| Dec 21: |
Depart the Bay Area at 8:00 pm sharp! for Ensenada.
Meet in toga at 7:00 for pre-voyage cocktails It's
a TOGA PARTY all the way to LA!
The Southbound portion of our journey will be undertaken
at light speed, with a lot of time spent on the road.
This is so that we may arrive in Cabo by Christmas, and
allow us to spend some time there. The northbound
(homeward) portion of our journey will be at a much more
leisurely pace.
|
| Dec 22: |
We should cross the Mexican Border at dawn, to arrive
at La Buffadora in time for breakfast. La Buffadora is a
tidal Blowhole minutes south of Ensenada on the Peninsula
called Punta Banda. Lobster meals are available here very
cheap
If you are into fishing or scuba, we could inflate and
launch the Zodiac, and sail it to Las Islas de Todos
Santos, about 2 mile offshore. There are supposed to be
reefs teaming with Lobster, Scallops, Ling Cod, and other
sea life surrounding these islands, as well as a beach to
Bar-B-Que on.
The evening could be spent at one of Ensenada's world
famous cantinas, Hussongs or Papas and Beer.
Park the Motor home that night at Campo Playa RV Park. 1
mile south of downtown, at BLVD Lázaro Cárdenas and
Calle Delante. This campsite is AAA approved and has RV
hookups, showers and toilets.
Alternate campsite: Estero Beach Trailer Park 8 miles
south of town on highway 1.
|
| Dec 23: |
On the road early to Mulegé. This 540 mile trip
should take anywhere from 9 ½ to 11½ hours (there is no
need for everyone to wake up early, only the driver). Our
entire trip south, and most of the trip north will be on
the brand new Trans-California Mexican Highway 1, which
is atypical of Mexican roads, in that it is paved and
regularly maintained.
Mulegé is an oasis, located on the sea of Cortéz.
Mulegé is small (pop 6000) but a popular toutist
destination (according to AAA) due to it's authentic
Mexican atmosphere and beautiful beaches.
There is a dive shop in town, and Mulegé is known for
good diving. If we arrive early enough, we may wish to
dive (or perhaps a night lobster dive?) Beach Bonfire and
party at Playa Santispac on Bahía Concepción.
Alternate campsite: Posada Concepcciónn, 1½ miles south
of Playa Santispac on highway 1 (AAA approved).
|
| Dec 24: |
Christmas Eve. On the road to Cabo San Lucas. This
540 mile trip should take anywhere from 9½ to 11½
hours. This leg of our journey should be quite
spectactular. As we leave Mulegé we are in a sandy,
barren desert, but as we cross The Tropic of Cancer and
approach Cabo San Lucas, we should emerge into lush
tropical vegetation.
There is not much that needs to be said about Cabo San
Lucas, as it is famous as THE premier cruise ship
destination on the Mexican Riviera (we have all seen The
Love Boat). The sea here is nice and warm (75°-80°)
promoting a multitude of water sports including Water
Skiing, Parasailing, Snorkeling, and Scuba, as well as
some of the best Deep Sea Fishing in the world.
While in Cabo San Lucas, we will be staying ae El Arco
Trailer Park 2 miles east of town on highway 1. Camper
hookups, showers, toilets, and a BAR.
Alternate campsite: Vagabundos del Mar RV Park (AAA
approved) hookups, shower, BAR, toilets. Located 2 miles
east of town on highway 1.
|
| Dec 25: |
Christmas Day. What a wonderful day to spend in this
tropical paradise. We could spend the day as tourists do,
and perhaps go to a fncy Christmas dinner, before
attending to the wild nightlife of this city.
|
| Dec 26: |
Boxing Day. Spend the day as one would expect to
spend Boxing Day; crawling from Pub to Pub, attempting to
drink all of the beer in Baja.
|
| Dec 27: |
Drive 3½hours (271 miles) to La Paz, Baja's largest
city. Scuba dive with the giant rays (as seen in the
poster "Manta Fantasy" which was photographed
here)
Spend the night at Aquamarina RV Park (AAA approved) 2
miles southwest of town, ¼ mile off of highway 1 on
Calle Nayarit. This campground has everything, including
a BAR, marina, spa, and Dive Shop.
Alternate: La Paz Trailer Park (AAA approved). This park
has all of the same amenities as Aquamarina except the
Dive Shop.
|
| Dec 28: |
My Mother's Birthday. Drive to Loretto. 4 hrs, 233
miles.
