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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
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8 day trip to the Cape/La Paz - suggestions? (Plus, renting a car a necessity?)
Greetings all,
First post here, love this board!
We're traveling down to Baja in December (15-23), and it's our first visit. We're fairly seasoned travelers to the mainland of Mexico, but not in
Baja. We're flying into San Jose Del Cabo.
We enjoy natural wonders, cultural activities, history, and local flavor, and typically avoid resorts and such. I'm a kayaker, and
we're both hikers (and sometime snorklers). We're both intermediate level Spanish speakers, and our travel Spanish is pretty good.
I'm trying to get a handle on planning an itinerary and figuring out logistics. But reading books and surfing through information only goes so far, so
I thought I'd ask some experts 
1) Suggestions on Destinations So far, I've booked us for a hotel in Todos Santos, with plans to go from the airport to TS for at
least the first two nights. We're planning on going to La Paz. I'm thinking at least a couple of nights there as well.
Questions: Would you recommend any other similar cities? Is SJDC worth spending a night at (I'm guessing no)? Are there smaller towns
or places you would recommend?
2) Car RentalI'm gathering that renting a car is often highly recommended on the travel sites. We've traveled regular buses, shuttles
and taxis in Mexico before (and noticed that there were a couple of those in the Cape, EcoBaja Tours and Aguila). We like not having the hassle of
renting a car, but will rent one if we're really putting ourselves at a disadvantage not having one.
Questions Would we miss out on a lot of opportunities without a rental car? Is it possible to use taxis/local tour operators/buses to
get where we'd need to go?
3) Loreto There's a remote possibility that we'd extend the trip and fly home from Loreto. I'm really leaning toward keeping the trip
simple, but I am curious about Loreto.
Question Is Loreto so much more amazing than Todos Santos and La Paz, or, with the time we have, would we capture the essence of the
Cape with our current plan?
Thank you so much for reading all of this, and I look forward to hearing any thoughts.
[Edited on 8-18-2013 by jay045]
[Edited on 8-18-2013 by jay045]
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bajacalifornian
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Registered: 9-4-2010
Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
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Ah jay045, you're gonna get, alota answers.
Baja's small. Travel is fast between your target cities.
Winter and near Christmas, I'll begin with Julie in Loreto for lodging. Others may be more specific.
Welcome amigo . . . post images of your travels. Folks here seem to like 'em.
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
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Thanks much for the reply, I appreciate it! Love being on this board, these posts have so much amazing info. Will post photos, and keep Julie in mind.
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajacalifornian
Ah jay045, you're gonna get, alota answers.
Baja's small. Travel is fast between your target cities.
Winter and near Christmas, I'll begin with Julie in Loreto for lodging. Others may be more specific.
Welcome amigo . . . post images of your travels. Folks here seem to like 'em. |
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bajacalifornian
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Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
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What are your questions?
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
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I know it was a long post, and hard to see them - I went ahead and edited. Thanks for pointing that out - hope the original post will make more sense
now.
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajacalifornian
What are your questions? |
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bajacalifornian
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Nah! It's fine.
Get Tio to tell you where to stay and what to do in T.S. and don't miss El Pescadero. Ask Loco too.
I say rent your car cause I like having wheels.
Can't go wrong with La Paz I can offer lots of direction there.
Tuck into Lopez on your way to Loreto. When Loreto has winter wind, can be calm in the laguna for your ride.
Can help with Lopez. Ya can stay there too.
Could fit San Juanico here.
Loreto's my home. Stop in. I'll be there.
Do San Javier.
So close to Mulege, shouldn't miss it.
You can do the rental city to city, and local from there.
Ask price of cab Loreto - San Javier for example. A lady there does local Loreto well for you.
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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paranewbi
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8 days is not a great amount of time to cover distance...Have you booked your flight yet? If your not into the resort scene, crowds, etc...maybe
consider flying into La Paz and spending a couple of days there first...then take a direct fast road to Todos. If you want to go to Todos first than
the airport in La Paz is right on the fast road and has simple access.
Really the drive from San Jose to Cabo to Todos is not relaxing! IF your going to go straight to Todos your fly in day will be shot. La Paz is minutes
from the airport and within an hour you'll be on the Malecon with the locals having a cold one.
Staying in La Paz might give you more of a Mexican town feel than San Jose or Cabo. Also there are some decent beaches and access to short hop Islands
for snorkeling. A short drive over to Bahia de La Muerta gives more opportunity for boating adventures.
Than if you really want to see Cabo you can shoot down there from Todos and get your fill (in about 2 hours for me) and back to Todos in a day.
Your already talking about 6 days just in that plan and would be much more relaxing than Jamin' up to Loretto and paying for an expensive flight out
of there. Go slow is the best advice!
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bajacalifornian
Super Nomad
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Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
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As questioned, "Have you booked your flight yet"?
Good fares on Aéreo Calafia TJ - Loreto. Easy from San Diego too.
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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vandenberg
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* 8 days doesn't give you much time to do anything. My advise is to stick to either La Paz or Loreto and forget Todo Santos, (waste of time), rent a
car and do the local sights. Locals will advise you.
Being in Loreto makes me slightly partial, but I also love La Paz.
Los Cabos also a waste of time.
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David K
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The only thing I would change from what Jeff (bajacalifornian) posted, is that I would not call Baja 'small'... It is huge, and in more ways than
geographically. There is so much to see and do in Baja, it can not be done in one lifetime!
While fishing may be the #1 draw to Baja... historic interests, photography, beaches, hiking, off roading are other popular items for travelers to
Baja.
