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Baja, Mexico Trip Logistics

These entries are in north to south sequence (San Diego to Cabo San Lucas) sequence.
Search for 'rock art' Baja on the web.
Whales generally seen jan to mid-april.

www.vagabundos.com
www.discoverbaja.com

Tecate, border crossing, 3000 year old pictographs, $
San Diego, CA to Ensenada - sea kayaking
Tijuana - Islas los Coronados, summit of steep underwater mountains teeming with wildlife. Kelp forest @ southern tip of southern most island.
Rosarito - 18 miles south of Tijuana - spectacular cliffs. Hiking directions page.
Popotla - small fishing village for cheap open-air stands, fish, shrimp, lobster.
Parque Nacional Constitucion: Canon de Guadalupe (NE of Ensenada) Camp $15 & up, Laguna Hanson, free camping, some of best hiking in Baja.
El Mirador - Beautiful sunsets, migrating whales.
Ensenada - 36 miles south of Tijuana - fishing, water sports, beaches, whale watching - tourist card required beyond.  Some of the best surfing in the world. Good surf fishing @ Playa Punta Beach.
Rt #1 roadside stands south of Ensenada for more authentic Mexican food
Islas de Todos Santos - sea kayaking, sea caves & grottos @ south end
La Bufadora - 80 foot high blow hole.
Santo Tomas - wine country.
Punta Banda cove - divers, fishermen, sea kayakers (easier launch at Estero Beach, an estuary halfway up the bay with boat ramps.
Colonet - side roads lead east to Sierra San Pedro Martir (formidable peaks), fishing, hiking, climbing, camping. high clearance OK.
Punta San Felipe - beach combing, shells, snow birds.
Bahia de San Quintin - 79 miles south of Colonet.
San Quintin, 118 miles south of Ensenada, to El Rosario has 36 miles of the best beaches in northern Baja off Highway 1.
El Rosario, gas, grocery stores.
65 miles south of Catavina is sign pointing to turnoff to rough, paved road to Bahia de Los Angeles. Bahia de Los Angeles - surrounded by stark peaks of eastern San Pedro Matir - fishing, diving, kayaking.
Guerrero Negro - 145 miles south of Catavina - supply stop, gray whales from December thru April. Nursing January thru March.
Laguna Ojo de Liebre (Sacmmon's Lagon) mating & birthing place of gray whales.
San Ignacio 88 miles inland and up through mountains - a high desert oasis.
Caleta San Lucas - mangrove lined cove with good snorkeling, fishing.
Bahia Santa Ines - long bay with great shelling, diving, fishing & sailboarding.
San Ignacio - cave art museum - whale watching @ laguna.
Sierra Guadalupe, Sierra San Francisco, Sierra de San Juan, Sierra de San Borja (central Baja) - ancient murals throughout the mountains.
Santa Rosalia 46 miles south of San Ignacio - Mulege (38 miles south of Santa Rosalia) - oasis - riverbed thick with lush palms - green river valley - rock art sites - most popular near Rancho La Trinidad - - cave art @ San Borjitas, Trinidad & Piedraas Piintos - sea kayaking to Loreto (permit required?) - tropical fish, kayak & snorkel along rock coast, great beaches, snorkeling.
Bahia de la Concepcion & Coyote, Santispac & Requeson Beaches- narrow bay with coves & clear water, awesome natural settings , beautiful islands, excellent kayaking (hotspot), snorkeling & beach camping, whale watching.
Loreto (84 miles south of Mulege) to La Paz - sea kayaking, manta rays common Jul-Oct - fishing, snorkeling, diving - islands - Isle Coronado, Isle El Carmen, Isle Danzante.
San Javier - missions, cave art.
Constitucion to La Paz 134 miles.
La Paz, whale watching, diving at the Island of the Holy Spirit, beaches, great sea kayaking.
Isla Espiritu Santo (5 miles off shore), diving, clear water.  North shore @ Bajo El (Marisla) Seamont for hammerhead sharks, manta rays Jul-Sep.  Kayaking, lots of coves & inlets.
Isla la Parida & Los Islotes (north of Isla Espiritu Santo) large sea lion colonies.
Punta Coyote & San Evaristo for more secluded beaches.
La Abundancia pavement ends - continue on washer board road to sugar-fine beaches and strange rock formations.
Los Barriles - 11 mile detour to East Cape beach road.
Cabo Plumo - snorkeling.
Todas Santos (40 milEs north of Cabos San Lucas) hikes into Sierra de La Laguna - sea kayaking, whales.
Bahia Chilenna & Bahia Maria - snorkeling & diving.
Cabos San Lucas - lands end & natural arch - sea lions & elephant seals, manta rays Jan-Feb - humpback whales in winter.
East Cape (La Paz) - snorkeling.
Bahia Los Frailes - sea lions & elephant seals.
Bahia Magdelena - gray whales from December thru April. Nursing January thru March - sea kayaking, wildlife.
Bandos Gorda - whale sharks May-Oct.
Estero Beach - sea kayaking.
Islas Benito - sea lions & elephant seals - midway down peninsula.
Islas Benito Este - Large sea lion rookery - elephant seals.
Islas Cedros - sea lions & elephant seals - midway down peninsula.
Islas Espiritu Santo (La Paz) - sea kayaking, rock formations, snorkeling.
Islas los Coronados - elephant seals.
Isla Portida ( La Paz) - snorkeling.
Islas San Benito - Orcas & sea lions.
Islas Tiburon - sea kayaking.
Isla Santa Inez - snorkeling.
La Frontera - migrating whales - free camping 1 mile south of town at Playa Hermosa.
Laguna Ignacio - gray whales from December thru April.  Nursing January thru March.
Laguna Manuela - sea kayaking, whales.
Laguna Ojo de Liebre (Scammon's Lagoon) - gray whales from December thru April. Nursing January thru March.
Los Cabos - stunning landscapes.
Los Cabos (Lands End) - snorkeling.
Los Islotes (La Paz) - snorkeling.
Marisla Seamount - manta rays & whale sharks Aug-Sep, hammerhead sharks.
Midriff Islands - sea kayaking & snorkeling - resident finback whales & sea lions.
Playa Chileno (La Paz) - snorkeling.
Playa Santa Maria (La Paz) - snorkeling.
Punta Baja to Santa Rosalilitta - sea kayaking.
Punta Banda to Erendira - sea kayaking.
Rancho Punta San Cristobal - sea turtle nursery - 15 minutes north of Cabo San Lucas.
San Jeronimo - elephant seals.
San Martin - elephant seals.
Sierra de San Francisco - Columbian rock art.
Sierra de La Laguna - some of the best hiking & camping.
San Felipe - snow birds, US$ preferred, cheap seafood, good views.


