Called Bisnaga by the locals, it is the last cactus to bloom during the year.  Flowers form in clusters, along its top section.  As the Barrel cactus matures, ribs form along its sides, and it becomes “barrel like” in shape, as its name suggests. The cactus’ large diameter allows for an immense capacity to store water, and the older plants can hold up to 500 kilograms.  Insects and birds enjoy the nectar produced by the flowers of the Barrel Cactus, and it is a very important food source for them.

If you plan a trip to Bahía de los Sueños, make sure and look for the many Barrel cactus located outside of Restaurant 1535. They are abundant and unique, just like the many resources available to those who experience the magic of La Paz, Baja Ca Sur, and especially the nearby ”Bay of Dreams.”

For more information about Bahía de los Sueños, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Dennis.carr@bod.com.mx
Baja Sur Office: 866 202 0789 ext #1
Cell: 612-348-5831

Fruit of Cardon

This photo was taken a few weeks ago.  It is a young fruit of the Cardon, the world largest cactus.  The fruit will change into a red color as it matures.  As the fruit grows and opens up, it offers an important source of food for birds and insects.  Eventually, the fruit falls to the ground, again providing an excellent food source for a variety of desert creatures.  The fruit is called “Pichon” by the locals.
Are you considering a trip to Bahía de los Sueños, or would you like to learn more about the unique opportunities people enjoy at this fabulous location?
Don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will assist in arranging a visit, answer questions you may have, and help make your stay a memorable one.
Sincerely,
Dennis Carr
Bay of Dreams
www.bahiasuenos.com
dennis.carr@bod.com.mx
(866) 202 0789 ext #1

One of the most interesting birds I have noticed since moving to Bahía de los Sueños at Baja Ca Sur, are Magnificent Frigatebirds.  Pre-historic looking in nature, they soar with grace, precision, and confidence.  They can be seen flying around the shoreline, as well as miles out in the ocean.  They nest onshore, yet it is not uncommon for them to fly for up to 7-8 days straight, over the water, searching for food.  During this time, they can cover over 200 kilometers of distance.  I have seen them as far as 50 kilometers offshore in the past.

Female Frigatebird

There are several species of Frigatebirds:  Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Frigatebird, Lesser Frigatebird, Ascension Frigatebird, and Christmas Frigatebird.  The Magnificent Frigatebird is common around Baja Ca Sur, and has the largest wingspan of all Frigates, measuring up to 7 feet in length.  They nest along rocky cliffs.  Males have a reddish pouch on their throat; it is inflated during breeding season to attract females.

Male with Pouch

Male Frigatebird

With laser-like precision, Frigates dive down and capture fish with their hooked bill off the surface of the water.  They need to be precise when they pluck fish, because if they make a mistake and fall in, they do not have the ability to swim.  Due to the lack of natural oil coating that many other birds have to protect them in the water, Frigatebirds’ feathers become saturated and heavy when they become wet, thus making it extremely difficult to become airborn once they have fallen in the water.  Another method Frigatebirds use to feed is by stealing prey from other birds; this is also known as kleptoparasitism.  This method involves waiting until another bird catches prey, and then pestering, scaring, and threatening the bird until it releases or regurgitates its catch.  Before the fallen meal hits the water, the Frigatebird swoops in, and often catches it out of mid-air.  This process of “stealing” other bird’s prey is quite an entertaining aerial display to witness, and has earned them the nickname of Man O’War.

Swooping Down for Fish

An interesting note about Frigatebirds, is that they cannot take off from a flat surface.  They must start their flight from a perch, and this is the reason they nest on cliffs and high rocks. They can live for up to 30 years.  The female lays a single egg per year, with an incubation period of two months.

Magnificent FrigateBirds

If you are interested in viewing Magnificent Frigatebirds soar at Bahía de los Suenos, or want to take advantage of an array of other desirable lifestyle activities such as fishing, golfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, or just relaxing on the white sandy beach, contact us at dennis.carr@bod.com.mx, (612) 123 6968 (MX office), or (866) 202-0789 ext #1 (toll free from U.S).  You can also register on our website to receive monthly email newsletters updating you on life at the Bay of Dreams.

