Who is heading to BAJA in the new year? - Any plans out there?

As things usually work out, I have a bit of time for a trip to Baja... OF course, no one I know seems to be available in the Jan Feb timeframe... (-There is still SOME hope for one mate, but you know how that goes...).

Looking to link-up with any groups planning a trip.

- Anyone know of any groups heading south in the new year for camping and exploring?

- I've driven the length of the peninsula several times, can speak the language, and can navigate the local 'logistics' quite well, but would look to travel in a group preferably...

Flexible on itinerary preferably in Feb - but flexible there too...

Any leads would be appreciated!

[The following picture is quite appealing. It not mine. (- I use a ground tent) It has been shamelessly stolen from the interwebs.]

 

@David K

 

Hola amigos!
There are plenty of discussions about Baja travel on Facebook, but with so many Facebook groups, you may not know which one suits you best!
If you do not do Facebook, you can get a LOT of trip planning help on my website: www.VivaBaja.com with maps, photos, trip reports (linked from here on Tacoma World), and border crossing and travel info.

For example...
Driving Baja Links: https://vivabaja.com/driving/
Location Photos and Articles: https://vivabaja.com/locations/

Since you say you have driven there many times, perhaps to get the best help let us know how long you want to be in Baja: what are some things you would like to see or do, camping only motels only, or a combo?

Facebook groups:
VivaBaja (one of my groups): BajaMissions (another of my groups): Baja Overlanding: Other groups and pages: https://vivabaja.com/baja-california-facebook-groups/

Going to the many mission sites is a noble quest of a Baja trip. The Spanish colonized or attempted to, in Baja first... In fact, Baja was the first California for over 200 years and long before the padres reached San Diego, in 1769.
My book will make your Baja travels more interesting and diverse in a land famous for fishing, surfing, and off-road racing! www.oldmissions.com to get a signed copy!

 

Hi David! Thank you.
Your book has caught my eye... the promise of a siggy might do the trick!


I don't do facebook any longer. It became too much of a PITA.

People could still visit my unattended page for ages - but it seems it is offline now.

I've been to Baja- but I'm sure I'd benefit from other's insights on travel highlights in the less traveled areas... that is one of the cool things about Baja - and engaging with other 'explorers'.

I've visited quite a few missions - but Certainly not all... I would not mind checking off all of them In time!

I would like to camp, but also happy do a hotel now & then... the focus would be to hit interesting spots I've not visited previously.

I mentioned groups, but not FB groups.
I meant groups of people planning trips south where one - MAYBE two travelers could join and tag along and travel with the group. (In own vehicles and being fully self-sufficient, of course...).

Maybe tag along for a couple of days or more as itineraries and pace of travel are a match...

Would your FB groups provide information allowing to coordinate with other travelers?

Thank you.

 

Hi Oz, you are welcome to ask on my VivaBaja group. I mentioned others, like Baja Overlanding, to get more eyes on your request.
Otherwise, if you have questions about places or travel, ask away. I may be able to provide a link or photos of it.

 

@David K - Thank you.
I looked at reactivating my FB acct for this purpose, and they want me to submit various forms of ID... Hmmm... Not sure I want to awaken FB again. I will try under someone else's account...

I know of the features along the main thoroughfares (I have also sailed from SF to Cabo a couple of times and stopped at a few interesting spots on the Baja Coast.)

- If you do not mind; I'd be very interested in YOUR kind suggestions of YOUR favourite highlights of historical / cultural, or simply natural interest which may be not as well known.

Any locales (even ranches or towns) that you consider 'not to be missed' which may be a bit out of the beaten path therefore missed by most? (This is where word of mouth is valuable in Baja!)

Such as rock art, amazing camp spots, interesting (alternate) off road routes you would recommend to take, special interest sites, etc.

Thank you in advance! very much appreciated!

 

To look at Facebook pages, do you really need to reactivate an old account? Anyway, everything I have about the peninsula is on my website, www.VivaBaja.com

1) Get my book to have all the mission history in the land that was California first. At least take a glance at them on this page, arranged from north to south: https://vivabaja.com/mission-site-photos/

2) I like the old mines and the geology and that is everywhere! I wrote about a few abandoned mine centers in my monthly Baja Bound Travel Adventure articles. That can also be a source for you to plan on where to go: https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/

3) Cave paintings, rock art sites are everywhere in Baja California. The peninsula was fascinating to people over 5,000 years ago! Here are my articles on those places:
>> https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/petroglyphs_pictographs_geoglyphs
>> https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/painted_cave_san_borjitas
>> https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/montevideo_rock_art
>> https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/petroglyph_park
>> https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/painted_cave_of_el_carmen
>> https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/el_rosario_petroglyphs

Baja's 3,000 mile coastline offers so many wonderful places to camp, snorkel, fish, surf, you will not be without things to do! Off-highway travel, even with many of its roads now paved, is still loads of fun: The Seven Sisters (remote Pacific coast; Bahía de los Angeles south; San Ignacio south; San Evaristo loop trip north of La Paz, etc.

Why I say, "Viva Baja!"

 

I can see 'public' pages on FB - but it does not make it easy and it prompts a sign-on often. (It wants assimilation!). I cannot interact, unfortunately. At least I can see...

I have not been to Mission Santa Maria or San Javier (among others), But these two look quite appealing for a side trip!

Some of the highlights of travels / areas I've explored in Baja:
- Bahia Tortugas (spent a very nice day of the dead there long ago - great displays at the central square!) (- Arrived by Sailboat that time)
- San Ignacio / Laguna de San Ignacio - (Visited with a colleague who had family there)
- The observatory at the Sierra de San Pedro Martir
- Saw the 2 minute long full total eclipse in Cabo (1993?)
- Several Baja 100 Races
- Several hot springs along the peninsula.
- Spent many nights in secluded beaches on the gulf coast.
- My family has pictures of visits to cabo when there was nothing but rocks and some fishermen there... No hotels / resorts.
- My grandfather had rights to a gold mine in Baja. I went there as a kid. (- I have the location and I want to visit it again...)

I fondly recall that after running around baja one time while being quite remote... We were at camp one morning without having seen a single person for a few days, when we heard a vehicle approaching. Over a small hill came a Land Rover (an older 110 series) with British plates. An older couple from the UK were exploring the same area... We were also the first people they had run into in a few days.

 

Just came back from a trip to Baja!

 

That's what I'm talking about!

I'd join a group heading down in Jan or Feb!

Want to share your itinerary and highlights?

 

Sure, I will charge you 100 bucks for that. Lol jk. We were out for a week and started from SF Bay Area all the way down to Bahia De Los Angeles through Mexicali and Tecate border. Then crossed over to the other side and stayed in San Quintin. And finally worked our way back up to the Bay Area Tecate crossing and also stayed in Anza Borrego. Here's the screenshot of the notes that my crew used. We go down to Baja every year and switch up things here and there but generally for 1 week trip we go around just the Baja California whereas for 1 and half weeks or 2 weeks trip we go down further to the Baja Sur as well. So everywhere it changes a little bit.