bajacasur https://48houradventures.com/tag/bajacasur/ Weekend getaways and bucket-list road trips with Bryan & Shauna Thu, 17 Sep 2020 23:13:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 178144920 La Paz, Baja Ca Sur, Mexico ~ Seals, Whale Sharks and the Sea of Cortez https://48houradventures.com/2020/02/baja-ca-sur-mexico/la-paz-baja-ca-sur-mexico-swimming-with-seals-whale-sharks-and-some-fishing-in-the-sea-of-cortez/ https://48houradventures.com/2020/02/baja-ca-sur-mexico/la-paz-baja-ca-sur-mexico-swimming-with-seals-whale-sharks-and-some-fishing-in-the-sea-of-cortez/#comments Sun, 16 Feb 2020 07:00:00 +0000 https://48houradventures.com/?p=555 We booked this two-day getaway in La Paz, Mexico with a plan to swim with the whale sharks. Little did we know we would have one of our Best. Days. EVER! We checked into a corner room at Las Gaviotas Hotel. This hotel is a hidden gem. It has sixteen 1 & 2 bedroom apartments, fully furnished, great views and a block and a half off the Malecón (Malecón translates to “pier” in Spanish but is the common name for the boardwalk that stretches along the waterfront in Latin beach towns around the world.) Our hosts, the owners Linda & Chalo are incredibly gracious and offered a lot of local tips for us to pass on to you. They also have a stash of beach chairs and basic beach gear available to borrow. Just down on the Malecón at the end of the street is the restaurant Mariscos Los Laureles. The fresh whole fish and coconut shrimp are amazing. Honestly everything on the menu is divine. Swimming with seals & whale Sharks An early breakfast at Mariscos Bismarkcito fueled us up and we headed to the boat launch kiosk. There are many vendors that offer tours to swim with the whale sharks. You can get hustled by random guys on the Malecón but we chose to book thru one of the kiosks near the town’s Centro Plaza. We were able to book a “combo” that included an all day boat ride to swim with the seals, have lunch on an isolated beach and swim with the whale sharks for $150 each. We boarded the boat with about 10 other people and headed out on a 2 hour ride that was colder than we expected. Bryan’s pro-tip would be to make sure you pack some warm gear as being on the ocean all day can get chilly. Several people had dressed for a “beach” day and were caught off guard. Our first stop was Isla Espíritu Santo. There are several hundred seals that live on this Isla and we geared up and jumped in the water for a swim. It was an unforgettable experience and one we definitely recommend. Next stop, our captain pulled the boat up to Playa Enseñada Grande. This secluded beach ranks as one of the most beautiful beaches we’ve ever been to. Our Captain had made fresh ceviche and we ate tostadas on the beach and went for a swim. Top 5 beaches in La Paz, Mexico Playa Enseñada Grande: Access by boat charter. Secluded with no services. Turquoise waters for swimming. Playa Balandra: We took a bus out of the bus station in the center of town. R/T fare was $5 each. Unique beach with some fruit vendors and souvenir vendors on the beach. Minimal food and beverages available. Beautiful seafoam colored water and large sand bank so you can walk a hundred yards out into the water and still be knee deep. Playa El Coromuel: Just North on the Malecón, you come to a small bay with a pier where they have a couple of restaurants and bars. Nearby there are bathrooms and some little commercial spots where you can buy beverages and seafood. Caimancito Beach: 2 miles North of town. Hotel nearby for food and beverage purchases. Liked by the locals. Playa Pichilingue: 10 miles North of La Paz. Full services available. Beautiful swimming beach. Swimming with Whale Sharks Whale shark season is from October to February and planning a trip during this time will provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our guide was highly experienced in finding the Whale sharks and after scouting for less than 30 minutes she was able to put us up close and personal to a Whale shark. These docile animals are up to 20 feet long but be prepared to swim, it takes some effort to keep up with them. However, swimming next to them was an emotional and a once-in-a-life time experience. Top 5 restaurants in La Paz Mariscos Los Laureles: On the North end of the Malecón. Seriously some of the best seafood we’ve ever had. Los Bismarkcitos: On the Malecón with great view. Had an delicious breakfast here and the place is packed at night. Fresh seafood from local fishermen and reasonably priced. The Tailhunter Restaurant: Fresh seafood daily from local fishermen. You can also book day fishing charters here. Steinbeck’s at Costa Baja: Inspired by the award wining author who spent a lot of time in the Sea of Cortez. Great steak and seafood restaurant. A little pricey but worth an Uber trip to see this beautiful resort and enjoy a night of fine dining. Los Magueyes: Off the beaten path but great authentic Mexican food and some vegan options. La Paz, unlike Cabo still retains much of its small, authentic Baja Mexico town feeling. Day trips from here include Los Cabos & Todo Santos. We highly recommend you read two of the books written by John Steinbeck that are based on this quaint fishing town. The Pearl and Logs from the Sea of Cortez were written by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and will give you a glimpse into what this area was like in the 1950’s when he was exploring here. Many of the places we visited are discussed in detail in these books. Be sure to check out our other blogs of places to visit in Baja, Ca. Sur.