For those interested in being a part of the Bahía de los Sueños Community, we are currently offering large 1+ acre custom home sites overlooking the Bay of Dreams, Laguna Sierra Mountains, and the Sea of Cortez.

Male Frigatebird

The next time you visit Restaurant 1535 at Bahía de los Sueños, look up at the big palm tree close by on the white sandy beach.  Next, listen for the sound of birds; normally they are most active in the morning.  If you are patient, you will more than likely see a pair of Hooded Orioles.  The male boasts an orange head and breast.  His face and throat have a black patch.  The female is beautiful also, and has a yellow neck, breast, and underparts.
One of the few areas Hooded Orioles live year-round is in Baja Ca Sur.  They migrate and live part-time in other areas, such as Baja Ca Norte, Central Mexico, and the Southern U.S.  Their diet consists of insects, spiders, nectar and fruit.  During the springtime at Bahía de los Sueños, they enjoy the many fruits of cactus, and nectars of desert flowers.  Their songs are a delight to hear, pronouncing their joy and social calling.
Nests are typically found in tall trees, such as a palm.  The nests are tightly woven, often into the underside of a palm leaf or tree branch.  By poking the plant fibers through the underside of a palm leaf, a strong nest results as the plant and leaf fibers join tightly together.  Three to five eggs are generally produced, and it takes 12-14 days for them to hatch.

As is often the case, the aqua blue waters of Bahía de los Sueños capture my attention.  My office is just steps away from the bay, and it is hard not to gaze at its beauty on occasion.  While working last week, I turned to the left to get a glimpse of the bay view just in time to witness an Osprey dive down onto the surface of the water and capture an unsuspecting fish.  Proud of its catch, the bird circled over the water several times with its prey tightly fastened in its sharp talons.  Victorious, it soared off into the Cardon Forest to feast. 

Ospreys are diurnal: they are active during the daytime, and sleep during the evening.  Their diet consists mainly of fish, yet I have seen them with rodents and snakes on occasion.  Watching them hunt is amazing; they are stealth in the manner in which they fly, hover briefly over their target, and then dive down for their meal.  They can see their prey up to 130 feet away, before swooping down on them.  I have never seen an Osprey fail in catching its prey once it has committed to diving and attacking.

While Osprey can be found in many parts of the world, and are not endangered, their presence at Bahía de los Sueños adds to the magical landscape.  The way they proudly perch themselves on top of the largest cacti in the world-the Cardon, is a magnificent sight to see. The Osprey and Cardon are a perfect complement to each other, and both are abundant at Bahía de los Sueños.

If you are planning a visit to Bahía de los Sueños, make sure and bring a set of binoculars to get an intimate view of the natural surroundings, because they are unlike anywhere on the planet. The visions you capture will last a lifetime!

For more information about active lifestyle opportunities or dramatic ocean view real estate offerings at Bahía de los Sueños , contact us at (866) 202-0789, or dennis.carr@bod.com.mx

Darrell Shrader took a different approach during his first visit to the golf course at Bahía de los Sueños.  Instead of getting birdies the traditional way using golf clubs, he used his 12x image stabilizing technology binoculars to capture twenty-two of them!  Darrell also recorded three additional large “birdies” on the bay.

During their visit, Darrell and his friends were impressed with the dreamy atmosphere of Bahía de los Sueños, and the condition of the Tom Doak designed golf course.  The lush green fairways, Cardon Cactus-filled desert, Sierra Laguna Mountains, and glistening waters combine to create an atmosphere rich in tranquility and splendor at Bahía de los Sueños.  It really is “The Baja that has always been,” without the hustle, traffic, and fast pace associated with more densily populated resort areas in Baja.  As is most often the case, the color of the sky and ocean were a spectacular blue, and the temperature was wonderfully warm during their stay.

Birding for many people is a casual hobby.  For Darrell, his interest in birds has evolved into somewhat of a passion.  He has studied and observed birds for over ten years now, and documents his sightings.  He is able to discern the nuances between birds that look very similar, such as was the case with the Gila Woodpecker and Gilded Flecker during his visit to Bahía de los Sueños.  He explains, “both are similar in size, and general color and beak size.  They both frequent the large Cardon cacti, often together in the same cactus.  However, the male woodpecker has a small red ‘cap’ atop his head whereas the flicker has a red streak along the side of his cheek.” 

