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Wander
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 1-11-2009
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Last Minute Trip!!! Suggestions????
Hi All,
We decided to take a last minute trip. My Family and I are flying from Detroit to LAX and renting a motor home for a couple weeks. Part of our trip
will be our first exploration of Baja. Seeing that we are leaving soon, I don't have the usual amount of time to prepare for the trip. Any
suggestions? We have two young children 3 and 6. We are up for some beach camping and resort camping is fine as well. We will most likely be there
from a Friday to Monday. Any highlights, campgrounds, and/or beach suggestions would be appreciated. Also, any suggested itinerary would also be
helpful. Thanks for the help and look forward to posting our experiences when we get back.
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Timo1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 742
Registered: 11-2-2007
Location: Homeless
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Mood: Lovin every minute of it
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Wow....4 days isn't much time
You might consider San Felipe
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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if you're into driving i'd head for ojo de liebre lagoon and set up camp and take the kids to meet a gray whale, up close and personal.
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Packoderm
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
Registered: 11-7-2002
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Just like Timo says, I'd head to San Felipe and maybe go to Punta Estrella.
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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'm with TIMO-----------4 days is just too short---------San Felipe is your best bet--------day driving each way and two full days on the beach, tho
with the extreme tides the water is not always "right there" next to the beach. San Felipe, on the Gulf, will give you a good "taste" of Mexico, and
you can plan from there for future Baja adventures, should you decide to do that.
Make sure you "clear" the taking the rental motor home to Mexico with the owners-------they may prohibit it.
Barry
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Wander- What is not known, is what else you are intending to do with your "couple of weeks". The guys recommending San Felipe are correct, if you
aren't prepared to add perhaps one extra day. However, coming from Michigan, your first exploration of Baja, at this time of year, I gotta agree with
Woody, if you can put a little more time into it. up close and personal with the grey whales is an experience of a lifetime. San Felipe, not so much.
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Wander
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 1-11-2009
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Thanks for the help on the rental... It is all approved.
A couple more days is not out of the question (we have 14 days)... The only real problem we have is that I need to be in contact with employees back
home. I am sure cell coverage is spotty but if it is better then I think we could spend a lot more time!
[Edited on 1-11-2009 by Wander]
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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look at a map. every town along the hiway1 has cell coverage. they even have internet cafes.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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I agree. And while camping by the whales, coverage should be superb. There's only a stretch between El Rosario and Guerrero Negro, much of it off the
grid, where you be lacking. But, basically, it will be travel time and just a few hours. So, unless you're on-call 24/7, don't give it a second
thought.
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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Here's my two peso suggestion;
Day one, cross into TJ at the San Ysidro border. Stick to the right and go into the declaration lane. Park there and get your tourist visas, pay there
at the bank window, exchange dollars for pesos, go back to the immigracion office get your final visa stamp and be on your way.
As you pull out of the secondary parking area you will be asked to push a button. If you get the red light they may want to inspect you, no problems.
Exit the area and stick to your right as you go up and over the bridge. You'll want to merge into your far right lane at the top of the bridge and
take the narrow bridge/ramp that exits to the border road.
The border road will take you to the toll road.
In Ensenada you'll get on Mex. 1 and go south to the La Bufadora turn off. There is a new Calimax market there. Take that road about 8 mi. to La Jolla
Beach Camp. Electricity is available for a small extra fee. Bring an extension cord. At low tide you can dig a hot tub in the sand as natural hot
springs flow underground. There is a small mini market and restaurant next door at Villarinos.
The next day or two get up early and hit the road about 7am. Head south to Bahia de Los Angeles, stopping for fuel along the way. Our rule is to never
let your tank get below half. The turn off to Bahia off of Mex. 1 is about a 7 hr. drive. You'll be stopping along the way so it's not that bad of a
drive. Bahia is about a 45 min. drive off of the highway and most beautiful. You can hire a panguero to take you out to see the islands, dolphins, sea
lions, etc. There's also a museum and turtle sanctuary to visit.