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]]> https://48houradventures.com/2020/02/baja-ca-sur-mexico/la-paz-baja-ca-sur-mexico-swimming-with-seals-whale-sharks-and-some-fishing-in-the-sea-of-cortez/feed/ 5 555 San Felipe, Baja Ca Sur, Mexico ~ a fishing village on the Sea of Cortez https://48houradventures.com/2019/07/baja-ca-sur-mexico/san-felipe/ https://48houradventures.com/2019/07/baja-ca-sur-mexico/san-felipe/#respond Sun, 21 Jul 2019 20:33:00 +0000 https://48houradventures.com/?p=1117 San Felipe has been a vacation destination for our family since we were children. This seaside fishing village sits on the north west side of the Sea of Cortez. From San Diego it is about a 4 hour drive and about a 6 hour drive from Phoenix or Los Angeles. This is our go-to spot whenever we are craving a quick Mexican get-away.  Activities in San Felipe range from  swimming, paddle boarding, snorkeling and fishing to just relaxing. The beaches in the center of town offer an abundance of rentals that include banana boats, sport fishing trips and kayaks. Because of it’s proximity to the desert, there are ample places to rent ATV’s to explore the off-road areas.  There are a great deal of beaches to explore however, San Felipe experiences a huge tidal flow. At low tide the water can recede to over a mile out. Be sure to check your tide charts when planning your beach visits. South beach is one of our favorites. It’s just south of town and offers swimming with waves, snorkeling with lots of fish to see and shelling. However, if you head south on route 5 there are many more beaches that are less populated. Did someone say fish tacos? San Felipe is the birthplace of the fish taco. It is said that Ralph Rubio of Rubios restaurants got his original recipe from the fishermen in San Felipe. All along the Malecón are a series of open air taco shops that feature shrimp and fish tacos and other seafood selections. This is where we eat 90% of our meals when in San Felipe. We don’t specifically recommend one, just pop into the one that looks fun and enjoy some of the yummy fresh seafood.  Our favorite places to stay Stella del Mar is about a mile south of town and has small single unit bungalows. There are 14 beachfront units that feature individual palapas that will provide shade during the day and a quiet place to watch the waves at night. The feature bar service to the palapas and the beach vendors pass by regularly selling palettes and souvenirs. The restaurant here is excellent and the machaca breakfast here is some of the best we’ve ever had. You can walk to town via the beach or taxi service is easily available.  The El Cortez is a half a mile south of town and has charming rooms and easy access to a beautiful beach. There’s also a nice pool and a fun restaurant and bar with epic margaritas. Additionally, they have a rental service for everything you need. If you are looking for more upscale accommodations, you can find some out of town luxury condo rentals on VRBO. If you’re looking for Camping in San Felipe, there are many campgrounds and beaches that allow camping with beachfront views. On weekend nights, the Malecón erupts with activity. Families line the walkway and the parade of cars “cruising” the strip is nonstop. Street vendors are plentiful selling elotes, fresh churros and more. The music from the bands of mariachis cascades out over the crowd into the air. There is an overabundance of bars along the street where you can grab a beer and enjoy the spectacle.  Valle de los gigantes (Valley of the giants) One of the more spectacular sites in San Felipe is about 20 minutes south of town on route 5 at Rancho Punto Estrella called the Valle de los gigantes (Valley of the giants.) This forest of Sahuaro cacti is a true gift of nature. Some of them reach as high as 50 feet into the sky. You can tour them from the car but you’ll definitely want to get out and walk around these magnificent species.  Back in town there is some fantastic shopping. Here you can purchase everything from souvenirs to tapestries, textiles and hand-blown glass. San Felipe is charming town to get away to and relax, enjoy some remarkable food and make some great memories.  Be sure to check out our blogs of La Paz and Puerto Peñasco for other Baja, Ca. Sur road-trips!

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