One of my personal favorites is history, from the pre-historic Indian rock art to the Spanish California missions (that began in Baja) to the gold and
silver mines of the past 200+ years...
Let us Nomads know what is of interest to you, and we can offer suggestions of how to spend your short vacation in the southern part of the California
peninsula!
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bajacalifornian
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D.K. you are so right! I'm used to running to Lopez, or La Paz. Mulege for that matter. Usually with horses Get underway early and fill the day.
I'd be hard to stop for eight days. Also like kickin' back, but this man's gotta go back!.
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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jay045
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-17-2013
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Wow, you guys are awesome! Thanks Jeff and paranewbi for the detailed information and ideas. We haven't yet booked airfare, and perhaps we'll fly to
La Paz. We were hoping to fly out of SD, mainly to avoid getting stuck in a border line in Tijuana on the way home. (I know they're about to open the
additional lanes, but I remain skeptical).
Glad to hear what I thought: that SJDC isn't worth a stop. I wasn't aware that the road was rough getting out of the SJDC airport, that's a really
valuable tip.
I agree, paranewbi and vandenberg (love your tag line!), about not over-extending for a short trip. La Paz does sound like a great base; so Todos
Santos really isn't worth visiting? Looked interesting, but I'm only looking at photos and travel guides
Thanks David for the insight! I think we'd love to know more about some of the hiking sites; and we're always curious to see cultural sites,
festivals, and that sort of thing.
You guys are awesome, thanks for the info.
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wilderone
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Yeah, 8 days isn't a lot of time. I would rent a car so you're not wasting any time waiting. You could drive straight to Todos Santos and spend one
night there. Subscribe to the online Baja Western Onion to plan your time there. Continue to Cabo Pulmo for primo snorkling and laid back
on-the-beach vibe - 2 nights there. Then on to La Paz for a day trip to the islands. You could also drive into the rural area of Santiago and spend
1/2 day at the hot springs there with a picnic. Details on this Board somewhere. Stop here and there for fish tacos, beer. Buy yourself a cheap
styrofoam cooler on the first day - you'll need it. So much to do in Baja.
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jay045
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 8-17-2013
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Thanks for the tips, the Onion looks to be useful! Nice itinerary, I appreciate it and will look into your suggestions.
| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
Yeah, 8 days isn't a lot of time. I would rent a car so you're not wasting any time waiting. You could drive straight to Todos Santos and spend one
night there. Subscribe to the online Baja Western Onion to plan your time there. Continue to Cabo Pulmo for primo snorkling and laid back
on-the-beach vibe - 2 nights there. Then on to La Paz for a day trip to the islands. You could also drive into the rural area of Santiago and spend
1/2 day at the hot springs there with a picnic. Details on this Board somewhere. Stop here and there for fish tacos, beer. Buy yourself a cheap
styrofoam cooler on the first day - you'll need it. So much to do in Baja. |
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bajacalifornian
Super Nomad
Posts: 1117
Registered: 9-4-2010
Location: Loreto/Lopez Mateos/Rosarito
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Hike Isla Coronados, Loreto. Easily arranged.
San Javier as well.
Road outa SJDC is a toll thoroughfare. Ain't nuthin'rough about it.
And yes. T.S. is worth visiting.
American by birth, Mexican by choice.
Signature addendum: Danish physicist — Niels Bohr — who said, “The opposite of one profound truth may very well be another profound truth.
Jeff Petersen
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volcano
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depends on your tolerance of city size, gringo influence, desire for actual hiking and out of town wildness. San Jose and La Paz both have great
culture but are large. Todos Santos is built out of a large gringo influence. Loreto is much smaller but retains the original cultural flavor. For
wildness, Eastcape loop, Sierra de la Laguna, Sierra Giganta, coast S out of La Paz...and of course water experiences anywhere. A car is a must if
you only have 8 days, to get to where you want to go without wasting waiting time, and to get out to wild locations.
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danaeb
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Location: San Diego; El Centenario
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Since you are comfortable traveling in Mexico, Volaris from TJ to LP might be your cheapest flight option. Volaris has a shuttle from the Amtrak
station downtown San Diego to the TJ airport and vice versa on your return. Just remember that flying in Mexico during the Christmas season is a zoo!
Allow yourself plenty of time for long airport check-in lines and crowded terminals.
Have a wonderful time wherever you go, and welcome to BN!
Experience enables you to recognize a mistake every time you repeat it.
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Curt63
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Mood: Fish tacos and Tecate
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I found renting cars the first time to be really stressful, deceiving and expensive. I never rented again. Try tp get info on the Ecotours bus that
travels from SJD airport to La Paz and will stop in TS or Pesc.
Carlitos Tacos in Pesc is awesome. Playa Balandra and boat rides/snorkeling to the islands off La Paz are fantastic.
You need to tell us if you want a Mexican Las Vegas (Cabo) or see some cool nature stuff.
No worries
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BajaBlanca
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If you do rent a car, try to go to Santiago and look for SOL DE MAYO. Santiago is a sleepy Mexican village that is really beautiful and has a
bar/restaurant that John Wayne used to hang out at.
SOL DE MAYO is a natural spring water pool with a waterfall.....take a picnic lunch and some swimsuits.
I think you could easily do the East Cape -LosBarriles. It is just beautiful! A mix of Mexicans and Gringoes that is quite unique IMO.
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mulegemichael
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if you stay in la paz be sure and visit el triunfo just up the road a bit in the mountains; very cool history!...stop in villages of miraflores and
santiago for great local stuff...the beaches between la ribera and cabo pulmo are to die for!...lots to see and do around the east cape area.
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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