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bigelow
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 11-30-2007
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Your tips on areas to stay to avoid crowds?
Hi,
First of all, let me say that after a long search for reliable info on Baja California I am so glad I found this website!  It's exactly what I was looking for!
So, I've never been to Baja. My husband and I are flying to San Diego December 18, we'll rent a car in Tijuana (just because it seems cheaper) and
drive down the peninsula, for 2 weeks. We've been to Mexico twice before and love the country, the people, the food. And we're both Spanish speakers.
We'd like to avoid the very touristy areas with resorts, golf courses, cruise ships, because they seem to look all the same, anywhere you go. We are
really interested in villages/towns that maintain their original character, unspoiled nature, hiking.
So here is what I came up with, in terms of possible areas to stay.
Dec. 19 cross the border in Tijuana, rent a car, drive down to San Quintin, spend the night there.
Dec. 20 drive down to San Ignacio, spend three nights there (Dec. 20-21-22).From San Ignacio we would like to explore the West coast, what areas do
you recommend?
Dec. 23 drive to Mulege, and spend 3 nights there (Dec. 23-24-25). We would like to just chill out, enjoy the beach, do some snorkeling in Bahia
Concepcion. What else do you recommend doing in the area? Is that a good choice to spend Christmas?
NOW, we have 7 more nights to spend in the peninsula (Dec. 26-27-28-29-30-31-Jan 1) because we'll be flying out of San Diego on Jan. 2 at night. Where
else should we go? I'd rather not go south of Loreto because I think it gets too touristy there, am I wrong? I was thnking of the Comondu' area, or
Bahia de los Angeles....What do you recommend? What would be a nice place to spend the new year?
I know this is a very long post, with a lot of questions, but I hope you'll help me out collectively!
Thanks a lot, ciao,
Elena
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Minnow
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Posts: 1110
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Lost Wages
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Mood: Embarrased Harry Reid is a Nevadan
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You need to go check out Shari's place in Bahia Ascencion. Be warned though, you may come back a property owner.
Proud husband of a legal immigrant.
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bigelow
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 11-30-2007
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Thanks, how's the drive between San Ignacio and Bahia Asuncion? Is it feasible with a compact car or the road is bad?
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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(1) Are you prepared to camp?
(2) -----and do you have a sturdy 4x4 vehicle??
(3) If not, what type of vehicle will you be driving?
barry
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Minnow
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The Gypsys' did it in what looked to be a small car. Don't worry though, if you tell Shari you are coming she will send out the Nomad malitia if you
don't show up on time.
Barry they are renting a car in TJ.
Proud husband of a legal immigrant.
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bigelow
Newbie
Posts: 6
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Hi Barry,
--No, not prepared for camping, we'd have to buy all the gear. But all we need is a decent, possibly clean room with a bathroom. THat surely limits
our possibilities... ideally we'd like to stay in a place 3-4 night and explore the surrounding areas using the same place as a base.
--since we have to pay insurance etc we'd like to rent a cheap vehicle...like compact, economy. Is that going to be a huge limiting factor? I was also
thinking that tourists on a 4x4 are a classic target of cops looking for a "mordida"....
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Assumming that you plan to find lodging at your destinations consider;
San Quintin for your first night sounds good. Maybe stay at the Old Mill.
Bahia de Los Angeles the 2nd and maybe third night after a stop near Catavinia for a hike in the cactus.
GN is no place to vacation but is is a good in between stop.
You could stay at Malaramino or Los Caracoles.
Next stop could be Abreojos or Bahia Asuncion ( I pick Asuncion).
Contact Shari for reservations at one of her rentals.
The road is only dirt for the last 13-15 miles so it should be no problem for a rental - who cares !!
San Ignacio after that for 2-3 days - check a recent post on places to stay.
Stop at the bakery in Santa Rosalia; it is a very friendly town to stroll and shop. Then continue to Mulege for the night.
You should leave your schedule flexible and weather dependant. If it's cold up north, head south fast and plan to stop in the northern spots on the
way home. You may find a nice warm spot you like a stay for a while.
I'm sure some of the mUlege crowd will let you know what happens there for Christmas. I would bet the Serenidad has something going.
Have a safe, fun trip and remeber to post a trip report when you get home !!
