TalkBaja.com » Baja Mexico Forums » General Discussion

I guess we are all different in how we deal with / handle the heat. When I was younger it didn't seem to bother me so much. I spent several years living in regions where it was not uncommon to experience long stretches in summer where the daytime highs were never below 95 degrees with the humidity at least 85% and usually over 90%.

For whatever reason, I just don't seem to hold up well in that kind of weather anymore and was a large part of the reason that I wanted to stay farther north and on the Pacific side...

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If the perfect place existed, where the air and water temps were in the 80's year round, we'd probably all be there already.

Our trip to Hualtulco lasted only a few days and the daily/nightly rains kept the temp very comfortable. I'm not a fan of humidity and it didn't seem too bad to me. But I imagine April, May, and June, just before the rains begin, it could be pretty miserable.

We didn't even catch any notable waves, but the ocean was like a bathtub, the beaches were gorgeous and many of them empty, the people were very friendly, and the town of La Crucecita reminded us of San Jose del Cabo and San Blas many years ago.

Southern Oaxaca is definitely worth another visit, but next time will be just as tourists. The last trip was a real estate finding mission but alot has changed since just last Sept. which could carry over in to the "how has the economy effected you" topic.

San Juanico/Punta Pequeña ocean temp is warm enough for me (in the 80's) a few weeks per year, and some years it's only in the 80's a few days. We chose to settle at this windy, dusty, rocky, pain-in-the-butt (as in inconvenient) place for the ocean submersion activities so comfortable temps are a biggie.

For us, the older we get the warmer we want to be so we keep our eyes open even farther Southward. Longlegs is right, it's best to never say never when it comes to changing ones "plans".

I live in Ajijic now, which is the second time since 2006. This area is over grown with Americans and Canadians, and expensive, has no medical care, the nearest is Guadalajara. Yes the climate is good but you couldn't rent a house near the lake for a $1,000.00 US a month so you don't get to see the water. I am moving to Punta Banda next month to live on the beach with 2 houses for the price that I am paying in Ajijic. I understand it is colder but Ensenada is just down the road with good shopping and good medical care. If it turns out to be to cold we will look furthur south. I forgot Lake Chapala is now experienceing Guadalajara NARCO problems, several weeks ago we lost 18 to them.

When we moved to Punta Banda I had no intention of staying here. 10 years later I dont Question why I am here.I have been here longer than I have ever been anywhere else.
Like most other things in my life It has nothing to do with my great planning ability. But it's the best thing for me. We have a lovely house and a fantastic 180deg.view of the Ensenada Bay. and where else can you drive to the U.S. see the Dr do a little Shopping and be back in 12hrs. If I desire more heat I can go three hrs east to San Felipe and warm up. all and all I havent Found a place I like better and am not really looking
I was here when the previous poster got here and watched them carry him away I think he throughly enjoyed his time here. NIGHTTRAIN was My Next Door Neighbor.

Having lived most of my life in Denver, noticed that most of my vacations were on water.

Grand trip to Panama in '06 snapped me into researching Latin America. Sold Denver house 8/30/06. Drove toward Baja next day. Ocean, proximity to USA friends/family and climate variety attracted me. Had never been to Mexico before.

Ensenada, Bahia San Quintin(almost bought lot there), Mulege, La Paz during September 2006. 104F in La Paz, bye, gotta go. Drove all the way back to Denver, homeless.

Realtor in Ensenada that I missed during trip called. "When are you coming back down?.
2 days later, I meet her at 9, gave her a check for downpayment on lot at noon. One year later, moved into the home I designed in September '07.

Climate(70hi/55lo 300 days/year), Coast, Cost(I don't dine out much), Culture(some of Mexico with gringo-friendly elements) and Convenience to San Diego airport/shopping.

I'm having a blast, have a handful of good friends and enjoying a very different life than my corporate structure of previous 30 years. Cheers.

Where: La Paz, Baja Sur

Why?: Having met my girlfriend, now wife for two years, online whilst at University I visited La Paz for many years and fell in love with the city and my wife of course.

All of my visits were in the summer to tie into our University vacations. This meant I only ever saw the worst time of year in La Paz, and yet it was still somewhere I really enjoyed staying.

Having lived in England together for a while we decided to make the move full time to La Paz to enjoy beautiful ocean views and warm climate every day, and I don't regret any of it.

I have since visited a few other areas of Mexico and some in the US but La Paz is the place I enjoy the most.

It feels like a little town, and I constantly bump into people I know, yet at the same time it is actually a good sized city with all of the conveniences a large city has.

We recently bought a little place a block from the Malecon (ocean front boardwalk), for only a bit over $80,000US which compared to prices in England wouldn't even buy a garage. Yes our incomes have fallen in comparison however the cost reduction of large ticket items and many living expenses outweighs the reduction in our income.