He has created a “life list” to remember unique sightings, such as birds that are not common to a particular area, or birds that he has never seen before.  During his trip to Bahía de los Sueños, he encountered two birds that he added to this special list.  He comments, “The Curved-billed Thrasher and the Brown Crested Flycatcher are not supposed to be in the Baja, but they are listed as being found year round all over Mexico and southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.  So, I guess a few of them made the flight across the Sea of Cortez and decided to stay.”  Just as the highlight of most golfers is encountering a birdie during a round of golf, Darrell’s highlights during a birding expedition are special encounters with birds he is able to add to his “life list.”

As a result of Darrell’s visit, passion for birds, and excitement for the Baja and Bahía de los Sueños, a series of informational blogs on different birds of Baja CA Sur, MX will be posted in weeks moving forward.  The Bahía de los Suenos development is interested in low density and low impact.  Conservation is an important element of this vision.  Paying tribute to the birds that add to the magic one experiences at the Bay of Dreams is another way of keeping this vision.

If you are interested in birding or other activities that are part of the unique lifestyle at Bahía de los Sueños such as world-class golf and fishing, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, or just relaxing on the mile-long white sandy beach, do not hesitate to contact us.  For those interested in calling Bahía de los Sueños home, we have several dramatic custom home sites that capture the beauty of the Sea of Cortez and the “Bay of Dreams.”

Dennis Carr

dennis.carr@bod.com.mx

Toll Free: 866 514 4807 ext #1

MX: 612 123 6963

Jeff and Theresa Schmierer returned to Bahía de los Sueños recently to thaw out after spending an ice-chilled winter in Minnesota.  Their first trip was in 2005, after Jeff’s interest was fueled by reading articles of world class fly fishing that the Bahía de los Sueños area is known for.  Specifically, Jeff’s attention was drawn towards the prized Roosterfish, a world favorite for fly fishing enthusiasts.  Jeff reflects on his first trip to the area in 2005: “Coming down the straight 5 mile hill outside of San Juan de los Planes filled me with such emotion that we had to pull over and stare at the grandeur. The Sea of Cortez to the east, the fertile valley around the town, the stark mountains of Sierra De La Laguna, the white sand peninsula . . .”

Jeff and Theresa noticed some changes that had taken place since their previous trip to Bahía de los Sueños.  Jeff notes, “The road is better. . . there are palm trees . . . as we entered the Giggling Marlin, we noticed that the name was changed to ’1535.’”  The pangas are still here; we headed down to see the Panga Captains coming in with huge Yellowtail.  One guy had about a 45 pound Pargo. The fish are here; the boats are here . . .”  During their visit, Jeff asked about the real estate development, and future plans.  He noticed the fresh green patches along the hillside and ocean.  After learning it was a new Tom Doak designed golf course, Jeff declared,   “I knew that Bahía de los Sueños meant, ‘Bay of Dreams,’ but come on, is this true? And it surely is . . . “

The highlight of Jeff and Theresa’s visit was their fishing trip with Mundo, a fourth generation local fishing expert.  During their trip, they caught the biggest fish of their life, a thirty pound California Yellowtail.  Jeff smiles as he remembers, “Actually, Theresa hooked it and I had to grab the back of her shorts and the rod to keep both from flying overboard…caught Roosterfish, too!”

Bahía de los Sueños is ready to make your dreams come true; are you ready realize them? 
For further information on Bahía de los Sueños, contact me at dennis.carr@bahiasuenos.com or toll free 866 202 0789.

Homeowners, guests, and visitors have recently been enjoying the excitement and culinary pleasure that goes along with catching fresh Yellowtail at the Bay of Dreams.  The last couple of weeks I have witnessed most boats come in with jubilant anglers.  The fish caught have ranged between 20-40 lbs.  The catches have been at the southern tip of Cerralvo Island, and as close just a couple of miles outside the Bay of Dreams.  The Yellowtail are being caught in depths of 60 to 100 feet of water.  Anglers are using live bait such as Caballito (similar to a mackarel, yet smaller), and lures such as irons or rapalas.