Depending on the weather (it can be windy) you might want to spend more than one day in Bahia. Fill up with fuel there and head south to Guerreo Negro
in the morning. It's about a 2 hr. drive after you reach Mex.1. You may be asked for your tourist visas there. There's an ATM in Guerrero as well as
fuel. Head on down from there to San Ignacio, about 90 mi. away and plan to spend a few days there to see the whales. You can do a search on this site
for more whale info, places to camp, etc.
Because your time is limited you probably won't go any further south. Never drive at night. Take your time going back north. Rancho Sta. Inez (Ynez)
in Catavina is a good place to stop for the night if you're tired. It's safe and they have a small cafe.
As Woody said there are internet cafes along the way. I don't know about the cell phone coverage, but many places have long distance phone service
available through satelite connection.
I'm sure with all the suggestions you've been given you'll put together a fun trip for your family.
P<*)))>{
[Edited on 11-1-2009 by Paulina]
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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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 a great itinerary, Paulina. However, it appears that if Wander only stayed a single night at your suggestions, it would use five days of his
trip. we don't know what non-Baja plans he has. I would say this- If Wander finds any places he likes and wishes to stay more than one night, He can
still do the whales at Guerrero Negro and save the traveling time to San Ignacio. Don't get me wrong. My fave for the whales is San Ignacio. It's just
several hours more highway travel, plus three times as long on a dirt road.
And, if Wander does wish to go to San Ignacio, there may be no need to stop in Guerrero Negro at all. He could get gas and find an ATM at Vizcaino,
forty minutes down the road. Plus, to use the ATM in Guerrero Negro, one must drive way off the main highway. In Vizcaino, it's on the highway across
from the Pemex.
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Wander
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 1-11-2009
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Thanks for the help... I am so glad I came across this website with such great people. Any suggestions for campgrounds?
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3810
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
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Bajahowodd,
One day would be too short, you're right. I was figuring on two to three days at each spot on the way down. They could take their time coming back,
maybe explore the cave painting at Catavina, check out Jardines in San Q. or revisit the spots they stopped at before.
Haven't been to Vizcaino since last summer and that was just a drive through, so I was not aware of an ATM there. Good to know.
He would almost have enough time to do the whales in both Guerrero and San Ignacio if he wanted to. S.I. is so beautiful, to me it's worth the short
drive just to see the lagoon, palms and the town square and mission, even if they don't see the whales from there.
P<*)))>{
[Edited on 12-1-2009 by Paulina]
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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Let me throw in one more curve ball for the equation. I would have two plans based on the weather conditions. If a high pressure is sitting on the
west coast, such as now, I would avoid San Felipe as the winds will be fierce.
Note to Paulina, there are two ATMs in Vizcaino....one at the bank and another at the south end of town in a white building (ask a local for
directions).
Zac
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Please!!! Let's be serious. someone's first trip to baja..... you'all want San Felipe to be the only impression? San Felipe is fun. I enjoy it. but it
only scratches the surface of what is the Baja.
( Is it "The" Baja? Or just Baja? Always cringed when I heard people say 'The' Ukraine. wrong. it's just Ukraine. It's The United States, The United
Kingdom. But it's not The Canada, or the Australia. So maybe, it's not the Baja......
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
( Is it "The" Baja? Or just Baja? Always cringed when I heard people say 'The' Ukraine. wrong. it's just Ukraine. It's The United States, The United
Kingdom. But it's not The Canada, or the Australia. So maybe, it's not the Baja...... |
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH NO. NOT AGAIN. Pleeeeeeeze say it ain't so. We can't possibly survive another round of Baja/The Baja. Oh gawd...I need my meds.
All of 'em.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64837
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Where The Heck is The Baja?
(from Jimmy Smith's book):
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Sorry guys. I'm relatively new here. And Bajaboy, are you referring to the new Pemex at the south end of town?
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Sorry guys. I'm relatively new here. And Bajaboy, are you referring to the new Pemex at the south end of town? |
The easiest ATM to find in Vizcaino is the Bancomer Bank across the street from the older Pemex located on the north end of town.
We have found it shut down only once and that was only for an hour or so.
Diane
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
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Mood: Bajatastic
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David K..I'm sooooO glad you got the "THE" in there..
Have a good one everyone..
When in doubt, head south!
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