I have many photos and driving details in my web site and here on Nomad. The first El Rosario side trips page I made is at: http://vivabaja.com/1104
the next is http://vivabaja.com/505
the next is http://community-2.webtv.net/vivabaja/705
the next is http://community-2.webtv.net/boojum1/pintas/
and then: http://community-2.webtv.net/boojum2/1005
Anyway, take a scan through and you will see there are missions, mines, petrified forests, fossils, petroglyphs, beaches, a museum, sea lions,
fishing, surfing, four wheeling, dirt biking, lot's of restaurants and taco stands, a gift shop, a bed and breakfast, one great motel and two minor
ones, RV park, and beach camping.
I haven't made a web page for it yet, but we took a 100 mile loop day trip out from El Rosario and back (half on dirt roads) last Thanksgiving weekend
(11-05) and found some previously unpublished petroglyphs and some serious four wheeling... See the Trip Reports Forum.
Photo is of the beach at El Rosario (about 5 miles from town) called La Bocana... photo taken in November, '04.
[Edited on 1-5-2006 by David K]
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David K
Honored Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by John M
Do a search here for the El Rosario map David K has been working on. We've stayed several times at the Baja Cactus Motel in El Rosario - couldn't
have nicer accomodations, especially the newer rooms toward the back. I don't know what sort of day trips interest you but there has been an awful
lot posted here in the last 3 or 4 months. Less than an hour south of San Quentin. Sure quieter area than San Quentin..... |
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expat2B
Junior Nomad
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Thanks all, especially David, for the information re El Rosario including the trip logs, pics, and impressively detailed map of the town. Our autos
may not be up to rugged off-roading, but I'm sure we can tackle some of the better-graded dirt roads. Gracias y que le vaya bien.
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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You are welcome... Remember Baja is a magic place, and wonders can be found everywhere on the peninsula! El Rosario is just one of many 'base camps'
you can explore out from... and it is mentioned because it is not a primary tourist destination... it has been just a refueling or overnight place on
the highway. This is a small Mexican farming and fishing town so you will get a dose of 'real' Mexico... No bars or nightclubs... and the trucks are
noisey with their jake brakes... But all in all, you will enjoy the area I believe.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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I don't think you'll have much problem
during the third week in March, as I dont believe that's the traditional spring break for most colleges and is not the Semana Santa that hispanic
cultures will celebrate. If memory serves, that will be sometime in April this year.
Of course, memory often does NOT serve, these days.
Outside of Cabo and maybe Rosarito or Ensenada, the effect of US college kids at the traditional spring break is minimal. If you are in smaller towns,
you will likely not see any. This is especially true, also, because colleges are spreading their spring breaks out from late February to mid April.
Mexicans, on the other hand, will be everywhere in large numbers at Semana Santa. Funny how that works in Mexico. My experience is that they are a
partying lot, so if a quiet Baja experience is your goal, steer clear.
One final thought: if you are looking for a warm weather experience in March, you will likely NOT find that anywhere along the Pacific coast. I think
I would head to the campos just south of San Felipe and head into town when you desire.
[Edited on 1-5-2006 by Hook]
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bajalou
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San Felipe is a pretty big spring break destination also.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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rpleger
Super Nomad
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Mood: Was good.
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Muleg? will be full with spring breakers, stay clear of here.
Richard on the Hill
*ABROAD*, adj. At war with savages and idiots. To be a Frenchman abroad is to
be miserable; to be an American abroad is to make others miserable.
-- Ambrose Bierce, _The Enlarged Devil\'s Dictionary_
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Tijuana, Baja California
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Vacatio period this year
Is from 4/08 to 4/23 for the Baja California school system, and should be the same for Baja California Sur
http://www.bajacalifornia.gob.mx/portal/ciudadanos/imagenes/...
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jimqpublic
Junior Nomad
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Keeping on with the question- I'm planning on a longer trip with my family- appx 3 weeks. We want to see whales at San Ignacio and make it to Bahia
Concepcion. We'll definitely be sure to return before 4/8 beginning of Baja school break. We'll start after 2/25. So that gives me a 6 week window.
Any other dates in March with throngs of crowds?
Thanks
Jim
Long Beach
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backninedan
Senior Nomad
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Location: Loreto
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Loreto beaches will be crowded for sure.
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Sharksbaja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jimqpublic
Any other dates in March with throngs of crowds?
Thanks
Jim
Long Beach |
Cabo will have crowds with thongs!
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9010
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jimqpublic
Keeping on with the question- I'm planning on a longer trip with my family- appx 3 weeks. We want to see whales at San Ignacio and make it to Bahia
Concepcion. We'll definitely be sure to return before 4/8 beginning of Baja school break. We'll start after 2/25. So that gives me a 6 week window.
Any other dates in March with throngs of crowds?
Thanks
Jim
Long Beach |
I'm gonna say that you will be fine for the entire period you will be down there. It's the traditional Semana Santa that gets crowded by tenfold, at
least.
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BajaVida
Senior Nomad
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simple answer: avoid 1 week on either side of Easter
Easter is April 16.
You cannot otherwise predict when the college kids are off since there are many different spring break periods.
That is why we are headed to Laguna San Ignacio and BOLA between 3/28 and 4/8.
We will be home before the crowds arrive.
No se apure y dure.
Don\'t hurry and you\'ll last longer.
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Tijuana, Baja California
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jimqpublic
Any other dates in March with throngs of crowds?
Thanks
Jim
Long Beach |
March 18 - 21 no school in M?xico (Natalicio de Don Benito Juarez) Juarez birthday
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