Loretto is a large tourist attraction, one AAA compares
to Ixtapa and Cancûn. The waters here are very warm, and
are "Famous for Roosterfish, and every major species
that inhabits the Gulf of California, including Dolphin,
Marlin, Sailfish and Flying fish, Grouper, Yellowfin and
Manta".
Accomodations are at Ejido Loreto RV Park (AAA approved),
in the dead center of town on the beach. All amenities.
|
| Dec 29: |
Drive to Guerrero Negro and Scammon's Lagoon. 5-6
hrs, 255 miles. In late December and early January,
Scammon's Lagoon is full of California Grey Whales.
Scammon's Lagoon is the only place on earth where
California Grey Whales are born. Each year they migrate
over 6000 miles to Scammon's Lagoon to give birth,
arriving in late December.
Accomodations: Malarrimo Trailer Park. Hookups, showers,
restaurant, BAR.
|
| Dec 30: |
Drive to San Felipe via Puertecitos. This proves to
be the most adventurous portion of our trip, as the
driving conditions on Mexico highway 5 are best described
as "intermittent". This should take 10 hours.
Accomodations in San Felipe are at La Jolla RV Park in
town on the beach.
|
| Dec 31: |
New Years Eve. When we were last in San Felipe, the
locals advised us that the biggest party in this party
town is New Years Eve!
be prepared to spend the day on the beach, the gulf, or
ridig through the desert on ATC's, working up an appetite
for the New Years Eve Bash!
|
| January 1: |
New Years Day. Sorry guys, but we must depart early
in the morning for the good old US of A. We should plan
to cross the border in Mexicali, so as to avoid the long
lines in Tijuana, and the tortuous road to Tecate.
|
| Currency: |
Mexicans do take American currency throughout Baja,
and almost every price on every item in Baja will be in
US Dollars. Mexicans do not, however, have much in the
way of change. It is recomended that you take small
bills, including many Ones and no Twenty's.
|
| Language: |
We have discovered that there are as many (if not
more) Mexicans in Baja California that speak English as
there are Americans in California that speak Spanish. In
other words Don't Worry.
|
| Visas: |
A passport is not needed for travel to Mexico, but if
you lack one then you must have a valid drivers
license, and original birth certificate. Mexico
does require visitors of more than 72 hours to have a
tourist card. These are free. They can be obtained at
AAA, most travel agencies, or the Mexican consulate in
San Francisco.
|
| Dogs: |
This is not a good idea. While Mexicans do not care
if you bring animals into Mexico, the Americans do care
if you bring them back into the USA.
|
| Fishing: |
Even if you do not plan on fishing, please do get a
Mexican fishing license. This will allow those of us who
do to bring back more Lobster and Abalone for everyone to
eat. You can get one at AAA, the Mexican Consulate, or by
mail: Mexico Department of Fisheries 2550 5th Avenue
Suite 101 San Diego CA 92103 USA; +1(619)233-6956, or if
you give me enough time I can get one for you.
|
| Cost: |
The trip is approximatly 2500 miles round trip. The
motor home gets about 8 miles to the gallon. Mexican Auto
insurance is about $30 a day for the motor home. Count on
$175.00US per person for gas and insurance. Of course if
more people go, then it won't cost as much. If you paln
on diving, rent your gear before we go. Dive shops in
Baja range from full service, to air fills, and you
cannot count on them having your size. Food is up to you.
In Mexico it is cheap, and we can always Bar-B-Que. Booze
in Mexico is also cheap, especially tequila. ATC rental
in San Felipe was $12.00US per hr. Parasail in Mexico can
range from $10.00US to $20.00US. Also count on a $2.00US
to $3.00US charge per person per night at the campsites.
Russell (the owner of the motorhome) would appreciate it
if we paid him up-front for the Gas, Insurance, and
Campsite.
|
| Attendance: |
The Motorhome is rated to sleep 7, and ride 14, but
has been known to sleep as many as 10, and ride as many
as 18. Obviously if we have much more than 7 people show
(and we hope so!) then some people will end up sleeping
outside. The weather should be warm, so this should not
be a problem.
|
| Drugs: |
The Mexican Federales are not known for their
lienency on Gringos caught with drugs.
|
| Mountain Bikes: |
If someone could come up with a bike rack for the
Motor Home, this would be most enjoyable.
|
| Surfing: |
Should be excellent.
|
| Pack light: |
Traveling in a limited space, such as a motorhome
does not provide an abundance of room, so please take
this to heart. Also, the less stuff you bring the more
likely it will all survive the trip intact.
|
| Questions?: |
Call me (Michael) +1(900)555-1212
|
