elfbrewery
Nomad
Posts: 340
Registered: 12-25-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
highway to San Ignacio whale watching sites
Okay, your indulgence please. I have friends who want to know what the road is like to go see whales at San Ignacio. They have family they want to
take out there and haven't been out that way in years.
Thanks for your input.
|
|
|
Bajamatic
Senior Nomad
Posts: 571
Registered: 8-31-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
.
[Edited on 1-25-2011 by Bajamatic]
yuletide
|
|
|
Loretana
Senior Nomad
Posts: 825
Registered: 5-19-2006
Location: Oregon/Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: alegre
|
|
That road is beastly. A full hour and a half of ruts, washboard, bone jarring dips and I suggest you take a van from San Ignacio.
The drivers are professionals, know the really bad spots and take it easy.
When we went to see the whales last February, the kind folks at the San Ignacio Yurts arranged the van for us. It was $20 per person, and well spent.
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."
-Nikola Tesla
|
|
|
baja Steve
Nomad
Posts: 469
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Bend, or
Member Is Offline
|
|
It is paved for about the first 30K which was the worst part and the rest is not bad. Was on it a few days ago.
|
|
|
Gaucho
Nomad
Posts: 405
Registered: 11-7-2008
Location: Laguna Beach/East Cape
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bohemia por favor...
|
|
I was on it last April in my SUV and it was a piece a cake.
| Quote: | Originally posted by elfbrewery
Okay, your indulgence please. I have friends who want to know what the road is like to go see whales at San Ignacio. They have family they want to
take out there and haven't been out that way in years.
Thanks for your input. |
|
|
|
Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
Member Is Offline
Mood: Rarin' to go South!
|
|
It's not worth driving. Go to Scammon's Lagoon instead. IMO
|
|
|
vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
|
|
Just round tripped it a couple of days ago. 20 clicks are paved, then standard washboard. We were directed to Antonio's at Camp 3 by the sweet lady
at Pachicos. We won the Laguna Lottery. There were 70 whales in the lagoon according to the researchers who were there. Being off season at the
moment, we were alone, and it was a very un-touristy experience. Also our interaction with "our" whale was so unusual that both the driver, Antonio's
son Daniel and our guide in training Fatima became just as overwhelmed as we two were. Daniel said that this was the third time in 11 years that he'd
had such an experience. An hour and ten minutes with the female in contact with the panga, and her "boyfriend" constantly circling just outside her
length.
For us, the solitude, the hospitality, the experience was worth the drive, and we arrived from the Viscaino coast having had to drive around the
lagoon on paved roads after arriving at Punta Abreojos.
As Baja and Back knows all too well, seeing Baja from a caravan of motorhomes is severely limiting.
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
|
|
|
DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
Good to have the updates on the road and the whales. Last year at this time they were just arriving---we are planning on going to be there soon.
We have always driven out there on our own and enjoy the drive---even with the rough road at times. It is especially nice on the way back when we are
in less of a hurry and we can stop a lot and enjoy the magnificent scenery.
|
|
|
Barbarosa
Nomad
Posts: 188
Registered: 1-12-2011
Location: Jackson, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: "On th' road again..."
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by vgabndo
our interaction with "our" whale was so unusual that both the driver, Antonio's son Daniel and our guide in training Fatima became just as overwhelmed
as we two were. Daniel said that this was the third time in 11 years that he'd had such an experience. An hour and ten minutes with the female in
contact with the panga, and her "boyfriend" constantly circling just outside her length. |
Heh. Dunno if yours was more unusual (don't really know much about this stuff), but a few years ago at Scammon's Lagoon I saw the sequel. 3 of his
buddies hold her down for th' whole thing; it's a gang bang.
As far as: "seeing Baja from a caravan of motorhomes is severely limiting." I'm sure it's true but will be willing to take your word for it.
For me, by motorcycle is the *only* way. (Wasn't it Robert Pirsig who said that any other way, you're just seeing everything "through a TV screen.")
9 days and counting!
Barbarosa
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
Interesting to read the different "takes" on the road and the lagoon. My two cents on it is that at least for us, heading South from the border, our
choice was made depending on how much time we had for our trip. When taking a 3-4 day long weekend, we found that going to Ojo de Liebre near Guerrero
Negro made sense. A number of hotel operators in Guerrero Negro offer escorted trips to the lagoon. A couple of which take credit cards, which can be
a real convenience. Even if you choose to drive out to the ejido landing yourself, the road is only about 1/3 as long as the one going to San Ignacio
Lagoon. That plus the additional 2+ hours each way beyond Guerrero Negro made it a no brainer when our time was limited by other commitments. Having
been to both several times, I must admit that the most exciting and intimate experience we had was on one trip to San Ignacio. However, your success
in having up close whale encounters depends on a number of factors, some of which include the time of day, weather conditions, and plain luck.