3-4 months medication
many prescriptions, but not all, available over the counter
snorkel gear & shorty wet suit
sea kayaking mostly spring & fall - strong north winds in winter
spear fishing license required, surf fishing license not required, sea kayaking streams, river, lakes license required
Tijuana to Ensenada 2-3 hours
Ensenada to Catavina 5-6 hours
Catavina to Guerrero Negro 4-5 hours - bird viewing
Guerrero Negro to San Ignacio 2-3 hours
Guerrero Negro to San Quintin 6-7 hours
San Ignacio to Santa Rosalia 1-2 hours
Santa Rosalia to Mulege 1 hour
Mulege to La Paz 6-8 hours
Guerrero Negro to Loretto 6-7 hours
Loretto to La Paz 5-6 hours
La Paz to Los Barriles 2 hours
Los Barriles to San Jose del Cabo 1-2 hours
San Jose del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas 3/4 hour - surf fishing, 60lb roosterfish (not good eatiing)
Cabo San Lucas to Todos Santos 1 hour - Artists, surfers, hiking into Sierra La Gaguna
San Carlos on Bahia Magdalena - whale calving bay - no sea kayaking
Spring flowers after wet winter
120 miles wide at US border. 860 miles to Cabo San Lucas.
Cheapo Camping:
Most beach camping free with no facilities
San Quintin, Bahia de Los Angeles, Laguna Ignacio (by lagoon)
Cabo Palmo, Coral Reef & Boondocking
Playa Las Almejas Boondocking
Golfo de Santa Clara, Golfo RV Park (Low)
Golfo de Santa Clara, Nuevo El Golfo Motel (Low)

Ensenada
  Camping:
     Mal Paso RV Park, $4/night, beach camping
     La Jolla Beach Camp, $6/night
     Punta Banda Road (km 2 thru km 8) several ejido camping areas $1/night


San Felipe
  Camping:
     Campo Playa Escondido, $5, cold showers
     Campo Jalaranda, free camping, 85km south of San Felipe

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