Just saw wonderful show on the whale skiffs in San Ignacio Lagoon. Our health problems are such that we cannot do tent/sleeping bag expeditions offered by Baja Expeditions.
Has anyone rv'd down there or used a hotel there?
We've not rv'd in Mexico yet, but would be very interested in finding out more about this kind of magic.
Going out in a panga to be with the whales is a wonderful experience. We have done it several times --- in all three of the lagoons in Baja and intend to do it again every year. It is always different.
Season is over for this year so need to do it next year. Now, the whales are arriving a little later these days---good articles on that, but can post those later. Oh, many of them travel right in front of our house in Baja Sur. The easiet choices are Ojo de Liebre by Guerrero Negro, or Laguna San Ignacio.
Anyway, Baja Expeditions does a great job, but you don't need to travel with a group nor sleep in a tent. Information regarding RVing down Baja is a different topic, but lots of people do it, and you don't need a caravan---can't get lost---only one major highway down.
Be aware, however, that after Ensenada Highway 1 is quite narrow and in many, many places there are no shoulders plus you share the road with lots of big trucks. Some Rvers say no problem and others do it once and never again.
Now, the town of San Ignacio is as oaisis and just beautiful--much like the small towns on the mainland. There are places for RVs--can share choices with you later if you are interested. There are also some hotels ranging from fairly expensive and not great, to family run small clean and cheap. There are also some other alternatives.
From the town, you can arrange a tour out to the lagoon for whale watching, or if you have an appropriate vehicle, you can drive out there and just join one of the pangas. The road is dirt, but they have started paving it this year----will be a slow process.
The panga rides are not fancy, but the experience is like no other.
The other alternative is Ojo de Liebre which is a little further north and just south of Guerrero Negro. Again there are RV places and hotels in Guerrero Negro and you can arrange a tour there. Again the tours are in pangas. Or, if you like to boondock, the dirt road out to the lagoon is really easy---mostly salt flat and camping in your RV at the lagoon is wonderful You can not only see some whales in the distance, but at night you can listen to them.
Both places are well run by local ejidos.
Well, this is probably too much information, but if you decide you want to do this, please ask and we will share more specific information with you. There is nothing like having one of those graceful beautiful huge creatures along side you in a tiny boat.
Thanks for the info!! My wife's dream is to go there. I've often wondered about taking our TT but haven't quite had the nerve. It's only 25' long and 8' wide so it's not like a huge MH. I will save your comments and might e-mail you later.
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Earl E wrote: Thanks for the info!! My wife's dream is to go there. I've often wondered about taking our TT but haven't quite had the nerve. It's only 25' long and 8' wide so it's not like a huge MH. I will save your comments and might e-mail you later.
It is our new "backyard" for our adopted second home---happy to answer any questions.
This year we had one do a total breach---all the way out of the water---right next to the boat. But I was watching a whale on the other side, so this is the picture I got----
But then as a birthday present for John this year, a young whale on his way to the cold north did a full breach right in front of our home rather close in.
It is one of those must do fantastic experiences that is not far away, and rather easy to do---hope your wife gets her dream.
One of my dreams is see the penguins in the far south---that one is far more difficult and expensive.
Nice pixs Matthew. Last year we were in a panga with a couple who were there for the first time, and it is exciting to watch their reactions. Great that you take others down there with you. We never get tired of being there.
We however, do not care much for Rice and Beans---don't like the location, rooms are too expensive for what you get, RV area is simply a parking lot and the food is EXTREMELY bland.
But we also know people who really like Rice and Beans----just different opinions. We have a little family run place in town that we like.
We have heard, however, that the newer place, Baja Oasis on the highway is quite nice and a lot less money than Rice and Beans---both are going to have some highway noise.
Do you drive out or take a van? This year the road along side where they are beginning to pave the road was a little rougher but interesting. Since we always have our dogs, we drive out to the lagoon.
When we had our small trailer we took it down there. However, we really prefer not to drive that highway with any type of RV--sounds like you feel the same way. But, there sure are a lot of people who don't mind driving the RVs down that highway.
Have you gone out at Ojo de Liebre or Bahia Magdelena? They are also great---just different. Have not done San Carlos at Bahia Magdelena, but have done Lopez Mateos.
Have you read about how the whales are thinner and arriving late?
Diane
* This post was
edited 04/04/08 12:46am by jdtrotter *
As a traveller, fortunate enought to have visited and seen both penguins and whales, several times.
Whales are a wonderful sight, Guerrero Negro, is a decent place to stay and take the whale seeing trips, it can get a lIttle wet AND COLD SO BE PREPARED, but also be prepared for a wonderful sight.
There is nothing in the world like sitting laguna-side watching the sunset, no electricity or water so it is QUIET and listening to the whales talking as the sun sinks down down down.
Ojo de Liebre. We stayed a week and had we had water, could have stayed much longer.
- Kathy
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harvestmoon wrote: There is nothing in the world like sitting laguna-side watching the sunset, no electricity or water so it is QUIET and listening to the whales talking as the sun sinks down down down.
Ojo de Liebre. We stayed a week and had we had water, could have stayed much longer.
Yes, it is a special place to camp and the road out there is not bad for any RV IMHO.
One of our campsites.
Not sunset yet, but it is getting lower in the sky.
Louisa, like the others have already told you, there is no reason to only go with Baja Expecitions, Guerrero Negro and plenty of the other places all have hotels to stay at if you dont want to take your RV down.
As for leaving out of San Ignacio, just remember that you are quite a ways from the beach at that point. We left from Mallarimo RV Park, which also has a nice hotel and first rate restaurant, in Guerrero Negro and the bus ride from the RV Park was only 15 minutes to the Pangas.
This is the lagoon you speak of in San Ignacio
It is like an oasis out some Lawerance of Arabia movie!
Now we talked with others who have left out of San Ignacio and commplained that their bus ride to the pangas was over an hour on a very bumpy road. Just something to keep in mind.
Since we've been down here, we've gone out numerous times and each time have had a completely unique experience. One time we saw whales mateing, other times we had whales pusing the boats around with their noses, and once on a sight seeing tour in the Sea of Cortez, we witnessed Humpback Whales breaching way out of the water.
Amazing stuff, and way worth the cost of the trips. That too can be different with each tour company. One out of Lopes Mateos was only $21 per person, but we drove to the Pangas ourselves. The tour out of Mallarimo in Guerrero Negro was $50 per person, but they picked you up right at the campground and it included a sack lunch.
So make sure you check around, and dont think you have to go with a guide company the whole way down. But everyone we've talked with who had come with a tour company has had nothing but kind remarks to speak of, so dont rule that out either. It's all on what you feel comfortable with.
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