Statistics support the fact that at any given time during the season, there are more whales in Ojo de Liebre than in San Ignacio.
In any event, hope your friends have a great time.
|
|
|
BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
There have been so many whales going south the last 3 weeks. I have never seen so many swimming south, so close to shore, in the 4 years we've been
here ! But it is ver Quiet this morning .... or maybe they are further out since the waves are gigantic and pounding the surf.
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18385
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
battle of the lagoons
my 2 centavos: if you have the time go to SIL for quality of location and experience, and if you are a northerner watching the clock, then go to
second best location at GN.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Next time someone drives out, please zero your trip odometer in front of the mission (town plaza)... and write down how many miles to where the
pavement ended... then to the lagoon and any other significant notes of interest.
In this thread we hear it is
all 'beastly',
a piece of cake,
30 km. paved,
20 km. paved...
???
Thank you!
|
|
|
DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Next time someone drives out, please zero your trip odometer in front of the mission (town plaza)... and write down how many miles to where the
pavement ended... then to the lagoon and any other significant notes of interest.
In this thread we hear it is
all 'beastly',
a piece of cake,
30 km. paved,
20 km. paved...
???
Thank you! |
We will be there very soon. We stay beyond the mission but we always set the trip odometer at the beginning of the road and then promptly forget to
look at it. Kind of like the GPS thing, never used it. Guess we just figure it is what it is, go for it and figure we can always turn back if we
need to do so.
Some is paved, some is not and as far as the condition goes, that really has a lot to do with opinion as to what constitutes a good or bad road.
And it may be good today, and awful next week.
Perhaps it is just best for people to give it a try if they want, turn back if they don't like it, or if they don't want to try, ride in one of the
vans----but of course then if you don't like the road, you can't turn back. 
[Edited on 1-25-2011 by DianaT]
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18385
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
just do it!
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Next time someone drives out, please zero your trip odometer in front of the mission (town plaza)... and write down how many miles to where the
pavement ended... then to the lagoon and any other significant notes of interest.
In this thread we hear it is
all 'beastly',
a piece of cake,
30 km. paved,
20 km. paved...
???
Thank you! |
does exact measurements really matter? it is paved about 1/3 of the way. hundreds of cars use the road every day. it is always passable. it is
unpaved, and local soil is rocky, so like many roads the road base is rocky and road bed is prone to washboards. no further detail is needed. in the
words of that immortal greek goddess, "just do it!"
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
I agree.... people ask how the road is to places as if they are not going to go if the road is bad??? Baja is all about BAD ROADS! I love bad roads...
that insures they will only be used by GOOD PEOPLE!
I just think as a source of Baja information, having some consistancy would be nice... Regardless of the condition, it is either paved or not, either
12 miles or 18 from town, either torn up or just washboard surface... If somebody would just write down the mileages, it would get documented here...
sort of recorded history.
I would gladly, if I could... I enjoy recording conditions for historical comparisson. Baja Nomad is a great place for reference to conditions in
Baja.. They do change...
|
|
|
captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
|
|
ricardo at rice and beans in san ignocio has a nice van and good food too.. me I dont care for gn at all, the armpit of baja in my stupid
opinion!!that sad I get to sea them alot on the pacific on my boats and never get tired of them...just don't what to hit one doing 45 knots in my twin
engine catermaran
|
|
|
wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3824
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
|
|
The best time to see whales is early morning when the bahia is more calm. So if you're planning on driving, best done the night before, which would
necessitate overnight accomomodations. When I drove out last year I told myself I wouldn't do it again in my own car - not "standard" washboard -
some of the worst. And I don't want any car trouble. You could make some stops along the way to take photos, etc., and stay longer to explore after
the whale excursion - that would be a plus to drive yourselves. Keep in mind that weather can have detrimental consequences on your whale experience.
Don't bother if it's windy and overcast.
|
|
|
Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by captkw
ricardo at rice and beans in san ignocio has a nice van and good food too.. me I dont care for gn at all, the armpit of baja in my stupid
opinion!!that sad I get to sea them alot on the pacific on my boats and never get tired of them...just don't what to hit one doing 45 knots in my twin
engine catermaran |
Ricardo has a minimum number requirement. The nice folks at El Padrino RV Park across from the Desert Inn will take you out, no minimum number.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
