Rendezvouz & Orientation: Potrero State Park, California, USA

This morning we will rendezvous at the beautiful  Potrero Regional Park 45 miles east of  San Diego in California at an elevation of 2300′.  Today we will cross the border as a group into Tecate, Mexico and Baja Amigos will guide you through the Tourist Permit process.  On return to the campground, everyone will receive an orientation prior to your 28 day Mexican Baja Adventure.  Later Lisa & Dan will host a wine & cheese so everyone can get acquainted.  Please note  that Day ZERO is included in your 28 day tour.  Baja Amigos Tours are 28 days IN MEXICO.

The Spanish word potrero means “pasturing place”.  Until the middle of the 19th century, the Potrero region was inhabited only by Kumemaay Indians, who found the area rich in their main food, the acorn.  Much of this 115 acre park is shaded by 100 year old oak trees and is well suited for year round recreation.  The Kumemaay operate the Golden Acorn Casino a short drive from Potrero off I-8 with free RV Parking.  Gas, Diesel and Propane are readily available nearby.   Access to Wifi can be found at the local Library, a 5 minute drive from the campground. The community of Potrero also has a Post Office and great General Store & Restaurant.

DAY 1: Tecate & Ensenada, Mexico

(155 km approx.)
Today we are off to Ensenada on Highway Mex 3 where extensive re-pavement  has been completed in the Spring of 2010.  After a short drive through Tecate you will experience a typical Mexican highway winding through the Valle de las Palmas and Valle de la Calafia. As we enter “Wine Country” the highway upgrade  becomes very apparent, wide lanes and significant paved shoulders, a nice change indeed.  At about the 100 km mark we will begin our final descent to the Pacific Ocean where we connect to Hwy Mex 1.

We will drive through Ensenada and past the legendary Riviera, Hotel Playa Ensenada, an elegant hotel and gambling casino that opened in 1930 and is now a Cultural Center.  We will be stopping for groceries before arriving at our final destination and beach campground in Punta Banda.  After lunch we will have an outing to the famous La Bufadora and later if the tide is low, you can warm your feet in the hot springs, a short stroll  along the beautiful playa from the campground!

DAY 2: Campground south of Lazaro Cardenas

(210 km approx.)

Today we continue our southward journey that take us through the communities Santos Tomas, San Vicente, Colonet, Vicente Guerrero, San Quintin and Lazaro Cardenas . Our final destination will be a campground adjoining the beach south of Lazaro Cardenas.  This area of Baja is known for farming and miles and miles of sand dunes.  This campground can be a little cool and windy, but you are sure to enjoy the ocean air. No excursions today and there will be lots of time to take a hike or long walk along the dunes and beach.  This campground has great hot showers and plenty of firewood.  On clear nights sunsets are nothing less than spectacular!

Day 3: Catavina Boulder Fields

(171 km approx.)

Today we are off to Rancho Santa Inez in the community of Catavina.   This will take us through El Rosario where the highway ended prior to construction of Mex 1 in 1973.  This campground is located  in the heart of the Catavina Boulder Fields and its impressive and unique Sonoran Desert vegetation includes Cirios cactus. Believe it or not these giant boulders of granite were created in place by weather and freezing temperatures.

We will make a short excursion to cave paintings that are over 7,000 years old and for those who are interested a guided hike in the  desert.  This is indeed a photographers paradise and a fabulous spot for star gazing too!  Make sure your furnace is working as the campground is located at approximately 1800′.

Day 4: Whale Watching - Guerrero Negro

(235 km approx.) Today’s drive will take us past the junction to Bahia de los Angeles, through Jesus Maria to Guerrero Negro.  This is the place to view California Grey Whales and that is exactly what we are going to do!  Even for non-boaters it is an experience of a lifetime and well worth any anxieties you may have (spoken by a non-boater).   This town thrives on it’s salt industry, another very interesting sight to see while out on the waters.  The RV Park we stay at has a good  restaurant and an excellent gift shop.

Day 5: San Ignacio Mission

(146 km approx.)

