Baja & The Whales In The Spring

[chnlisle]

Well as it turns out.... even though we are getting our FMMs in the mail, we still need to get them stamped by the Mexican authorities at the border. We dont need to go to the bank and have it signed there and of course we wont have to fill them out. We've decide to enter at the Mexicali East Port of Entry at California 7/Orchard Rd.. All reports say it's much faster to get the needed signatures and there is plenty of parking. So all in all it should be much faster than last spring when we entered at the main Mexicali Port of Entry off Calexico's Imperial Ave.

 

[Dughlas Stiubhart]

Well as it turns out.... even though we are getting our FMMs in the mail, we still need to get them stamped by the Mexican authorities at the border. We dont need to go to the bank and have it signed there and of course we wont have to fill them out. We've decide to enter at the Mexicali East Port of Entry at California 7/Orchard Rd.. All reports say it's much faster to get the needed signatures and there is plenty of parking. So all in all it should be much faster than last spring when we entered at the main Mexicali Port of Entry off Calexico's Imperial Ave.


How many hours, mas o menos, did it take at the Main Mexicali PoE, Jay?

 

[chnlisle]

Hey stew,
@ Mexicali we were there for over 2 hours. There were 6 of us and only 2 immigration authorities and we had to go to the bank as well. The biggest issue was parking for 3 vehicles was non existant at the Immigration office. We parked at a gaurded pay lot and walked several hundred meters to the office. I dont think TJ has that problem and I know and Mexicali east doesn't. We like going in at Mexicali and driving down to Gonzaga. It's much more scenic than Hwy 1 and I think safer although with 3 or more vehicles I think safety is less of an issue. I have heard some bad things about Tecate. Several people on Baja Nomad say that Americans are being robbed by police or police impersontors.

Last spring when we did this trip we had nothing but good experiences with Mexican authorities all the way down to Gonzaga and on to San Ignacio and Mulege.

 

[generubin]

I feel completely safe in Baja whether in one vehicle or ten. I have 3 lady friends who travel Baja alone, regularly. I like to take the Gonzaga route because it is faster, more scenic, safer (hugely less traffic), I can bypass all the "worst of Baja", and I am at Gonzaga Bay the 1st night which is one of the "jewels" of Baja. The only thing I miss by taking the Gonzaga route is Catavina.

 

[chnlisle]

I feel completely safe in Baja whether in one vehicle or ten. I have 3 lady friends who travel Baja alone, regularly. I like to take the Gonzaga route because it is faster, more scenic, safer (hugely less traffic), I can bypass all the "worst of Baja", and I am at Gonzaga Bay the 1st night which is one of the "jewels" of Baja. The only thing I miss by taking the Gonzaga route is Catavina.


I guess thats why it took 8 years and thousands of phone calls between us before we went back.

 

[bsharp007]

Very timely subject for me as my GF and I are planning a trip down to Baja via Mexicali and Ganzaga, we have about 20 days or so to spend in Baja. I dont have a real itinerary other then making our way down Loreto at some point. This will be the first real trip for my new setup and we'll have a couple of large sea kayaks on the roof. We will be entering Mexicali April 2 so it's possible we'll run into your group..if so I'll be sure and say hi.
My 4th or so venture into Baja but never to Ganzaga Bay so I'm looking forward to seeing that area.

 

[chnlisle]

Hope to see you in Gonzaga. At least 2 Rams and 1 Tacoma with ATC's on them.

 

[camelracer]

Very timely subject for me as my GF and I are planning a trip down to Baja via Mexicali and Ganzaga, we have about 20 days or so to spend in Baja. I dont have a real itinerary other then making our way down Loreto at some point. This will be the first real trip for my new setup and we'll have a couple of large sea kayaks on the roof. We will be entering Mexicali April 2 so it's possible we'll run into your group..if so I'll be sure and say hi.
My 4th or so venture into Baja but never to Ganzaga Bay so I'm looking forward to seeing that area.


bsharp007

I plan on going down there a couple of days after you. I'll be spending most of the time at Playa Coyote. Stop by for a cerveza or three if you have a chance.

 

[chnlisle]

CR,
We will be in the area and with a kayak this time. Look forward to seeing you there.

 

[craig333]

Just found out I should qualify for three weeks of vacation, next year. Until then I'll live vicariously through your awesome trip reports.

 

[chnlisle]

Videos will follow.

 

[generubin]

Very timely subject for me as my GF and I are planning a trip down to Baja via Mexicali and Ganzaga, we have about 20 days or so to spend in Baja. I dont have a real itinerary other then making our way down Loreto at some point. This will be the first real trip for my new setup and we'll have a couple of large sea kayaks on the roof. We will be entering Mexicali April 2 so it's possible we'll run into your group..if so I'll be sure and say hi.
My 4th or so venture into Baja but never to Ganzaga Bay so I'm looking forward to seeing that area.

bsharp, you'll really enjoy going via the Gonzaga route. Try to imagine how it was when the pavement ended at San Felipe. You'll be able to see bits and pieces of the rough old road so you'll understand how 25 years ago it used to take two days driving from San Felipe to Gonzaga and now only about 3 hours.

 

[bsharp007]

That looks like an awesome camp! I'll look for you when we're down there and any other WTW folks we might see.


bsharp007

I plan on going down there a couple of days after you. I'll be spending most of the time at Playa Coyote. Stop by for a cerveza or three if you have a chance.

 

[bsharp007]

I can only imagine...that road always had a reputation. I made it to Puertecitos approx 7-8 years ago in a low ground clearance VW Eurovan, that seemed like I was pushing it at the time. And the trip to the BOLA was also a 3 or 4 hour adventure, now just a 45 min drive off of hwy 1. But we are super excited to finally see Ganzaga! A trip report will follow.

bsharp, you'll really enjoy going via the Gonzaga route. Try to imagine how it was when the pavement ended at San Felipe. You'll be able to see bits and pieces of the rough old road so you'll understand how 25 years ago it used to take two days driving from San Felipe to Gonzaga and now only about 3 hours.

 

[generubin]

This picture is the road passing by Bahia De Concepcion in the 1960's(taken by Erle Stanley Gardner). Can you imagine what a place Concepcion would have been back then without the pavement, development and traffic! You hear me often lament the pavement along the Gonzaga route, that's because up until just a handful of years ago, the route to Gonzaga was much like you see in this picture.

 

[generubin]

1986. Along the Gonzaga road, south of Puertecitos. Second and third images are Gonzaga Bay when the beach was empty; before the Pemex, palapas and buildings arrived.

 

[jha6av8r]

My wife grew up camping in Baja every year with her family 30 to 35 years ago. The drove a VW bus towing a small fishing boat. We last went down about half way and camped on the Pacific side in a RAV4 over new years in 2004. Would like to make one of these trips sometime and start making Baja a yearly thing.

 

[generubin]

Baja fans, here's a couple of places you can spend hours:

http://www.talkbaja.com/index.php

http://forums.bajanomad.com/index.php

 

[Desert Rancher]

Ah, Punta Final. There is a little island across a sand spit we used to camp on. You could only cross it at low tide.
Did many trips in the '80's.
You can catch Trigger fish all day long and have good tacos.
Have no idea what it is like now, but know it has changed.

 

[RVfreedom]

Greetings, We are a small group of freinds- all women; who have truck campers or vans or class b campers. We would also love to make this trip tp Baja to see the whales. Fear of crime has kept me from mexico; even though I've wintered in Apache Junction AZ for the last 6 years. How would you feel if we shadowed you on your Baja trip?
Thanks, lisa
dodge ram 2003 4X4 diesel . with a starlight popup truck camper