Many guests walk their fresh fish over to Restaurant 1535, and have the friendly staff prepare them literally “straight from the boat!”   Now that is fresh!  The have many ways of preparing Yellowtail, including Empanizado (breaded), a la Diabla (spicy red sauce), la Veracruzana (red sauce), Mojo de Ajo (garlic and butter), and a la Plancha (grilled).  If you like eating sushi or sashimi, Yellowtail is a prized catch.

Should you have an interest in visiting, and enjoying the adventure of fishing for Yellowtail at Bahía de los Sueños, now is the time to join the fun. 

Contact Dennis Carr to arrange your visit:

E-mail:       dennis.carr@bod.com.mx

Office:         612 123 6968

Cell:             612 348 5831

Toll Free:   866 202 0789

Over three kilometers of cement paved road has just been installed on the east section of phase one at Bahía de los Sueños.  The new paved road includes sections of Avenida de Las Ramblas, Avenida Ensenada, and Via Bahía Azul.  The road meanders through the Cardon Cactus Forest, and is representative of the development’s ongoing effort to achieve minimal impact on the surrounding environment.  In keeping with the naturalistic theme, gutters were not installed on the lower section of the road (Avenida de Las Ramblas).  Consequently, the road appears to fade into the plethora of desert plant life and surrounding topography.  When driving on this road, one experiences a feeling of being one with nature; similar to enjoying a round of golf on the Tom Doak designed course at Bahía de los Sueños.

  The road is 7 meters wide, yet is divided in the lower section, where each side is 4 meters wide.  The upper section of the road along Spanish Hill contains curbs and gutters, which is necessary for proper drainage and erosion control.  Concern for a non-slip surface was taken during the final texture of the road.  Access to this road will be used for property owners on the east side of the development; public traffic will continue to access the development by way of the main road leading to Restaurant 1535 at the beach.

If you are interested in learning more about the newly completed road infrastructure at Bahía de los Sueños, or would like to gain a better understand of the project and associated real estate offerings, don’t hesitate to contact me at dennis.carr@bod.com.mx or 866-202-0789 ext #1.

Bahía de los Sueños is proud to announce the seasonal return of the Bluz Explozion Band! 

Bluz Explozion at the Bay of Dreams!

The venue will kick off this Thursday, November 11th, and is scheduled to last every Thursday evening from 6:30 to 9:30 through March.  The location will again be Restaurant 1535, strategically located on the beach with encapsulating views of Bahía de los Sueños.  The setting is ideal for a memorable night, with the sun setting over the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, followed by radiant stars appearing and glistening off of the crystal clear aqua blue waters of the bay.  When at this location, and looking out over the beautiful scenery, people often declare the Bay of Dreams to be the most beautiful place they have ever experienced.

The Bluz Explozion members include: Sheft-hat, from Chicago on bass and voice; Mike, from San Diego on guitar; Jose Luís, from Tamaulipas, MX, on drums, and Félix, from La Paz on guitar.  Some of their guest musicians are Roz, from Canada on harmonica; Doug, from Los Angeles on saxophone, and Federico, from Germany.  They have played such popular venues as Marina Costa Baja in La Paz, and Hotel California in Todos Santos.  In addition, they are sought out for weddings and private parties on a regular basis.

Besides blues, the band plays an interesting mix of Jazz, Soft rock, and Reggae.  The Bluz Explozion’ music is versatile, and they aim to accommodate what listeners’ requests and mood are during the evening.  It is not uncommon for Restaurant 1535 to be full of guests enjoying the music, excellent food, and specialty drinks served by the friendly staff.   It is recommended that people interested in enjoying the entertaining weekly event arrive early, and enjoy the fresh Mexican cuisine along with a refreshing beverage prior to the show.

 
For further information about the weekly music event, or additional questions about Bahía de los Sueños, please contact Dennis Carr at dennis.carr.bod.com.mx or 612 123 6968