Today is a shorter drive taking us into the middle of the desert through Vizcaino before arriving into the a beautiful date palm oasis of San Ignacio. San Ignacio has a population of about 4000 and is home to the magnificent Mission of San Ignacio. The site for the original mission was founded in the Cochimi settlement of Kadakaaman in 1728 by Jesuit missionary Juan Bautista Luyando. Constructed with Cochimi indigenous labour the current mission was completed by Dominican missionary Juan Gomez in 1786 and has lava rock with walls 4′ thick.  The town square is very impressive shaded by 6 massive Indian laurel trees with trunks 3-4 feet in diameter.

Day 6 & 7: Sunrise on Bahia Concepcion

(180 km approx.)

Another short drive to Bahia Concepcion, a very popular RV destination for many Snowbirds with twelve (12) beach campgrounds.  Bahia Concepcion (23 miles long) is the largest bay in Baja and is located a short drive south of Mulege. Our destination beach will depend on the weather, particularly the wind. The experience of camping on a beach in the Bay of Concepcion grows on RVers which is why so many Canadians and Americans alike spend the entire winter here.  We adopted our dog Jitterbug off one of these beaches.

Because the waters off most beaches are so warm and calm, and because the water is so shallow, even the most timid landlubbers enjoy frolicking in the waters of Bahia Concepcion.  The “large island” that can be seen way across the bay from these beaches is actually a large barren peninsula.  A rough road traverses the peninsula to the tip, but there is very little out there besides rocks and cactus.

Day 8 & 9: Shopping in Loreto

(100 km approx.)

Our short drive today takes us to the town of Loerto.  Loreto is the birthplace of California, as it was the first permanent settlement anywhere in the Californians, including the U.S. state to the north.  Loreto was the capital of both California’s’ for 132 years and was a sleepy village where summer’s heat made for a laid-back pace for locals and visitors.  It had changed very little until the 1960’s.  Fisherman began to learn about the Dorado, Yellowtail, Marlin, Sailfish, Grouper, Rock Sea Bass, Roosterfish and other species being caught there.  This prompted the Hotel Oasis to be opened in 1963 and it is the oldest of the old Loreto resort hotels still around.

Loreto is very outdoorsy with the center of town having great shopping for tourists in a kind of market atmosphere.  There are great restaurants, a beautiful malecon (beach front walk), and lovely people.  We will be staying at an RV Park which is walking distance to the center of town and to the beach.  This park has very friendly owners who also run a lovely little restaurant on site. We will also be hosting our Fiesta Night Dinner in Loreto including live music by local Mariachis .

Our visit to Loreto will include an opportunity to visit “Nuestra Senora de Loreto” (Our Lady of Loreto) mission which was the first 17^th century development which began the entire California mission system.  We will also visit the 2^nd of these missions  just outside of Loreto called San Javier, this is a truly magnificent mission and unforgettable drive.  There are seven buildings in Loreto from the 18th to 20th century that are considered “historical monuments” by the federal government which is the start of “the royal road” (“el camino real”), an historic corridor that ends in Sonoma USA and follows the ancient route of the Spanish missions.

Day 10: Driving in Ciudad Constitucion

(153 km approx.)

We are now headed inland to the farming belt of Baja and Ciudada Constitucion, home to the first super Mercado (large supermarket) south of Ensenada, called SuperLey.  We will stop here for some supplies prior staying at the RV Park  for the night.

This city in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur and seat of the municipality of Comondu.  Constitucion is located 210 kilometers north of La Paz  and 147 kilometers south of Loreto.  Ciudad Constitución’s population was 37,221 inhabitants at the 2005 census.  It is the fourth-largest community in the state (behind La Paz, Cabo San Lucas  and San Jose del Cabo).  Ciudad Constitución serves as a gateway to Magdalena Bay and also close to the Baja 1000 Off-Road Race course.

Baja Amigos will be hosting a Margarita Happy Hour this evening!

Day 11-13: Playa El Tecolote

(234 km approx.)