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
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Jeezo Pete !!
I wish they made a "MAN-SIZED" keyboard so I could use all my fingers !! 
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bigelow
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 11-30-2007
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Diver, thanks for your detailed reply!
The Lonely Planet Baja guide (I'm no big fan of lonely planet, but it's the most up to date publication on Baja I could find...) says
"Bahia Asuncion is basically an oversized fish camp set on a beautiful bay" is that true? We're not into fishing, do you still recommend going?
Also, do you think we need to make reservations ahead of time of we can find accomodations easily at that time of the year?
Thanks and ciao
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Bajagypsy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1416
Registered: 8-31-2006
Location: BahÃa Asuncion BCS
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Mood: Living the dream
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Minnow
The Gypsys' did it in what looked to be a small car. Don't worry though, if you tell Shari you are coming she will send out the Nomad malitia if you
don't show up on time.
Barry they are renting a car in TJ. |
We drove our little ford focus twice to Asuncion now, no problem, just go slow.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9009
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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Well, the way things are going, camping around Rosarito should be nice and empty.
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
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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Welcome to Nomadlandia...this is a fountain of info...we'd be happy to show you around our little paradise...it is much more than just a fish
camp...it is a village of aobut 4,000 people and we have lots of services and neat things to see and do PLUS gorgeous beaches and super nice
people...you will love it here but it's a busy time of year and it would be smart to make a reservation at one of our little casitas..I just had a
cancellation too for that time...anyway... we look forward to seeing you soon...have a food trip and keep in touch.
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Minnow
Banned
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
..have a food trip and keep in touch. |
Yes, Baja is a foodies paradise. Great post.
Proud husband of a legal immigrant.
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bigelow
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 11-30-2007
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Thank you so much for all your advice! THis is indeed a vibrant community.
Shari, my husband and I need to talk about possible itinerary options, we'll get back to you on Bahia Asuncion soon.
Now, let's talk about food. I LOVE Mexican cuisine because it is so refined and different in every region. I had a chance to savour food in Chiapas,
Oaxaca, Yucatan, and I can tell you that food is a big factor to made our trips to Mexico really unforgettable.
So what should we try, and where, in Baja?
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Check out Shari's website to get an idea of what else it there.
For food;
You can't get any better than fresh YT sushi or grilled YT tenderloins.
Have you ever had caracoles ?
How about abalone ??
Someone tell them the name of the place whre we had the orgasms in GN !!
I can still remember how good the food was, mmmmm.
Ifly, where are you ??
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DanO
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: Not far from the Pacific
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
Well, the way things are going, camping around Rosarito should be nice and empty. |
Congratulations, Hook, you get the joke of the day award for that one.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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bigelow
Newbie
Posts: 6
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Diver, is Malarrimo the good restaurant you mention in GN?
My husband and I are southern Europeans, so we eat pretty much anything (have you had live sea urchins? do they have them in baja?)
We love seafood, we don't get enough of it where we live (Boston area) and I look forward to tasting caracoles and abalone! I hope they also make good
ceviche!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64835
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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If you need to just overnight on your drive south, no reason to drive that road into the Old Mill, is there? El Rosario is where you will want to top
your fuel tank, as the next Pemex station is almost 200 miles away (L.A. Bay or Villa Jesus Maria). Next door is the Baja Cactus Motel and is a
perfect place to overnight.
Bahia de los Angeles is a must for a Baja look-over, trip. Remeber that at Christmas time, it may be quite cold and even wet for part of your trip.
Sea food is pretty major in Baja for local food, not quite the same as Oaxaca style food.
I do like most of your ideas...
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
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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My favorite restaurant in all Baja for excellent seafood (and everything else too) is Las Cazuelas which is on the right side of the highway just
entering Guerrero Negro...lots of plants on the patio...tell Eddie the owner that shari sent you and he'll treat ya special...maybe even a free
apetizer...try the mano de leon...lions paw scallops...to die for!!! Maybe my daughter sirena can meet you there..she works at the Los Caracoles Hotel
a couple doors down from the restaurant...she can show you around and it's a super nice hotel to stay in too....U2U me for info on Asuncion
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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The Malarmaino retaurant is pretty good by most reviews bu the plave I am talking about is Las Cazuelas !!!
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