In The Desert
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Los Barriles, Mexico
East Cape, Baja
Once you get past Ensenada, and head down the main road through Baja the roads are mostly like this, some are in better shape and some are almost completely worn out. Some of them have nothing remaining except for the stones and only the asphalt under base is still there. Make sure you have at least one good spare, two would be better. Don't speed and don't drive at night -- there's a lot of cattle running around on the roads at night, and even sleeping in the roads!
This is the back courtyard of the El Presidente Hotel in Catavina. Day trips to here from anywhere along the border are possible. This hotel in the desert is in no mans land. There wasn't any gasoline here when we went down except a guy selling it in 5 gal jerry cans from the back of his pick-up for an astronomical price!
On the way into Catavina we captured this awsome sunset in the desert. There is an old Spanish mission near here and petroglyphs.
Now here's something you don't see in the desert in the USA. Boojum Trees. The desert here is full of them and they are different to say the least. Very pretty and I believe they only grow down here in Mexico, and maybe only in Baja.
On top of this one hill we found ourselves in a cactus, and agave garden. These agaves were all over the hill. The things you find in the desert.
This is a 3 day trip but you could make a series of day trips from any one of the towns mentioned here.
This is a 3 day trip but you could make a series of day trips from any one of the towns mentioned here.
This is the top of one of the Century Plants (in the Agave family) we found here and it looks like it has a head with big white teeth. What a strange plant. It is one of the plants that they make Tequila from.
Here's another reason to drive slow and not drive at night. These burros were in quite a few places on the day trips we took to different areas on the way down to Los Barriles, Baja.
On the West side of Baja near Guerrero Negro is an Army base where we got stopped for not having a visa. We really thought we were in big trouble here. Not a problem, they were very nice and even filled out the paperwork for us. We did have to stop and pay for the visa at a Bank in Loreto, Baja.
Once you cross back over to the East side of Baja you'll start to see the Sea of Cortez again and some of the places have a multitude of islands. It looks like your in the Pacific on an island somewhere. The water is beautiful. A fishermans paradise!
Here's another spot that just looked fantastic.You can see all the camping spots along the coast. Boats were anchored here, sailboats too. This was in a protected cove with an island just a short distance off shore. What a neat place in the desert right next to the Sea of Cortez. Mexico is a beautiful country.
Here is the Our Lady of Loreto mission chuch in Loreto. This is a really old Spanish mission and is still in great shape today. This is something worth seeing. It was established on Oct. 25th 1697 and is the oldest mission church in Baja.
On the main street in town we stayed at this Hotel and it was quite a palace or place whichever you want to call it. It was nice.
These two gentlemen were always at the front desk ready to take care of your every wish. They were both the friendliest people we've ever met anywhere. The place was also very clean and easy to get into and out of. It was close to the beach and it was in the middle of the downtown area. Our adventure lead us through La Paz, but we didn't stop there. Our nest stop -------
Our next stop was at this seaside motel in Los Barriles. They told me this was a nice place to stay. There are other nice motels and hotels in the area also, so take your pick.
Here's a look down the beach at one of the other Hotels available here. This was a nice beach and the water here is full of fish, you could see them! The East Cape of Baja is noted as one of the best fishing and snorkling grounds in the world.
This house didn't fare so well in a storm that washed away the side of the wash just before it empties into the Sea of Cortez. This is a common occurance in the desert. This is a great place to start out on day trips into surrounding areas -- in the mountains and along the Sea of Cortez. Baja is a very interesting place.
On the way home we stopped at the El Presidente Hotel in La Quinta, Baja, Mexico. This is on the Pacific Ocean side of Baja. It's just below Ensenada, Baja. The morning we left there was a fog that had rolled in. Here's a couple and their two dogs playing in the Pacific.
Have fun.
Have fun.
This is an inter-active Wikimapia Mexico Map. You can zoom in / out and drag the map to scroll. Mouse over the map. Try it!
Shown here -- Los Barriles, Baja, Mexico.
Wikimapia Map
Now if you take this trip make sure you always have plenty of gas, at times the Pemex Gas Stations are not always open or don't have fuel. The Hotels are priced about the same as here in the USA. This is really a fun. trip to take.
