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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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Lack of Tourists in Baja
Reading this forum you'd think you would see lots of campers, trailers, RV's in Baja. Not the case.
In two days driving from Tijuana to San Ignacio we counted 8 campers, trucks pulling trailers, and/or motor homes traveling north. In the RV
campgrounds we visited........
Los Olivos in San Quintin............3 RV's
Mario's in Guerrero Negro...........nada (going home there were 2)
Malarrimo................................4 RV's
Rice and Beans in San Ignacio...2 RV's
Serenidad RV ..........................nada
Santispac.................................6+-
El Requeson.............................12+-
In walking around the cities we visited we both commented on how few gringo tourists were there. Loreto had the most, and by that maybe a dozen
walking around that we saw.
It was very strange, and obviously sad for the locals depending on the tourist dollars.
It was a year ago when we made a similar trip to this, and it seems like there were less tourists this year.
The only hotel we made reservations in was Jardines. Never a problem getting a room. We booked a whale tour in San Ignacio on Saturday morning no
problem. Kuyima was the outfitter we used and they only had 2 boats going out that morning! By the way thanks Capt Mike for the Kuyima referral.
They run a first class operation at competitive rates, very nice people all, newish equipment with Honda powered panga's, restaurant and bathrooms are
spotless. They served an excellent scallop lunch after the tour. I'll eventually post a report on our whale watching.
Ken
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slimshady
Nomad
Posts: 291
Registered: 9-3-2008
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It is evident that the Baja Tourism industry has been hit by both the Cartel Crime news and the fact that many American and others can not afford to
vacation like they once did.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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i was at Ojo de LIebre yesterday...only 2 campers...but a big flyin group...seems lots more flyins these days and less campers. Hotel operators in GN
said it was up a bit from last year though...although the big storm slowed things down but picking up again now.
The whale census revealed whales coming in a bit later this year so they will stay later as well so might have whales in GN till the end of
march...maybe for semana santa even.
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Senior Nomad
Posts: 980
Registered: 11-5-2009
Location: BAJA SUR
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Hola, last year when the swine flu scare cropped up, all the bad news about the drug cartels and also the economy, and possibly due to the
infrastructure construction that really impacted the streets and parking in cabo san lucas.
once, after going to home depot, costco and walmart, which were not nearly as busy as in the past, we made a trek to Minerva's to restock some fishing
supplies. there were no cruise ships in the bay in front of costco and i only saw about ten americans walking on the streets around the outside of
Minerva's. a lot of the shopkeepers were outside their shops talking or just sitting outside their shops reading or just napping. In cabo ?
unimagineable ! we didn't even get approached by any time share salespeople !!
it really is trickling down and is disastrous to the working class people.
after dropping a friend off at the airport at around 10 A.M., i only saw about five people at the airport excluding the airport workers. this was last
year.
i have heard in cabo, a large number of restaurants have closed, hotels are shutting down wings, and taxi drivers are idle. lots of storefront lease
signs as in california.
in los barriles, staff reductions at tio's and other businesses, less fishing groups and tour operators at the hotels, and....on and on.
my friends and family here are trying to have me stay home this year but it is safer in los barriles and surrounding areas than it is in los angeles
and other parts of the U.S.A.
just as long as i can safely pass through the border towns ? after driving through san quintin, i really relax in my driving and again look forward to
the nicest, warmest and caring people that keeps me coming back, year after enjoyable year.
TELL A FRIEND ! hmmm, maybe not ! just more for myself, friends and nomads to enjoy, how very selfish !
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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That's pleasantly surprising news that bookings are slightly up this year in GN.
Very difficult to equate tourism mid-peninsula with Los Cabos. Vast majority of Los Cabos visitors arrive by plane and have time shares. The upcoming
spring break weeks will be very revealing for that area.
Have to wonder about the lack of RV traffic Ken mentions. Seems to me that mode of vacation has to be about the most economical. Wonder how it
equates- Crime v. Economy. Anyone care to venture a guess?
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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Sounds like I'll be able to find a cherry camping site next week on Bahia Concepcion. 
I've read that RVers are staying closer to home, state parks and such. No more pulling out home equity to fill the tank.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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feb 14th i sent some guests to guerrero negro for whale watching
followed shari's advice...
the town was full...
they finnaly found a "fleabag" for the night
the whale pangas were full
one guy had pity on them and added 4 extra on his boat
everyday the crowd changes
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
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Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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This year has started off better than '08 and '09 for us, and considering how much heavy rain and bad weather we had last month that is significant.
It does seem like a lot of people are starting to travel south again, so we are very optimistic for what 2010 holds....
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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wasnt the 14th presidents day weekend?? busiest of the year in GN then...Caracoles and Cowboy are filling up nightly these days too.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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I can just give my personal feelings on this matter------after 55 years of traveling in Baja---------
A conbination of "age" (72), bad news coming out of Mexico, the continuing development of the penninsula as well as increased expense and permit
hassles, and the fact that out of my 8 friends that I have gone camping with in Baja over the many years NONE of them will go down anymore (and it has
nothing to do with the economy). It is just not the same down there, and the allure has gone away. Very sad, but that is progress and change, and
neither are what we looked for in Baja CA-----in fact it was the primitiveness and isolation that attracted my friends and I in the first place.
We now all (friends & family) travel about the W USA, and feel much more comfortable and secure, and the wives will come with us if we don't go
south of the border.