There are some things that are more expensive than in England, such as general groceries, for anything not produced in Mexico, and also for most forms of technology, however this is not a big issue.

The restaurants can be expensive compared to England however that is because rather than eating at normal quality high street restaurants we are now eating at restaurants with chefs and all fresh produce, meaning the quality has improved substantially for little price difference.

Will I go somewhere else? As Kate and Longlegs have said, why would you want to?

Climate(70hi/55lo 300 days/year

Is this correct? If the days don't get above 70, that may call a halt to my plans for the Punta Banda/Ensenada area. I'm a warm weather gal [although the 115 day at my house last summer was a bit too warm]. I guess I expected it would be more like what I remember from my time living in SoCal -- balmy.

Sorry to hijack -- have enjoyed this thread immensely.

What is your ideal temperature range? I know what mine is and was a large part of the reason we ended up where we did. My guess is for most folks as we get on in years the weather plays an ever bigger factor in our decision in choosing where to live. Keep weather at the top of your list of "must haves" and find a place geographically that fits (along with your other criteria)

So, 70 degree days are the norm?

I'm happier in the 75-90 range. 70 is on the chilly side, for me.

Is Ensenada that much different from Punta Banda? I just checked the current weather in Ensenada, and it's supposedly in the mid-high 70s and low eighties, this week and next. That would be perfect for me. An occasional 70 is fine. I remember 60 degree days on the Oregon Coast that felt balmy, if it was sunny.

Originally Posted by mskitty

Is Ensenada that much different from Punta Banda?

We're just across the bay from each other.....twenty miles away by road. We do have weather differences. Sometimes we can see that they're buried in fog and at times we are and they arn't.
We should be getting Santa Ana winds in a day or two so that will warm things up a bit.

Originally Posted by mskitty

I'm happier in the 75-90 range. 70 is on the chilly side, for me.

Sounds like Palm Springs is what you're looking for, but they don't have a beach that I'm aware of. Maybe after our next large earthquake that will be different.

No thank you! I'd rather stay in Georgia. No point in moving anyplace without an ocean at this point in my life. But it does need to be warm....

Guess we cleared that up...

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

Guess we cleared that up...

I was starting to feel like a RE salesman. "Did I forget to mention the earthquakes?"

Giggles. I've lived most of my life in earthquake country. Not a problem. I probably overreacted on the temps -- did a climate comparison between Ensenada and Newport Beach, where I lived quite comfortably, and Newport is very similar, maybe a degree cooler. I happen to have a cold house, and when it's 70 inside, it's not comfortable. On the other hand, if I'm outside in the sun even at lower temps, I'm comfortable. Surprisingly, neither Ensenada nor Newport is significantly warmer than Brookings, OR, where I lived before I moved here, according to climate charts. Those few degrees would be enough to make a difference, though.

Tis a puzzlement. Gotta keep thinking about this.

I was raised in Newport and you're right. It's about the same climate although North Baja, Pacific side has more wind.
It's just the way it is.

Since MsKitty is an ocean lover, maybe someone could give her water temp ranges around Ensenada and Punta Banda? Even down here in the deep south the water is cold during winter and through spring. For me, the cooler the air is, the warmer the water needs to be before I'll venture in, and no way will I get wet if either is below 70. Of course, I'm one of those people walking around in socks and two layers of sweats when all the tourists are in tank tops and sandals.

Kate, you sound like me with the socks and sweats! As I write this, 6:15 am, it's about 69 in the room and I've got on sweats. But it'll be close to 80 outside later -- and about the same 70 inside. And I'd better enjoy it, because cold weather and frost is coming our way next week.

Water temp isn't much of an issue to me because other than maybe getting my feet wet at the surfline, I don't really get into the water. I just need to be near it. Like to walk or run in the sand, watch the surf. Listen to it. Smell it. I'll walk it in sweats and have walked it in storms [Oregon!], but prefer warm sunshine. On the other hand, Puerto Vallarta in June was a bit too warm for much beachwalking.

I'd love to consider the south region where you are, but it just seems too far to think about driving to the border. I seem to feel a need for an escape clause -- don't know why that is. But, if I keep thinking about it enough, and keep reading and asking and listening here, I'll figure it out.

Kitty,
you should also take a look at Loreto. One of the nicest spots in Baja, with a large friendly Gringo contingent. Like La Paz, it gets hot for a few months in middle of summer, but with modern day A/C's ,the mini splits, nothing to worry about. They allow you comfort in the room of your choosing. Small town with an international airport, in case you need to go north. Beautiful Malecon and most of the town in walking distance. Been here for 20some years and never a moment of regret.
Beautiful islands in a clear blue sea and surrounded by mountains.
To me, she's the pearl of all of Baja.

Thanks for the recommendation. I have to admit that I didn't even know it was there! I don't mind heat -- From the air [courtesy of Google] it looks interesting. I'll add it to my 'check on' list.