It is just the way it is----------my personal & friends experience is that we feel much more secure in the USA (partially because we can legally
arm ourselves when travelling by truck), and we like that.
I have pulled all my long-time investments out of Mexico--------IMO it is just too flaky down there, despite occasional big profits------now it's to
volatile for me.
We leave it to you more adventurous guys and gals-----------and hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Barry
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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That's good news! My experience whale watching at San Ignacio was Feb. 13th. We stayed at Malarrimo on the 18th plenty of rooms available in town at
4pm, only two other tables of guests at dinner around 6pm (one French family and two local women). When we left the next day they had 2 vans worth of
Whale Watchers going out. I asked the Manager at Malarrimo how the business was and he said so so, and added "but the Whale season isn't very long".
Same waitstaff that has been there for years.
Nomads go whale watching and support the local economy. We had our best Whale watching this year without even touching a Whale!
Ken
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
feb 14th i sent some guests to guerrero negro for whale watching
followed shari's advice...
the town was full...
they finnaly found a "fleabag" for the night
the whale pangas were full
one guy had pity on them and added 4 extra on his boat
everyday the crowd changes |
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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dont bring your gun in the truck to california and think you're legal
________________________
A handgun carried in a glove compartment or under the seat of a vehicle is considered to be concealed.
A handgun placed in the trunk of an automobile, or locked in a container in the vehicle other than the utility or glove compartment or while in a
locked container carried directly to or from a vehicle is deemed not to be "concealed."
A locked container means a fully enclosed secure container locked by a key lock or similar locking device.
________________________
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arrowhead
Banned
Posts: 912
Registered: 5-5-2009
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
dont bring your gun in the truck to california and think you're legal. |
I think I remember that Barry said he was retired law enforcement. Most of them have a permit to carry. And in California, at least, a campsite is
considered your residence and you can have a concealable weapon with you at the campsite. Without a carry permit, you would have to do as you
mentioned, lock it up in the trunk or in a box as you drove around.
No soy por ni contra apatía.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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Arrowhead is correct---------I have a permanent Fed. gun permit (retired Fed. LE officer), as well as a State permit issued by the Sheriff of my
County of residence, good thru-out CA as far an I know.
The gun laws in this Country are so tangled and fouled up that I find them beyond comprehension, and frankly don't worry about them very
much----------I am interested in protecting me, and my family and friends, bottom line.
I do not go to Canada anymore because of their very restrictive gun laws, tho I have never had any serious problems in Canada other than them
"holding" my weapon at the Border until I returned to the USA and picked it up------very inconvenient if you want to leave Canada at a crossing other
than your entrance point. 
Barry
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Donjulio
Nomad
Posts: 376
Registered: 5-19-2009
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Real estate sales in San Felipe are up. More this year so far than all of last year. Not bad considering it's only Feb.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Donjulio
Real estate sales in San Felipe are up. More this year so far than all of last year. Not bad considering it's only Feb. |
That must be encouraging. Would I be correct in assuming that prices have softened? Since things are still pretty bleak NOB, the only reason I could
think of for an increase in buyers down there would be bargains.
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jodiego
Nomad
Posts: 319
Registered: 2-16-2007
Location: San Diego
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Mood: ever hopeful
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From my travels early in the month, it's pretty clear to me that if there are waves, surfers could care less about drug cartels, shootings,
kidnappings, hijackings, or any other sort of negative vibes that are keeping regular people from venturing south. I guess the down side is that
surfers don't spend a whole lot of money when traveling south (gas, lodging, beer...and some grub)!
[Edited on 2-24-2010 by jodiego]
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BajaErin
Junior Nomad
Posts: 42
Registered: 5-26-2008
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Prices have gone down in San Felipe, quite a bit.
Our casita sale has been going on for almost a year and should finalize in next two weeks. Whew
We still have land investment, but are lucky to have gotten buyers for the casita.
Still plan on retiring there, because of the locals more than anything else.
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Donjulio
Nomad
Posts: 376
Registered: 5-19-2009
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
| Quote: | Originally posted by Donjulio
Real estate sales in San Felipe are up. More this year so far than all of last year. Not bad considering it's only Feb. |
That must be encouraging. Would I be correct in assuming that prices have softened? Since things are still pretty bleak NOB, the only reason I could
think of for an increase in buyers down there would be bargains. |
Yeah you would be correct. 1800 sq ft 3 bedroom - new, never lived in with rooftop deck built in bar, bbq, sink etc. just sold for $165,000 in a
development with pool, bar, storefronts, etc
Another in there sold for $135,000. Probably 40% less than asking price would have been 2 years ago. I have 3rd row lots less than 100 yds to the
beach with utilities down to $45,000 - yeah...its soft.
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torch
Nomad
Posts: 295
Registered: 1-27-2010
Location: O.C. Calif. and BCN
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jodiego
From my travels early in the month, it's pretty clear to me that if there are waves, surfers could care less about drug cartels, shootings,
kidnappings, hijackings, or any other sort of negative vibes that are keeping regular people from venturing south. I guess the down side is that
surfers don't spend a whole lot of money when traveling south (gas, lodging, beer...and some grub)!
[Edited on 2-24-2010 by jodiego] |
surfers are treated alot better now in mex because we still go and provide a little boost for the locals. I think 5 years ago surfers were treated or
at least looked upon differently from the locals.
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